Some European tourists have expressed concern over the malfunctioning e-visa portal run by the Ministry of Home Affairs, Immigration, Safety and Security.
They say they are forced to cancel and postpone their trips due to the new visa regime.
Cancellations are mostly from European countries, such as Germany, France, the United Kingdom (UK) and Italy.
Based on May 2024 statistics, Europeans accounted for 63.5% of the tourist pool, with Germany, Switzerland and Austria making up 37.8% of the total tourists.
Starting on 1 April, nationals from 33 countries, including the UK, the United States and Canada, will require a visa on arrival to enter Namibia.
These visa requirements were imposed on countries that failed to reciprocate Namibia’s visa-on-arrival policy.
This comes after complaints from tourists regarding an online ‘visa on arrival’ e-services portal that is not functional, with many requirements and documentation needed for the visa application process.
Documents needed for the holiday visa include six months’ bank statements, proof of accommodation, and a letter of invitation, which tourists have described as ‘putting them off’.
Some tourism industries in Namibia have also expressed concern over the ministry’s visa portal not functioning properly, as well as the excessive documentation required to apply for a visitor’s visa to Namibia.
Hospitality Association of Namibia chief executive Gitta Paetzold says the delays in the portal’s functionality are concerning.
She adds that intense discussions with the home affairs ministry have been held in an effort to resolve the problem.
“We are very much aware of the concerns raised by tourists about the app and the delays. We have had intense discussions with the ministry of home affairs to address the issue,” she says.
Paetzold says the ministry has said it is resolving the issue.
“They have told us they are in the final stages of fixing the app and have asked us to wait, assuring us that ‘good things are coming.’
“Considering the passing of our founding president, there may be some delays, so we should remain patient and wait for further updates from the ministry,” she says.
Visa on arrival in Namibia means that citizens of certain countries can apply for a tourist visa directly at the Namibian border or upon arrival at the airport, instead of needing to obtain it beforehand at an embassy.
Namibia Tourism Board (NTB) spokesperson Flora Quest confirms that complaints have been received about the visa-on-arrival system.
“We encourage the public to view this initiative with an open mind. NTB acknowledges the concerns and encourages giving the new initiative a chance. You can’t judge the quality of the food without first trying it.
“It represents a significant step forward in simplifying travel logistics and improving the overall experience for visitors to Namibia,” she says.
Quest says the portal is currently unavailable for tourists to begin applying for a visa.
“The visa-on-arrival portal is not yet available for tourists to start applying for a visa on that platform.
They will only be able to apply for it after the launch. The launch date has been confirmed and will be on 3 March.
“We urge all stakeholders in the Namibian tourism industry to work collaboratively to ensure the success of this project.
Together, we can enhance the visitor experience and contribute to the growth of Namibia’s tourism sector,” she says.
CONFUSION
According to Quest, if the visa-on-arrival system is poorly communicated, it could lead to confusion.
“If the visa-on-arrival system or other changes aren’t well-communicated or smoothly implemented, it could lead to confusion or frustration among tourists.
“However, if the process is streamlined and transparent, it could eventually boost tourism by making Namibia more accessible to international visitors. It’s all about balancing regulations with the ease of travel.”
She adds: “Regarding the required documents, each country has its own regulations. It’s important to follow the law, as we all do when travelling.”
Namibia Travel And Tourism Forum founder Nrupesh Soni says the biggest issue is that information regarding the implementation of the new visa regime is not widely available.
“Tourists typically book their trips months or even years in advance. Many travellers – especially those coming for safaris, self-drive tours, or multi-country trips – do not always pre-book all their accommodation or have a single host to provide an invitation letter. This makes it difficult for them to meet the new requirements,” Soni says.
For business travellers, the impact is even more severe, Soni says.
He says the lack of clear guidelines on visa processing times or alternative solutions for frequent business travellers could slow down economic activity and make Namibia a less attractive destination for investment.
“Many investors, executives and entrepreneurs travel on short notice for meetings, site visits or urgent deals.
Namibia has benefited from visa-free travel for many of these individuals, allowing for spontaneous trips. If they now have to go through a visa process that takes weeks, it could directly impact business engagements and investment decisions,” Soni says.
He says the industry, from airlines and travel agents to hotels and tour operators, needs a structured roll-out with transparent information to properly advise travellers.
Soni further says the uncertainty surrounding the visa-on-arrival option is another major concern.
He says if this system is not operational by the implementation date, travellers who expect to get a visa at the airport may face serious complications upon arrival.
“If a tourist boards a flight assuming they can get a visa on arrival, but the system is not ready or has additional unexpected requirements, it could result in confusion, delays, and even denied entry.
The industry needs urgent clarity on this to properly inform clients before they travel,” Soni says.
According to Soni, the requirements could also discourage visitors.
“Namibia has long marketed itself as an accessible destination, and suddenly requiring extensive documentation, such as six months of bank statements and invitation letters, adds new barriers that could discourage visitors,” he says.
‘NO CONCERN’
Meanwhile, the Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Tourism says there is no reason for concern.
“We don’t see any reason for concern as we remain engaged with the ministry of home affairs regarding these new developments. We are very much aware that the portal is not operational because as we understand, it is yet to be launched,” the ministry’s spokesperson, Romeo Muyunda, says.
Muyunda says the visa requirements are standard.
“Without these documents, there is no basis for consideration, the authorities will not know whether or not the visitor can afford their stay in Namibia for that period of time.
Namibians are subjected to these same requirements whenever they are travelling to other countries,” Muyunda says.
Federation of Namibian Tourism Associations chairperson Ally Karaerua says this new initiative is aimed at simplifying travel logistics and enhancing the overall experience for visitors to Namibia.
“We are excited to advise that the new and more convenient visa-on-arrival process for international travellers will be hassle free,” says Karaerua.
She says the official launch date for the visa-on-arrival process has been confirmed for 3 March.
Karaerua says on the same date, an online platform will also go live, allowing travellers to apply for e-visas in advance if they choose to do so.
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