Visa applications now also online

Tacking social challenges
Elizabeth Kheibes
  • 7 Months Ago - 2023-09-27 10:12:00
The Ministry of Home Affairs, Immigration, Safety and Security last week launched its online platform for visa applications, saying this development comes at a time when Namibia has recorded more than 141 000 undocumented or stateless persons.
Minister Albert Kawana said that although this number has not been established with certainty, "it indicates the extent of the problem of statelessness in Namibia".
"This registration initiative was undertaken by the ministry to regulate the status of stateless and undocumented persons in Namibia. This will be accomplished by introducing appropriate legislation."
He said that in the meantime, the ministry is drafting bills aimed at preventing statelessness and regulating the status of specified categories of stateless and undocumented persons in the country.
This year, Namibia commemorated Identity Document Day under the theme "End statelessness for social progress".
"We recognise that Namibia, like many other countries in the world, faces the challenge of statelessness and undocumented persons. We also recognise that we must reduce statelessness in our country by ensuring that those affected exercise their right to identity, travel documents and administrative assistance," the minister said.
The ministry now has offices in all 14 regions.