Faith Nyasuguta
The Namibian government has announced its intention to end visa-free entry for citizens of Canada, the USA, the UK, 21 European nations, and some Asian countries that have not reciprocated Namibia’s visa exemption efforts. This policy change is expected to take effect in April 2025, requiring citizens of these countries to obtain a visa before entering Namibia.
“Namibia has extended gestures of goodwill and favorable treatment to nationals of various countries. However, despite these efforts, certain nations have not reciprocated,” the Namibian immigration ministry stated in May. “In light of this disparity, the government has deemed it necessary to implement a visa requirement to ensure parity and fairness in diplomatic interactions.”
British High Commissioner to Namibia, Charles Moore, acknowledged the country’s right to impose new regulations. “Unfortunately, the UK imposed a visa regime on Namibia last year due to the number of asylum seekers we were receiving, which was impacting our relationship with Namibia,” he told the BBC.
The UK government explained that there had been a sustained and significant increase in the number of asylum applications from Namibians at the UK border since 2016, citing this as an abuse of the provision for non-visa nationals to visit the UK for a limited period.
The difficulty of obtaining Western visas is a widespread issue in many African countries, not just Namibia. A recent report by the Lago Collective, a think-tank focused on migration, highlighted that the European Union made over ¬€53 million ($58 million; £45 million) from rejected visa applications from African countries in 2023.
Visas can be rejected for various reasons, with most rejections based on “reasonable doubt about the visa applicant’s intention to return home.”
/Namibia Presidency/
In recent years, the cost of obtaining visas for Western countries has risen. The price of Schengen short-term visas increased from €80 to €90 for adults in June 2024, and UK visa fees rose from £100 to £115 in October 2023.
Many Namibians, like 38 year old Ms. Michelle Nehoya, believe the government’s decision to impose reciprocal visa requirements is long overdue. “I think it is fair. It feels like Namibia is standing up for itself,” she said.
Social media reactions to the news echoed her sentiments, with one commenter stating, “If I need to bring bank statements and all sorts of documents and still buy a visa just to gain entry to a country, that country should also do the same to gain entry to my country.”
The report from the Lago Collective also revealed that nearly a third of Africans applying for a visa to the Schengen area were rejected, a higher rate than the global average. Even when visas are approved, African travelers often report uncomfortable and unwelcoming experiences at border security. Winnie Byanyima, the head of UNAids and a Ugandan national, highlighted this issue in 2022, tweeting about her own difficult experience at Geneva airport.
Despite the praise Namibia’s visa policy has received on social media, the country’s tourism industry has expressed concern. The Hospitality Association of Namibia stated it was “very concerned” about the message this move sends to the global travel trade.
In 2022, tourism contributed 7% of Namibia’s GDP, making it the third-largest sector of the economy, with most tourists coming from countries like Germany and the US.
However, Soni Nrupesh, a tourism expert based in Windhoek, believes the visa requirement will not significantly deter visitors. “It will not change much; you can still get on a plane without a visa. It’s just when you get to the airport you will fill a form, pay the fees, and enter,” he said.
Prospective travelers like Ms. Nehoya hope for greater reciprocity in the future. “People come to Namibia, and they love it. But we also want to see what is happening on the other side,” she remarked. “It would be nice to go to Canada, the US, or the UK and just get a visa on arrival. But right now, we must plan everything so far in advance.”
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