🇳🇦 Namibia Visa Guide for Indian Passport Holders

Important: this is a recent change for Indian passport holders

If you've read older guidance describing Namibia as visa-free for Indians, that information is now outdated. Confirmed directly from the Namibian Ministry of Home Affairs, Immigration, Safety and Security's (MHAISS) own FAQ page: as of 1 April 2025, Namibia ended visa-free access for citizens of countries — India explicitly among them — that had not reciprocated Namibia's own visa exemption gesture. Indian passport holders now need a visa to enter Namibia.

At a glance

Despite its name, Namibia's "Visa on Arrival" is not something you obtain literally at the airport — per MHAISS's own Fact Sheet, you must apply online before you travel, through the official e-Services portal. An approval letter alone, even with proof of payment, is not sufficient for entry — your visa must be properly issued (as a loose-leaf document) or endorsed in your passport before you arrive, or you may be issued a short-validity entry visa at the port of entry specifically to allow your pre-approved visa to be processed and endorsed.

Choose your purpose of travel

The standard 90-day holiday visa covers tourism and general visits, and can be issued as a multiple-entry visa allowing you to leave and re-enter Namibia during its validity without needing a new application. Business visits, medical treatment, workshops, meetings, and exploring business opportunities are also covered under the general "Visitor's Entry Permit" category — separate from paid employment or work of any kind, which requires a different permit.

Visa requirement for an Indian passport holder

A visa is required for entry, applied for online in advance through the official MHAISS e-Services portal.

Where and how to apply

• Apply entirely online at the official portal: eservices.mhaiss.gov.na — MHAISS's own guidance directs holiday visa (e-visa/visa-on-arrival) and short-term employment permit applications here.
• Other permits must be applied for manually — check the MHAISS website for the specific process if your purpose doesn't fit the standard holiday/business categories.

iamravi.com is not affiliated with the Government of Namibia, MHAISS, or any Namibian diplomatic mission. All application, payment, and issuance steps happen through the official eservices.mhaiss.gov.na platform — never here.

Eligibility and passport conditions

You must be able to demonstrate you have adequate funds for your stay, per MHAISS's own guidance for the 90-day holiday visa. State clearly how many days you want the visa for when applying — you'll be granted the specific number of days you request.

Application steps

1. Complete the online application at eservices.mhaiss.gov.na, specifying your purpose of visit and the number of days you're requesting (up to 90).
2. Upload the required documents, including your passport details and proof of adequate funds.
3. Pay the applicable fee through the online portal.
4. Wait for your visa to be issued or endorsed — remember, an approval letter alone is not sufficient for travel.
5. Travel with your properly issued/endorsed visa — if you're eligible for visa-on-arrival processing and travel with only an approval letter, you'll need to obtain a short-validity entry visa at the port of entry first, for a fee, to allow your approved visa to be endorsed.
6. If you need more days once in Namibia, apply for an extension at one of MHAISS's specific regional offices (Windhoek, Keetmanshoop, Grootfontein, Rundu, Outapi, Ondangwa, Walvis Bay Harbour, or Katima Mulilo) — note that if you arrive close to your visa's expiry date, you'll only be issued a visa for the remaining days, not a fresh 90-day period.

Forms required

The entire holiday visa/Visa on Arrival application is completed online through the official MHAISS e-Services portal.

Document checklist

Per MHAISS's own general visa guidance: a completed visa application form, a certified copy of your passport's personal data page, a motivation letter (from yourself, your inviter, or employer, stating the purpose of your visit), proof of your current and previous visa/permit status if applicable, and proof of adequate funds for your stay. All documents should be in English or accompanied by a sworn translation.

Fees

We were not able to reconcile a single, confirmed fee figure from the primary MHAISS sources retrieved during this review. Secondary sources report meaningfully different figures — some cite approximately NAD 1,600 for the standard adult e-visa (with lower rates for children and free entry for young children), others cite approximately USD 44. These figures do not convert cleanly to the same amount, so confirm the exact current fee directly within the official application at eservices.mhaiss.gov.na before paying, rather than relying on either figure from secondary sources.

Processing information

Widely reported guidance suggests standard online visa/Visa on Arrival processing takes around 48 hours to a few calendar days — apply with enough lead time before travel, and remember that even a fast approval must still result in a properly issued or endorsed visa before you fly, not just an approval letter.

Common mistakes

• Assuming Namibia is still visa-free for Indian passport holders — this changed on 1 April 2025.
• Traveling with only an approval letter (with or without proof of payment) and assuming this is sufficient for entry — MHAISS's own guidance is explicit that it is not.
• Assuming "Visa on Arrival" means you can apply at the airport without any prior online application — you must apply online before travel.
• Assuming a re-entry near your visa's expiry date grants a fresh 90-day period — you'll only be issued the remaining days.

Official links

• MHAISS — Implementation Modalities of Visa Requirements to Namibia (Fact Sheet)
• MHAISS — Frequently Asked Questions on Visa Requirements
• MHAISS — E-Services: Visa on Arrival (official application portal)