The visa requirement also applies to travelers from Austria and Switzerland. With your passport, passport photo, and flight details at hand, the application is done quickly. We'll also show you which documents you need when you enter the country, what applies when you travel with children, and what to watch out for as a hunter.
Do I need a visa for Namibia as a German?
Yes. Since April 1, 2025, German citizens can only enter Namibia for tourism with a valid visa. Before that, you could stay for up to 90 days without a visa. The rule also applies to Austrians, Swiss citizens, and other nationalities.
Which travel documents are accepted for Namibia?
Besides the visa, your passport matters most. At entry, it must still be valid for at least six months beyond the end of your trip, be in good condition and easy to read, and have at least three blank pages.
| Travel document | Can you enter Namibia with it? |
|---|---|
| Passport | Yes |
| Temporary passport | Yes |
| Children's passport | Yes |
| National ID card | No |
| Temporary ID card | No |
What are the ways to get the visa?
There are three ways to get a Namibia visa. Namibia's Ministry of Home Affairs, Immigration, Safety and Security recommends applying online before your trip, because it makes entry much quicker.
| Option | How it works | Good to know |
|---|---|---|
| Online as an e-visa (recommended) | Apply in advance on the official portal, pay by credit card, print the e-visa with its QR code. | Saves time when you arrive. You need your passport, a passport photo, and a credit card. |
| Visa on Arrival at entry | Apply and pay right at border control, for example at Hosea Kutako International Airport in Windhoek or in Walvis Bay. | Possible, but expect to wait. Only at selected airports, ports, and border crossings. |
| At the Namibian embassy in Berlin | Apply in person with the form, photos, and supporting documents; pay by bank transfer. | According to the embassy, from 80 euros for a single entry; processing takes at least 3 business days. The embassy itself recommends applying online. |
Can I also get the Namibia visa on arrival?
Yes, you can also get the visa right when you enter, at the designated border posts. These include Hosea Kutako International Airport near Windhoek and Walvis Bay Airport. Because the waits there can be long, we recommend applying online in advance.
How much does the Namibia visa cost, and how long is it valid?
How much does the Namibia visa cost?
The visa costs 1,600 Namibian dollars per adult, which is about 80 to 85 euros depending on the exchange rate. You pay the fee by credit card on the online portal. You'll see the final amount on the payment page before you pay. Children pay reduced fees. Children under 6 don't pay the visa fee at all, while children aged 6 to 11 pay half, which is 800 Namibian dollars. You can file the application yourself without an agency, so you don't have to pay any extra service fees. Make sure you only use the official portal of the Ministry of Home Affairs, Immigration, Safety and Security.
How long is the Namibia visa valid?
The visa is valid for 90 days and usually allows multiple entries. That way you can, for example, take a trip to Botswana or Victoria Falls and then enter Namibia again. Germany's Federal Foreign Office currently states 90 days. When the new rule first came in, there was sometimes talk of only 30 days, so check the actual duration on your e-visa. Also enter a realistic arrival date in your application, because the authorities issue the visa based on the details you give.
Make sure the border officials write your full travel period into your passport when you enter. In a few cases, they set a shorter period than the one applied for. Never stay longer than you're allowed to, because that can lead to an entry ban.
What you need before you apply
Have the following documents and details ready before you start the application. That way you won't have to stop halfway through.
- Passport (valid for at least 6 months beyond the end of your trip, at least 3 blank pages)
- Passport photo as a JPG image file, file size under 300 KB
- Scan of the passport data page as a PDF file, 2 MB at most
- A working email address that you can access
- Flight details with the booking reference or ticket number of your return or onward flight
- Address and phone number of your first accommodation in Namibia
- Credit card to pay the visa fee
Applying for the Namibia visa online, step by step
This guide follows the steps in the official portal. For each field, you'll find what to enter there. The field names in the portal are in English, and we give them exactly as they appear. The portal may name or order some fields slightly differently, and if it does, go by what the field is asking for.
Step 1: create an account in the portal
Go to the official portal of Namibia's Ministry of Home Affairs, Immigration, Safety and Security at eservices.mhaiss.gov.na/visaonarrival. If you don't have an account yet, choose the option to register there (Register or Create One).
| Portal field | What you enter | Tip |
|---|---|---|
| Name (First Name, Surname) | Your full first name and surname | Write it exactly as it appears in your passport. |
| Your email address | Use an address you check every day. | |
| Password | A password of your choice | Write it down, because you'll need it more than once. |
| Confirm Password | The password again | Then click Register. |
Step 2: confirm your email and log in
Shortly after you register, you'll get an automatic email. Click Confirm Your Account in it. Then log in to the portal with your email address and password. If no email arrives, check your spam folder.
Step 3: choose Visa on Arrival and start a new application
On the E-Services home page, choose the Visa on Arrival section. Then click New Visa on Arrival Application to start your application.
Step 4: enter your passport details
In the first section, you enter the details from your passport. You'll find them on the passport's data page.
| Portal field | What you enter | Tip |
|---|---|---|
| Citizenship | Germany | Choose your country from the list. Austrians choose Austria, Swiss citizens Switzerland. |
| Passport Number | Your passport number | No spaces, exactly as in your passport. If it causes trouble, the practical tip below helps. |
| Place Of Issue | Place of issue or issuing authority | As it appears in your passport. |
| Date Of Issue | Date of issue | Pick the date in the calendar field. |
| Date Of Expiry | Passport expiration date | Your passport must be valid for 6 more months beyond the end of your trip. |
| Passport Valid For Travel | Yes | Only Yes makes sense. |
| Purpose Of Travel | Holiday / Tourism / Recreations | For a vacation, a hunting trip included. |
Practical tip if the portal won't accept your passport number
The passport number is a common stumbling block, because its format differs from passport to passport.
| Passport | What the number looks like |
|---|---|
| Regular passport (since 2007) | Nine characters, starting with a letter (C, F, G, H, J, or K). The letters A, B, D, E, I, O, Q, S, and U never appear, so what looks like an O is always the digit zero. |
| Temporary passport | Eight characters: one letter (A or B) and seven digits. |
With a temporary passport, for example when you travel with a child, the portal sometimes won't accept the number with the letter at the start. In that case, leave out the first letter and enter only the seven digits. In practice, that got the application through. After downloading, check that your name and the other details on the e-visa are correct.
For every passport, enter the number without spaces and in capital letters. If nothing helps, try a different browser or device, or try again later.
Step 5: personal details
The Particulars of Applicant section asks for your personal details.
| Portal field | What you enter | Tip |
|---|---|---|
| First Name | First name(s) | As in your passport. |
| Surname | Surname | As in your passport. |
| Previous Surnames | Previous surnames | Optional, only if you have any. |
| Marital Status | Marital status | You can choose Single, Married, Widowed, or Divorced. |
| Gender | Male or Female | Matching your passport. |
| Date Of Birth | Date of birth | Select it in the calendar field. |
| Country Of Birth | Germany | Or the country you were actually born in. |
| Place Of Birth | Place of birth | As in your passport. |
Step 6: travel details
In the Applicant's Travel Details section, you give details about your trip. This is where most mistakes happen, so it pays to look closely.
| Portal field | What you enter | Tip |
|---|---|---|
| Will You Have Money On Arrival In Namibia | Yes, then the amount in Namibian dollars (NAD) | Common guides say to enter at least 1,000 NAD. |
| Will You Be In Possession Of Onwards/Return Ticket | Yes | Only enter with a return or onward flight. |
| Ticket/Booking Reference Number | Booking reference or ticket number of your flight | You'll find it on your flight confirmation. |
| Intended Date Of Arrival In Namibia | The date you land in Namibia | On an overnight flight, this is usually the day after you depart. |
| Intended Port Of Arrival In Namibia | Hosea Kutako International Airport | That's the airport near Windhoek. |
| Number Of Days | Number of travel days | Including the days you arrive and leave. |
| Mode Of Travel | Air | Sea if you arrive by ship, Road if you come overland. |
| Places To Be Visited In Namibia | Full address and phone number of your first accommodation | Hotel, lodge, or guest farm, with phone number. |
Step 7: upload documents and confirm the declaration
In the Required Documents To Upload section, you upload your passport photo and passport scan and then confirm the declaration.
| Portal field | What you enter | Tip |
|---|---|---|
| Choose Your Passport Photo | Your passport photo as a JPG file | The file has to stay under 300 KB, or you'll get an error message. Make the photo smaller beforehand. |
| Upload Your Scan Copy Of Passport | The passport data page as a PDF | 2 MB at most. |
| Tick To Confirm The Declaration | Check the box | This confirms that your details are true. |
| Proceed | Click it | This sends off your application. |
Step 8: pay the visa fee
After you submit, a message appears with your reference number and a note that the application is approved. You only get the visa once you've paid. To pay, click Track and Pay Your Visa on Arrival Application and then the payment icon next to your application. Sometimes you first have to solve a short security check, for example by clicking on certain images.
| Field on the payment page | What you enter | Tip |
|---|---|---|
| Address, City, ZIP/Postal Code | Your billing address | As registered for your credit card. |
| Country Code, Country | (+49) Germany | For Germany. |
| Mobile | Your cell phone number | You select the country code separately. |
| Name, card number, expiration date, security code | Your credit card details | Then accept the terms and click Pay Now. |
Your bank may ask for an extra approval (3D Secure). Activate your credit card for payments abroad beforehand and keep your phone at hand.
Step 9: download and print the visa
Once the payment has gone through, you get a confirmation by email. Under Track and Pay Your Visa on Arrival Application, you download the e-visa as a PDF by clicking the download icon. Print the document with the QR code. You have to show it on paper when you enter the country.
Step 10: add more travelers
When several of you travel together, you only need one account. Start a separate application for each person via New Visa on Arrival Application and pay for each application on its own. Each person needs their own passport photo and their own passport scan.
Common mistakes in the application and how to avoid them
| Mistake | How to avoid it |
|---|---|
| The passport photo is too large | Save the photo as a JPG and shrink it to under 300 KB. |
| The passport scan is in the wrong format | Upload the data page as a PDF of 2 MB at most. |
| Name or date differs from the passport | Copy every detail exactly from your passport. |
| The portal won't accept the passport number | Check zero versus O, and check for spaces. On a temporary passport, leave out the first letter, see the practical tip under step 4. |
| The arrival date is wrong | Enter the day you land in Namibia, which on overnight flights is usually the day after you depart. |
| The confirmation email doesn't arrive | Check your spam folder and the spelling of your email address. |
| The payment fails | Activate your credit card for use abroad, have the 3D Secure approval ready, and if needed try a second card. |
| The portal is down | Try again later. If all else fails, you can also get the visa when you enter the country. |
| No printed copy of the visa | Print the e-visa with its QR code, ideally twice. |
Don't leave the visa until the last minute. We recommend applying a few weeks before your flight, so you have enough time if technical problems come up or a payment fails. If the portal doesn't accept your entry date yet, try again a few days later.
Entering Namibia: what to have with you
At the border, you show your passport, the printed e-visa, and further proof. It's best to keep all your documents in one folder in your carry-on.
What happens at passport control?
The border officials check your passport, the e-visa with its QR code, and proof of your return flight, accommodation, health insurance, and funds. You may also have to fill in a short arrival form. When they note the period of your stay in your passport, check right there that it matches the full length of your trip.
Do I have to declare cash?
You may bring Namibian dollars into the country up to an amount of 50,000 US dollars. From 5,000 Namibian dollars on, you have to declare the money when you enter. On departure, you can take out at most the amount you brought in.
Do I need a yellow fever vaccination?
For direct travel from Germany, Namibia requires no vaccinations. You only need a yellow fever vaccination if you arrive from a yellow fever area or spent more than 12 hours in transit there. Namibia itself is not a yellow fever area.
Namibia visa for children and families
Children also need a visa for Namibia and their own passport or children's passport. Start a separate application for each child in your account. Children under 6 pay no fee; children aged 6 to 11 pay half.
The border authorities also check custody when minors enter or leave the country. This applies to everyone under 18.
- With both parents. You need the passport and a birth certificate that lists the parents, ideally an international birth certificate or one with a certified English translation.
- With one parent. In this case you also need a declaration of consent from the other parent (an affidavit in English, with a copy of their passport and their contact details). Proof of sole custody works as an alternative.
- With other adults. Then you need the birth certificate, affidavits, and the contact details of both parents with custody.
You need to have affidavits certified, for example by a notary or at a Namibian embassy or consulate. Our advice: carry documents in English. Families are very welcome at Okavandu.
Entering with hunting firearms
Extra rules apply if you're coming to hunt. At entry, you have to present your hunting firearms at a dedicated counter in the airport's baggage claim area. The number of each firearm goes onto an application form, and you then get a temporary firearm license for Namibia on the spot. You cannot bring handguns into the country.
You don't need a valid hunting license from your home country. Foreign hunters may only hunt together with a Namibian, state-licensed professional hunter (PH), who gets the necessary hunting permit for you.
From landing to Okavandu
Hosea Kutako International Airport lies near Windhoek, and from there it's about 2 hours to Okavandu in the Erongo Region. After passport control you collect your luggage, and we'll pick you up at the airport if you like. The transfer is booked separately.
And one more tip for the application. For your first accommodation, enter the full address including the phone number, exactly as it appears on your booking confirmation.
Common questions about the Namibia visa
Bottom line: how to arrive in Namibia without stress
Applying for the Namibia visa is quick if you have your documents ready and go step by step. Apply in good time on the official portal, print out the e-visa, and put all your proof in your travel folder. That way, nothing stands in the way of your entry.
If you have questions about getting here or would like to plan your trip with us, we'd love to hear from you.
