Namibia’s Ministry of Home Affairs has announced an update to the country’s entry visa policy, now requiring visas from nationals of 33 countries, including several European nations.
The suspension of visa exemptions came into effect on Tuesday, April 1. Authorities described the move as a response to the lack of reciprocity in visa arrangements.
The countries affected include Belgium, Denmark, Finland, Italy, France, Ireland, Iceland, Germany, Luxembourg, Norway, the Netherlands, the United States, Canada, Japan, Armenia, Australia, and New Zealand.
However, this measure may impact international visitor arrivals and the tourism industry as a whole.
In 2023, Namibia recorded over 1.05 million foreign arrivals, of which 863,000 were tourists. Europe was the leading market in this segment, with significant flows from Germany, the United Kingdom, France, and the Netherlands.
According to the Namibia Tourism Satellite Account (TSA) report, the sector contributed NAD 14.3 billion (approximately USD 765 million) to the country’s estimated GDP of NAD 206.2 billion in 2022.
