Namibia removes US, UK, others from visa free list

The United States and United Kingdom are among more than 30 countries who will no longer enjoy visa-free access to Namibia from April.

The two countries largely enjoy visa-free travel to more than 180 countries.

It follows a decision taken by the Namibian cabinet in July last year and will now to come into effect on 1 April.

Until now, most European countries have also enjoyed visa-free access to the country, including its biggest tourism source, Germany.

Just days after the country inaugurated its fifth president, Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah, it is following through on cancelling visa-free access to scores of first-world countries.

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The country said the main driver for the decision was a lack of reciprocity for Namibian passport holders.

This despite warnings from the local tourism industry that it could impact its visitor numbers.

In a post on X, the US embassy in Namibia advised its citizens to obtain tourist visas prior to entering the country.

Beginning April 1, 2025, the Namibian Government will require U.S. citizen tourists to obtain a visa prior to entering the country. Visitors are recommended to apply for their visa in advance of planned travel through Namibia’s online visa on arrival portal.

In 2023, the UK revoked visa-free access to Namibian passport holders.

Travellers from the affected countries will now have to make use of an online visa application system or obtain a tourism visa on arrival.

Ifeoma Okeke-Korieocha

Ifeoma Okeke-Korieocha is the Aviation Correspondent at BusinessDay Media Limited, publishers of BusinessDay Newspapers. She is also the Deputy Editor, BusinessDay Weekender Magazine, the Saturday Weekend edition of BusinessDay. She holds a BSC in Mass Communication from the prestigious University of Nigeria, Nsukka and a Masters degree in Marketing at the University of Lagos. As the lead writer on the aviation desk, Ifeoma is responsible and in charge of the three weekly aviation and travel pages in BusinessDay and BDSunday. She also overseas and edits all pages of BusinessDay Saturday Weekender. She has written various investigative, features and news stories in aviation and business related issues and has been severally nominated for award in the category of Aviation Writer of the Year by the Nigeria Media Nite-Out awards; one of the Nigeria’s most prestigious media awards ceremonies. Ifeoma is a one-time winner of the prestigious Nigeria Media Merit Award under the 'Aviation Writer of the Year' Category. She is the 2025 Eloy Award winner under the Print Media Journalist category. She has undergone several journalism trainings by various prestigious organisations. Ifeoma is also a fellow of the Female Reporters Leadership Fellowship of the Wole Soyinka Centre for Investigative Journalism.