Job visa not required for conservation tourism

Employment permits will no longer be required for individuals who wish to enter Namibia for conservation tourism, but they will have to apply for holiday visas.

The home affairs ministry last week released a statement in this regard saying that conservation tourism will from now on be regarded as normal tourism and therefore not require employment permits or work visas. According to the ministry, individuals who intend to enter Namibia for conservation tourism and who would ordinarily require holiday/tourist visas to enter Namibia, should henceforth apply for ordinary holiday visas and not employment permits or work visas. “The ministry is aware that this is an emerging form of tourism in the tourism sector. It is for this reason that the ministry took into consideration, after extensive consultations, the direct benefits to operators in the tourism industry and so effected this change in regulation.” Conservation tourism comprises of tourists paying to stay at conservation farms and as part of the experience, accompany teams that are feeding animals and caring for animals, for them to experience closeness to wildlife. “However this classification as normal tourism/holidays does not apply to research, and those individuals coming for veterinary purposes,” said the ministry. The conservation tourist is regulated in terms of Section 24 of the Immigration Control Act, subject to the provisions of section 35.

ELLANIE SMIT