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Namibiachecked Jul 2026Do US citizens need a visa for Namibia?
This one has changed, and a lot of the internet has not caught up. Namibia used to be visa-free for Americans; since April 2025 it is not. Here is what you actually need, and the official place to get it.
At a glance
Visa
Required since Apr 2025
Cost
N$1,600 (about US$88)
How
e-Visa or on arrival
Stay
30 days, multiple entry
Yes. Since 1 April 2025, US citizens need a visa to enter Namibia, and it costs N$1,600 (about US$88). You can get it two ways: apply online in advance for an e-Visa at the official portal, or buy a visa on arrival at the main airports and larger border posts. It is normally valid for 30 days with multiple entry. A lot of older travel content still says Namibia is visa-free for Americans, which is out of date.
The official route
The official government portal for the e-Visa. The visa on arrival is also available at Hosea Kutako (Windhoek) and Walvis Bay airports and at high-volume border posts. The system is fairly new, so fees and details can change, confirm on the portal before you travel.
Republic of Namibia, Ministry of Home Affairs, Immigration, Safety and Security: the official e-Visa portal(opens in a new tab) we earn nothing
What changed, and why the confusion
For years, US citizens could enter Namibia visa-free. That ended on 1 April 2025, when Namibia introduced a visa requirement for citizens of more than 30 countries, including the US, Canada, the UK and Australia, as a reciprocal measure. The fee is N$1,600 for non-African-Union nationals, roughly US$88 (the figure moves a little with the exchange rate, since it is set in Namibian dollars).
Because the change is recent, much of the search results still says Namibia is visa-free for Americans. It is not. Do not rely on an old blog post, check the official portal.
Two ways to get it: e-Visa or on arrival
e-Visa (recommended): apply online in advance at the official portal, upload a passport photo and your passport page, pay the fee, and carry a printed copy of your approval to show on arrival. Processing is usually quick, but give it a week to be safe.
Visa on arrival: available at Hosea Kutako International Airport (Windhoek) and Walvis Bay airport, and at high-volume land borders such as Katima Mulilo and Ngoma. It works, but applying online first avoids any queue or uncertainty at the border.
What you need to bring
Have these ready whichever route you choose:
- A passport valid for at least six months with at least three blank pages.
- Proof of accommodation and a travel itinerary.
- Travel or medical insurance for your trip.
- Proof of sufficient funds for your stay.
- If traveling with children, unabridged birth certificates, plus a notarized consent letter if one parent is traveling alone with a child.
How long you can stay, and before you land
The visa is normally issued for 30 days, though an immigration officer may grant up to 90 days on arrival, with multiple entry within the period, and you can apply to extend at the Ministry of Home Affairs in Windhoek. One extra fee to know: cruise passengers coming ashore at Walvis Bay and Luderitz pay a separate N$300 day-visit fee.
The visa system is new and still settling, so treat any fee or rule as subject to change and confirm it on the official portal close to your trip. Work, study and volunteer visas must be arranged through a Namibian embassy in advance, this route covers tourism and short visits only. For how money works once you are in, see the Namibia money guide.
Common questions
Quick answers.
Do US citizens need a visa for Namibia in 2026?
Yes, since 1 April 2025. It costs N$1,600 (about US$88). Apply for the e-Visa in advance at eservices.mhaiss.gov.na, or get a visa on arrival at the main airports and larger borders. It is normally 30 days with multiple entry. Older 'visa-free' content is out of date.
How much is a Namibia visa for Americans?
N$1,600 for non-African-Union nationals, roughly US$88, since it is set in Namibian dollars and moves with the exchange rate. Children under 6 are exempt. Cruise passengers coming ashore at Walvis Bay or Luderitz pay a separate N$300 day-visit fee.
Can I get a Namibia visa on arrival?
Yes, at Hosea Kutako (Windhoek) and Walvis Bay airports and at high-volume borders like Katima Mulilo and Ngoma. But applying online for the e-Visa first, and carrying a printed approval, avoids queues and uncertainty at the border.
What is the official Namibia visa website?
eservices.mhaiss.gov.na, the Ministry of Home Affairs, Immigration, Safety and Security portal. The system is new, so confirm the current fee and requirements there before you travel.
More on Namibia
The little money things nobody warns you about.
- Do I need cash in Namibia, or can I use cards?In Windhoek and the tourist towns, cards are fine. The catch is the driving: Namibia is a road-trip country, and fuel and remote stops often mean cash. Here is how to plan for both.
- Tipping in NamibiaNamibia has a modest, friendly tipping culture with a couple of local twists: you tip the person who pumps your fuel, and safari guides and lodge staff are where tipping really counts.
- Taxis and getting around NamibiaNamibia is a self-drive country first and foremost. If you are not renting a car, ride-hailing exists only in the main towns, and it is not the apps you know from home. Here is how it really works.
Sources, and how this was checked
Last checkedJul 2026
- US Embassy in Namibianew entry requirements for US citizen tourists, effective 1 April 2025
- Republic of Namibia, Ministry of Home Affairsthe official e-Services e-Visa portal
Our own readThe visa requirement from 1 April 2025 and the N$1,600 fee are confirmed by the US Embassy in Namibia and the Namibian government; the US dollar figure is approximate since the fee is set in Namibian dollars, and the system is new, so confirm current details on the official portal. Checked July 2026.