Study permit renewal deadline looms
International students must renew their study permits before 15 April.
04 March 2021 | Education
WETUMWENE SHIKAGE
WINDHOEK
Foreign students studying in Namibia have until mid-April to apply for study permits, the home affairs ministry has said.
Study visas, which are mandatory for international students, expired on 28 February and many students have since made their way to the ministry to submit their documents for renewal.
Home affairs spokesperson Aina Simon said the normal application period for study permits is from November to the end of February.
Because of the Covid-19 pandemic, this year's deadline was extended to 15 April.
The ministry said there would be no further extension since the decision was made in consultation with the institutions of higher learning.
“As part of the application, a progress report and the acceptance letter are some of the requirements and most institutions could not provide this on time, hence the extension. As a norm the ministry has experienced a high influx of students coming to the ministry to apply at the last minute,” she said.
Requirements
One of the affected foreign students at the University of Namibia, who chose to remain anonymous, said she was unaware of the deadline.
“We were not notified of the last day to apply for visas. I had to immediately go to the ministry of home affairs to submit my application, because my visa would expire on 28 February, which fell on a Sunday,” she said.
The University of Namibia (Unam) and Namibia University of Science and Technology (NUST) require all international students (SADC and non-SADC) to be in possession of a valid study permit and visa before entering Namibia.
Both NUST and Unam have standing arrangements with the home affairs ministry to allow foreign students to apply for their study permits on campus during the registration period.
WINDHOEK
Foreign students studying in Namibia have until mid-April to apply for study permits, the home affairs ministry has said.
Study visas, which are mandatory for international students, expired on 28 February and many students have since made their way to the ministry to submit their documents for renewal.
Home affairs spokesperson Aina Simon said the normal application period for study permits is from November to the end of February.
Because of the Covid-19 pandemic, this year's deadline was extended to 15 April.
The ministry said there would be no further extension since the decision was made in consultation with the institutions of higher learning.
“As part of the application, a progress report and the acceptance letter are some of the requirements and most institutions could not provide this on time, hence the extension. As a norm the ministry has experienced a high influx of students coming to the ministry to apply at the last minute,” she said.
Requirements
One of the affected foreign students at the University of Namibia, who chose to remain anonymous, said she was unaware of the deadline.
“We were not notified of the last day to apply for visas. I had to immediately go to the ministry of home affairs to submit my application, because my visa would expire on 28 February, which fell on a Sunday,” she said.
The University of Namibia (Unam) and Namibia University of Science and Technology (NUST) require all international students (SADC and non-SADC) to be in possession of a valid study permit and visa before entering Namibia.
Both NUST and Unam have standing arrangements with the home affairs ministry to allow foreign students to apply for their study permits on campus during the registration period.
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