Limited e-visa services confuses tourism sector

The Ministry of Home Affairs, Immigration, Safety, and Security in Namibia recently published a list of border posts that do not offer e-visa services, causing confusion and concern within the tourism industry. According to the ministry’s spokesperson, Margaret Kalo, certain points of entry do not provide visa services because they are located inland. For instance, if someone arrives at Keetmanshoop Airport, they are already within Namibia's borders, suggesting they must have entered through another border post that processes visas.Regarding border posts that share borders with other countries but still cannot process e-visas, Kalo explained that the ministry is facing technical challenges. E-visas contain a QR code that requires scanning, and some border posts lack sufficient signal to handle this process. As a result, travelers who require a visa are advised to avoid using these border posts.A comparison between the list published in the Government Gazette and the ministry's list indicates that out of 36 border posts and customs offices, 16 can either issue visas on arrival or process e-visas. Eleven of these border posts can offer both services. Among the 36 customs offices, eight are located at local airports. However, eight border posts that share borders with other countries cannot process visas. These include Velloorsdrif, Klein Manasse, Mata-Mata, Dobe, Kasika, Singalamwe, Sarusungu, and Nkurenkuru.For visitors who cannot enter Namibia through Velloorsdrif, alternatives include the Noordoewer or Ariamsvlei border posts. Ariamsvlei is approximately 330 km away, about a 3-hour and 30-minute drive, while Noordoewer is around 340 km away, taking about 3 hours and 21 minutes by road. As an alternative to the Dobe border post, travelers can use the Mohembo border post, which is around 320 km away. The Ngoma border post serves as an alternative to the Kasika border post, with only about an hour’s drive between them.For those needing visas who wish to enter Namibia through the Sarusungu or Nkurenkuru border posts, the Katwitwi border post can be used instead. Likewise, the Katima Mulilo border post can replace the Singalamwe border post.The lack of capacity at the Mata-Mata border post to issue and process visas has raised particular concern, especially considering its popularity among visitors entering Namibia through the Kgalagadi Park. However, Delphin Ilunga, the deputy chairperson of the Federation of Namibian Tourism Associations (Fenata), mentioned that this should not cause significant disruption. He suggested that visitors could obtain their visas at other border posts, such as Noordoewer or Ariamsvlei, before entering Namibia through Mata-Mata.While Ilunga acknowledged that it would be preferable for as many border posts as possible to have the necessary capacity to process e-visas, he expressed hope that the ministry would eventually expand capacity at those border posts currently lacking it.

Limited e-visa services confuses tourism sector

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Namibian Sun 2025-06-16

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Limited e-visa services confuses tourism sector

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Namibian Sun 2025-06-16

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