Every way into Namibia.

The short-stay visitor's visa for tourism, visiting friends or relatives, and similar leisure travel to Namibia. Following the reforms that took effect on 1 April 2025, nationals of around 33 previously visa-exempt countries (including the United States, United Kingdom, Germany, France, Canada and Australia) must now hold a visa, obtainable as an e-Visa applied for in advance via the official MHAISS e-services portal or as a visa on arrival at major entry points such as Hosea Kutako International Airport and Walvis Bay. The visa is issued for stays of up to 90 days within a calendar year and the e-Visa is issued as multiple entry, allowing the holder to leave and re-enter on the same visa. The standard fee is NAD 1,600 for non-African Union nationals and NAD 1,200 for African Union nationals (aged 12 and over); children aged 6-11 pay NAD 800 (non-AU) or NAD 600 (AU) and children under 6 are exempt. The visa does not authorise employment.

Government fee

NAD 1,600

Max stay

90 days

Validity

90 days

A short-validity visa permitting a traveller to transit through Namibia while en route to a third country. It is intended only for passage and short connection stops rather than a stay, and applicants must show onward travel arrangements and any visa required for the onward destination. At Namibian missions the transit visa is charged at a reduced rate (for example EUR 50 in Europe). The transit visa does not authorise tourism activity, business or employment in Namibia.

Max stay

7 days

The short-stay visitor's visa for business purposes such as meetings, negotiations, conferences, workshops attended as a participant and business exploration. It is available to nationals of visa-required countries either as an e-Visa applied for in advance through the official MHAISS e-services portal or as a visa on arrival at designated ports of entry. Stays are limited to 90 days within a calendar year and the e-Visa is issued as multiple entry. At Namibian missions abroad the business visa is priced separately from the tourist visa (for example EUR 150 single entry / EUR 200 multiple entry in Europe), while visa-on-arrival and e-Visa pricing follows the standard NAD 1,600 (non-AU) / NAD 1,200 (AU) schedule. The visa permits business activity but not local employment or paid work in Namibia.

Government fee

NAD 1,600

Max stay

90 days

Validity

90 days

The study permit is required for foreign nationals attending training, instruction or education at any institution in Namibia, under the Immigration Control Act, 1993. Applicants must first be accepted by a recognised Namibian educational institution and then apply, with applications processed in Namibia by the Ministry of Home Affairs (commonly 2-3 months). The annual government fee is NAD 1,600 for primary and secondary education or NAD 2,200 for tertiary education. Required documents include the institution's acceptance/registration letter, proof of funding, a sponsor's letter of undertaking, medical and radiological reports, police clearance and proof of return travel. The permit is granted per year and is renewable for the duration of the studies on submission of a progress report.

• Study: Full enrolment at the accepting institution for the permitted study period.

Government fee

NAD 2,200

Processing time

75 days

Validity

365 days

Namibia's Digital Nomad Visa, promoted by the Namibia Investment Promotion and Development Board (NIPDB), allows remote workers to live in Namibia while working for companies or clients based outside the country as freelancers, self-employed professionals or remote employees. The main applicant must show proof of income of at least USD 2,000 per month, plus USD 1,000 per month for an accompanying spouse and USD 500 per month for each accompanying child, evidenced by payslips, employment contracts and six months of bank statements. The visa grants a six-month stay and is non-renewable; applicants may reapply only 12 months after the visa expires, and no change of condition is permitted during the stay. The visa fee is NAD 3,300, payable on approval. NIPDB compiles the application and submits a motivation letter to the Ministry of Home Affairs, Immigration and Safety (MHAISS) alongside the application forms. Income is monetary; the min_income field stores the USD 2,000 monthly threshold in cents.

• Work: Remote work only for companies or clients based outside Namibia; no work for Namibian employers or local clients.
• Family: Spouse and children may accompany; each adds to the income requirement (USD 1,000/month spouse, USD 500/month per child).

Government fee

NAD 3,300

Max stay

180 days

Validity

180 days

Min. income / month

NAD 2,000

The long-term employment permit authorises a foreign national to take up ongoing employment with a Namibian-registered employer, granting both work authorisation and temporary residence, typically for one to two years and renewable. Applications are decided by the Immigration Selection Board (ISB) under the Immigration Control Act, 1993, and the employer must demonstrate the skills gap (including evidence of local advertising and recruitment efforts) and a localisation/training plan for Namibians. The government fee is NAD 2,600 per year. Required documents include a signed employment contract, the employer's representation form, certified qualifications, professional registration where applicable, medical and radiological reports, and police clearance. Processing of a long-term permit commonly takes around 8-10 weeks. Time held on an employment permit can support a later application for permanent residence.

• Work: Work for the named employer and role; renewals require continued justification and localisation progress.
• Study: Lawful residence permits study alongside the employment.
• Residency: Time on an employment permit can support a later permanent residence application decided by the ISB; no fixed statutory minimum is published.

Government fee

NAD 2,600

Processing time

70 days

Validity

365 days

A short-term work authorisation for time-limited assignments such as installation, commissioning, maintenance, audits, training, short projects, filming or urgent technical work, rather than open-ended employment. Issued for up to three months or up to six months. The fee is NAD 1,600 for up to three months or NAD 3,200 for up to six months. Applicants must provide a motivation/assignment letter from the employer or contracting company describing the work, certified qualifications and, for permits longer than three months, a police clearance certificate and medical/radiological reports. The permit ties the holder to the specified assignment and employer and does not by itself lead to residence.

• Work: Limited to the specified short-term assignment and employer.

Government fee

NAD 3,200

Max stay

180 days

Validity

180 days

Foreign nationals who intend to run a business or carry on a profession in Namibia on their own account require an employment permit for self-employment or business, issued under the Immigration Control Act, 1993 and decided by the Immigration Selection Board. Investors and entrepreneurs owning or managing a Namibian business must show company registration, a viable business plan, evidence of capital investment and the expected economic benefit and jobs for Namibians; the Namibia Investment Promotion and Development Board (NIPDB) assesses the feasibility and national economic impact of significant investments. There is no single published statutory minimum capital figure, as the requirement is assessed case by case. Permits are typically granted for one to two years and are renewable. The category does not provide passive residence-by-investment; the applicant must be genuinely engaged in the business.

• Work: Authorises the declared business or profession on the applicant's own account.
• Study: Lawful residence permits study alongside the business.
• Residency: Genuine, sustained business activity can support a later permanent residence application; assessed by the ISB.

Government fee

NAD 2,600

Validity

730 days

A foreign national married to a Namibian citizen or to a permanent residence permit holder may apply for permanent residence. In practice applicants are expected to have been married for at least two years and to have been living in Namibia for a period (commonly around six months) before the application, with the marriage being genuine and subsisting. The application is decided by the Immigration Selection Board under the Immigration Control Act, 1993 and follows the permanent residence permit process and documentation, including a marriage certificate, medical and radiological reports and police clearances. The published permanent residence permit fee is NAD 20,000. A spouse who is not yet eligible for, or awaiting, permanent residence typically resides in Namibia on an accompanying employment/visitor permit in the interim.

• Work: Permanent residence allows employment without a separate work permit once granted.
• Study: Permanent residents may study in Namibia.
• Residency after 2 years
• Family: The applicant is the spouse; minor children of the marriage are included in the PR application.

Government fee

NAD 20,000

Accompanying family members of a foreign national who holds an employment, business or study permit in Namibia apply for an accompanying or dependant permit so they may reside with the principal permit holder. The permit is tied to and aligned with the validity of the principal's permit and is renewed alongside it. Applicants provide proof of the family relationship (marriage or birth certificate), the principal holder's permit, and the standard medical/radiological and police-clearance documentation required under the Immigration Control Act, 1993. The dependant permit by itself does not authorise the holder to take up employment in Namibia; a dependant who wishes to work must obtain their own employment permit. Specific dependant-permit fees are set administratively by MHAISS and are not consistently published.

• Study: Dependent children may attend school subject to enrolment.
• Family: Designed for the spouse and children of the principal permit holder.

Validity

365 days

Foreign missionaries, clergy and religious workers intending to carry out religious activity in Namibia are admitted under the employment permit framework of the Immigration Control Act, 1993, sponsored by the church or religious organisation that invites them. The sponsoring organisation provides a letter of invitation and undertaking and supports the application, which is decided by the Immigration Selection Board. The employment permit government fee is NAD 2,600 per year and the permit is granted per year and renewable. As with other employment permits, applicants submit certified qualifications, medical and radiological reports and police clearance. Permitted activity is limited to the religious role described in the application.

• Work: Limited to the religious role and sponsoring organisation named in the permit.
• Study: Lawful residence permits study alongside the role.
• Residency: Sustained lawful residence can support a later permanent residence application decided by the ISB.

Government fee

NAD 2,600

Validity

365 days

The Permanent Residence Permit (PRP) allows a foreign national to settle permanently in Namibia. Applications are decided by the Immigration Selection Board under the Immigration Control Act, 1993, which weighs the applicant's qualifications, financial resources, character and likely contribution to Namibia, and the Board may request additional information. The published government fee is NAD 20,000. The documentation set is extensive and includes the PRP and visa application forms, a training-and-experience questionnaire, declaration and undertaking forms, birth and (where relevant) marriage certificates, medical and radiological reports, original police clearances from the country of origin and last country of residence, educational and training certificates, a detailed CV and work references, proof of financial resources with six months of bank statements, proof of property, a taxpayer certificate, and proof of current legal status in Namibia. Business applicants additionally submit company registration, financial statements, audited accounts, proof of business premises and Social Security Commission registration for Namibian employees.

• Work: Permanent residents may live and work in Namibia without a separate permit.
• Study: Permanent residents may study in Namibia.
• Residency: This is permanent residence itself; citizenship may be sought later through naturalisation under the Namibian Citizenship Act.
• Family: Spouse and unmarried children under 21 can be included in the same application.

Government fee

NAD 20,000