More countries qualify for visas on arrival
Online applications encouraged
A list of almost 40 countries has been approved by parliament to qualify for visas on arrival in Namibia.
Citizens of 36 countries will now be able to obtain visas on arrival in Namibia.Steps are being taken to encourage online applications and, as a result, increase the fee for paper-based visa applications.
“The changes reflect Namibia's commitment to openness, diplomatic goodwill and international cooperation,” the Ministry of Home Affairs, Immigration, Safety and Security said in a media statement.
The ministry announced that the cabinet had approved the list of 36 countries that will now qualify for visas on arrival, and that there is no fixed date for the above-mentioned price increase.
“We invite citizens of these countries to visit our e-services portal and apply for their visas on arrival. Manual applications are discouraged as they cause delays. In line with efforts to discourage manual applications and improve border efficiency, cabinet has approved an additional fee of N$400 for manual applications for visas on arrival,” the statement said.
The new fee for paper visa-on-arrival applications will therefore amount to N$2 000. However, the ministry warns that the price increase is not yet effective and that the process is still ongoing. “The implementation date for the new fees will be announced in due course, as internal processes must first be completed. When the fee is published in the Government Gazette, the public will be informed.”
The ministry's announcement comes amid a campaign led by former Ghanaian MP Ras Mubarak and his team of five, who will be visiting Windhoek until Saturday. This campaign, for which Mubarak and his team are expected to travel to 39 African countries, is advocating for a visa-free Africa.
They have already handed over letters in Togo, Benin, Nigeria, Cameroon, Equatorial Guinea, Congo, the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Angola, requesting a visa-free Africa. – [email protected]