Namibia • Visa & Entry

Namibia Visa for Europeans: The Complete 2026 Guide

By Stephy, Travel Specialist at Tourgy Tourz · Published 8 October 2026

For decades, most Europeans could simply land in Windhoek and receive a free entry stamp. That changed on 1 April 2025, when Namibia ended visa-free entry for travellers from the UK, Germany, France, the Netherlands, Switzerland, Scandinavia and many other European countries. Today, almost every European needs a visa for Namibia. The good news is that it's quick to get online. This guide explains exactly who needs one, how much it costs, how to apply step by step and how to avoid problems at the border.

Last checked: October 2026. Visa rules can change at short notice, so always confirm the latest requirements on the official Ministry of Home Affairs, Immigration, Safety and Security (MHAISS) portal or with your nearest Namibian embassy before you travel.

Why did Namibia introduce visas for Europeans?

Namibia's government introduced the change based on reciprocity. Namibian citizens need visas to visit most European countries, so Namibia now asks the same of those countries' citizens. The rule applies to 33 previously visa-exempt nationalities, including the United Kingdom, most of Western Europe, the United States, Canada, Australia and Japan. It doesn't mean Namibia is less welcoming. It's an administrative step, and once you've got your visa, nothing about your safari changes.

Which European nationalities need a visa for Namibia?

The European countries that lost visa-free access on 1 April 2025 are:

Other EU countries, such as Poland, the Czech Republic, Hungary, Greece, Croatia, Slovakia and Romania, already needed a visa before 2025. Most of them are on the official list of nationalities that can use the Visa on Arrival. If your nationality is not listed on the portal, you'll need to apply for a visa before you travel.

The main European exception: Russian passport holders remain visa-exempt for holidays under a bilateral agreement.

Dual nationals: enter Namibia on the passport you used to apply for your visa, and use the same passport throughout your trip.

Visa on Arrival vs Holiday Visa: which one do you need?

For almost all European holidaymakers, the Visa on Arrival is the right choice. When applying online, select "Visa on Arrival" and not the Holiday Visa, which is a longer and more complicated process.

Namibia visa fee for Europeans

Online payments may include a small service fee, of about 3%. Euro and pound equivalents depend on the exchange rate on the day you pay. Fees are set by the Namibian government and can be reviewed, so check the portal for the current amount.

How to apply online: step by step

How long can Europeans stay in Namibia?

According to the official MHAISS fact sheet, visitors can be granted up to 90 days in a calendar year, and you receive the number of days you request. In practice, many online visas are issued for a shorter period, often 30 days, so:

• Enter your full trip length when you apply online
• Check the dates on your e-visa as soon as you receive it
• If you need more time, ask the immigration officer on arrival, with your itinerary and bookings ready
• Once in Namibia, extensions can be requested at Home Affairs regional offices, such as in Windhoek, Walvis Bay, Rundu or Katima Mulilo
• Always check the stamp in your passport before you leave the immigration desk

Documents to carry when you arrive

• Passport valid for at least 6 months after your departure date, with at least 3 blank pages
• Printed e-visa, if you applied online
• Return or onward ticket
• Accommodation confirmations or your Tourgy Tourz itinerary
• Proof of funds, such as a credit card or recent bank statement
• Travel and medical insurance, in English
• For children: a full (unabridged) birth certificate, plus a parental consent letter if only one parent is travelling
• Yellow fever certificate, only if you're arriving from, or have transited for more than 12 hours through, a country with a risk of yellow fever

Where can you use your visa?

The e-visa and in-person Visa on Arrival are accepted at Namibia's main ports of entry, including:

• Airports: Hosea Kutako International Airport (Windhoek) and Walvis Bay Airport
• Harbours: Walvis Bay and Lüderitz
• Land borders: Noordoewer and Ariamsvlei (South Africa), Trans-Kalahari (Botswana), Ngoma, Mohembo and Impalila (Botswana), Katima Mulilo (Zambia), Oshikango (Angola) and Oranjemund

Some smaller airports and border posts only accept an e-visa obtained in advance, and a few small posts can't process visas at all. If you're driving in from a neighbouring country, apply online beforehand and choose a main border post.

Should you apply online or on arrival?

Apply online, before you fly. The Visa on Arrival is still available at the main ports of entry, but queues at Hosea Kutako Airport can be long when several international flights land together, and card machines don't always work at border posts. With an e-visa, you simply sign it in front of the officer.

Tip: the official portal has had technical outages, including a period of maintenance in May 2026. Apply at least a few weeks before departure, keep screenshots if anything goes wrong and, if the portal is unavailable, be ready to apply on arrival at a main port of entry with all your documents and a working bank card.

Travelling on to Botswana, Victoria Falls or South Africa

• Multiple entry: the Namibian Visa on Arrival allows multiple entries, so you can visit Chobe or Victoria Falls and return to Namibia on the same visa, within its validity. If you apply on arrival, ask for multiple entry.
• Botswana and South Africa: most Europeans can still visit visa-free for short holidays. Check the rules for your nationality.
• Zimbabwe and Zambia: visas are needed, and the KAZA UniVisa covers both, but not Namibia. Read our guide to the Victoria Falls visa and KAZA UniVisa.
• Self-drive across borders: you'll also need written permission from your car hire company and cross-border papers. See our Etosha to Caprivi and Victoria Falls self-drive.

Business trips, volunteering and work

The Visa on Arrival covers holidays, visiting friends and family, and short business-visitor activities such as meetings. Paid work, volunteering, research or study need a separate permit from the Ministry of Home Affairs, which must be arranged before you travel.

Common mistakes to avoid

• Applying for the Holiday Visa instead of the Visa on Arrival
• Using an unofficial website that charges extra fees
• Entering only part of your trip, and receiving too few days
• Forgetting that children aged 6 and over need their own visa and fee
• Travelling with a passport with fewer than 3 blank pages or less than 6 months' validity
• Crossing at a small border post that can't issue visas

How Tourgy Tourz helps

When you book your Namibia safari with us, we send you a clear visa checklist, your full itinerary and accommodation confirmations to show on arrival, and we'll tell you exactly which port of entry and dates to use on your application. For more, see our general Namibia visa requirements 2026 article, our Namibia Safari FAQ 2026 and our Best Namibia Itineraries: 3, 5, 7 and 10 Days.

The paperwork takes ten minutes. Then the plane door opens, the warm, dry air of the Namib meets you and the endless horizon begins. Every great love story starts with a first step.