The Visa upon Arrival Pilot Project was launched at Hosea Kutako International Airport (HKIA) on September 25 by the Ministry of Home Affairs and Immigration and is aimed at stimulating economic growth and tourism.
Tourists from 47 countries no longer have to apply for visas in advance before leaving their countries for tourism, visiting, or transiting through Namibia.
Minister of home affairs and immigration Frans Kapofi said the project aims to improve Namibia's global competitive ratings and progress towards liberalising Namibia's visa policy framework for all Africans and foreign travellers.
“Our ministry will continue to deploy smarter approaches to support tourism and economic growth, while maintaining the integrity and security of our country,” he added.
“Visas on arrival will benefit Bona fide tourists (excluding tour guides who are required to obtain employment permit/work visa in advance); potential investors coming to explore business opportunities; visitors coming to attend meetings, seminars, workshops (excluding those coming to perform pay related jobs which still requires one to obtain an employment permit/work visas); friendships and family related visits; and medical related visits,” said Kapofi
The current 27 African countries selected are as follows: Benin, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cabo Verde, Cameroon, Central Africa Republic (CAR), Chad, Comoros, Cote d’ Ivore, Djibouti, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Gabon, The Gambia, Guinea, Guinea Bissau, Liberia, Madagascar, Mauritania, Niger , Rwanda , Sao Tome and Principe, Sierra Leone, Togo, Tunisia , Western Sahara Republic and Uganda.
Other countries are: Belarus, Bulgaria, Cambodia, Chile, Czech Republic, Hungary, Mexico, Moldova, Nicaragua, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, South Korea, Venezuela, Vietnam, Thailand, Turkey, United Arab Emirates, Singapore and Ukraine.
The Visa Upon Arrival procedure will require a visitor to complete a visa application form as he/she arrives at Hosea Kutako International airport, submit the completed application form together with his/her passport to an immigration officer who will process the application. Upon approval of the application, the immigration officer will request the applicant to make a payment of One Thousand and Eighty Namibia Dollar (N$1080.00).
Kapofi said the launch at HKIA was the first phase of the project, and the ministry intends to expand the project to seven more entry points around the country by the first quarter of next year.
