Entry to Namibia

Namibia is a popular destination for German tourists. No wonder, because the country has a lot to offer. For example, the Etosha National Park, which spans over 22,000 square kilometers and where there are plenty of wild animals to discover. The culture of the San has remained unchanged for tens of thousands of years. In Swakopmund, travelers are surprised by the surprisingly German culture – the Black Forest cherry is also a must here. The highest dune in the world is located in the Namib, the Big Daddy west of Sossusvlei. In the south, the largest canyon in Africa and the second largest on earth awaits to be explored: the Fish River Canyon with a length of 160 kilometers, a width of 27 kilometers and up to 550 meters depth.

Anyone who finally wants to turn their dream of a trip to Namibia into reality needs to pay attention to a few things to ensure that entry and stay go smoothly. This article provides information about the required documents and visa regulations. It also highlights what to consider when traveling with children and the regulations if you want to bring your dog along. Additionally, it addresses the necessary vaccinations and other health peculiarities that should be considered on this trip. What other airports are there besides the largest one in Windhoek ? What are the customs regulations for tourists? And what applies if you want to bring donations into the country? What must one consider during transit and where can one find the nearest German foreign representation in an emergency? In the end, no question remains unanswered and travelers can set off well-prepared on their way to an unforgettable adventure.

For entry into Namibia, German nationals need a valid or provisional passport. At the time of entry, the passport must still be valid for at least six months. In addition, at least two pages must be free and in a pristine, undamaged condition.

German citizens who enter for short stays of a maximum of 90 days and solely for tourist purposes do not need a visa. Upon arrival, they receive a free entry stamp at all official border crossings. The entry stamp is usually limited to one entry and the duration of the planned stay, which is derived from the return flight date. If one overstays their permission, they must expect strict penalties (such as imprisonment). Should an extension of stay become necessary during the stay for health reasons, one should apply for a visa extension at the Ministry of the Interior as soon as possible. This is subject to a fee.

Those traveling for business, unpaid activities, or study purposes require a visa in any case. This must be applied for well in advance of entry. As a journalist, one needs a work visa in Namibia. Those entering from South Africa must comply with the entry regulations in force since 2015. If one overstays their visa, they will be declared an undesirable person and receive an entry ban.

Those traveling with minor children in Namibia must carry an international birth certificate of these, showing the parents. If only one parent is traveling with the child, consent for travel from the other parent is required or alternatively a confirmation that the accompanying parent holds sole custody.

If you are entering for business reasons, for unpaid work or for studies, you always need a visa. This must be applied for before entering the country. Journalists need a work visa in Namibia. Those entering from South Africa must comply with the entry regulations in force since 2015. Anyone who overstays their visa will be declared an undesirable person and will not be allowed to enter again.

Anyone traveling with minor children to or through Namibia must carry an international birth certificate identifying the parents. If only one parent is traveling with the child, the consent of the other parent or proof that the traveling parent has sole custody of the child is required.

For direct entry to Namibia from Germany, currently no mandatory vaccinations are prescribed. However, if one enters from a yellow fever area or has spent more than twelve hours in transit in a yellow fever area before entering, a yellow fever vaccination must be presented. This applies to all individuals from nine months of age. 

Namibia itself is not a yellow fever area.

It is recommended to keep all standard vaccinations according to the vaccination calendar of the RKI up to date. In addition, vaccinations against Hepatitis A, Typhoid, Rabies, and Meningococcal are recommended. Those who plan to stay longer in the country should also get vaccinated against Hepatitis B.

The spread of Dengue fever in Namibia is not sufficiently researched. However, the risk is considered low and complications in travelers are rather rare. It is recommended to protect oneself carefully from mosquito bites during the day through exposure prophylaxis.

Particularly for non-immune Europeans, Malaria poses a great danger, as the disease can break out even months after the trip. If untreated, it often ends fatally. The disease is transmitted by the Anopheles mosquito, which is active at dusk and night. Especially the north and northeast of Namibia are considered malaria risk areas. No risk exists, however, in Windhoek, along the coast, in the Namib Desert, and south of Karasburg. Protection is provided by wearing light-colored clothing covering the body and regular application of insect repellent on all unprotected body parts. At night, an impregnated mosquito net provides protection. Additionally, certain prescription medications can be taken as prophylaxis, such as Mefloquine or Doxycycline. These are prescription only.

Children require a child's passport, which must be valid for at least six months upon entry. In addition, minors must carry a birth certificate listing their parents. An international birth certificate or alternatively a certified English translation is required. Unaccompanied minors need the written consent of both parents in English for entry and exit. This must be accompanied by a certified copy of the parents' passports.

If a child is traveling with only one parent, the consent of the non-present parent for the trip must be provided. This requires an affidavit, a copy of the passport, and the contact details of the non-present parent. Alternatively, a court order for the sole custody of the present parent is required or the death certificate of the absent parent. A negative certificate from the German Youth Welfare Office is also permissible. It is important that all submitted documents are issued in English or are certified translations into English.

Basically, it is possible to enter Namibia with a dog. The import of a dog or other pet is permitted under the condition that the veterinary office in Germany certifies that the animal's region of origin has been free of rabies for twelve months or that the animal has been vaccinated against rabies. For the import of a dog, there are special application forms that can be obtained from the Namibian embassy. At the latest six weeks before entering, they must be submitted to the veterinary office in Namibia. This then issues an import permit for the dog.

It should be noted that not every airline allows the transport of a dog. If he is to travel in the cabin, his weight must not exceed six kilos. If he is heavier, he must travel in the cargo area of the airplane. When returning, the European formalities for the import of a dog must be observed again. Moreover, the journey takes ten hours. One should carefully consider whether their animal can handle it well.

The following can be imported into the country duty-free:

Items of personal use

• maximum two liters of wine
• maximum one liter of spirits
• maximum 200 cigarettes or 20 cigars and no more than 250 g of pipe tobacco
• maximum 50 ml of perfume
• maximum 250 ml of toilet water (Eau de Toilette)
• other new or used goods up to a maximum value of 1,250 Namibian dollars.

To import these goods, the stay in Namibia must be between two and 30 days. Additional goods and items valued between 5,000 and 20,000 Namibian dollars are subject to a 20% import duty per person. All goods exceeding a value of 10,000 Namibian dollars must be cleared at the applicable rates. Minors under 18 years of age may not import any alcohol, tobacco, or weapons into the country. Otherwise, the above provisions apply equally to them.

There are separate regulations for the importation of weapons and pets such as dogs and cats. Applications must be made at the Namibian embassy for this. Additionally, each airline has its own regulations. The importation of certain goods requires a special permit in advance. This applies, for example, to meat, flowers, honey, plants, or medicine.

Anyone wishing to import donated goods must obtain a special customs and VAT exemption available from the Namibian Ministry of Finance. In the second step, with the exemption, an import permit must be obtained through the Ministry of Trade and Industry. Clothing and food are generally excluded from the exemption. Those who need the relevant permit can contact the Namibian embassy. Donations can be made to educational institutions, hospitals, charitable organizations, churches, or sports clubs.

The largest and most popular airport in the country is in Windhoek. This is where the largest passenger traffic occurs. Also, most flights from Germany land here. The airport is serviced by major airlines such as Lufthansa, Qatar, or Ethiopia. The travel duration and connections are best with Lufthansa. There are many - and more expensive - flights to the country around New Year's, Easter, and during the summer holidays. Currently, prices are significantly higher during these peak times than before Corona. In the high season, flights cost three times as much as in the off-season.

The airport in Rooikop is the most important on the West Coast and a major hub for cargo. The airport in Ondangwa was formerly used exclusively for military purposes but is now in civilian use. It has two runways. Namibia's seaports are Lüderitz and Walvis Bay.

In addition to the airport in Windhoek, the international airports in Namibia include Grootfontein, Katima Mulilo, Keetmanshoop, Lüderitz, Odangwa, Rundu, Rooikop, and Hosea Kutako.

The country's main tourist destinations all have smaller airports, helicopter landing sites, or airstrips. Anyone wishing to land at a small airfield must book their landing there. It is important to note that there is usually no fuel available. Currently, the country has more than 200 registered landing sites for airplanes and helicopters.

For a transit, the same entry requirements apply in Namibia as for an entry. This means that the traveling person's passport must be valid for at least six more months and must not be damaged in any way. You can also travel with a temporary passport, which must also be in perfect condition. In any case, there must be at least two pages free in the passport. Since the transit does not exceed 90 days, you do not need a visa. It is important to note that transit passengers entering from a yellow fever area must provide proof of yellow fever vaccination. This applies to everyone older than nine months.

Minor travelers need, in addition to a children's passport that is still valid for at least six months, an international birth certificate that identifies their parents' identity. The entry regulations for children also require in a transit that the parents must give their consent to the travel. If the parents are not both present, the consent of the absent parent must be in English. Additionally, a certified copy of the parent's passport and their contact details must be attached.

A transit visa for Namibia is available upon presentation of the flight ticket and the valid passport. In addition, an application must be filled out and you need three biometric passport photos. The signature on the application must match the one in the passport. German citizens require a visa. Foreigners living in Germany need a residence permit. The visa of the destination country must be registered in the passport. If you have the entry papers for a third country and do not leave the transit zone at the Namibian airport, you do not need a visa.

The German foreign representation in Namibia is located in the capital city, Windhoek. The address is:
Sanlam Centre, 6th Floor, Independence Ave 145, Windhoek.
The embassy is open from Monday to Thursday from 07:30 AM to 04:45 PM. On Friday, it opens at 07:30 AM and closes already at 01:30 PM. Appointments must be made for all consular affairs, which can be done online on the embassy's webpage. The embassy is closed on the usual Namibian holidays. In addition to the Christian holidays (Christmas, New Year, Easter, Pentecost, and Ascension Day), the embassy is also closed on Kassinga Day (May 4) and Namibian Independence Day (March 21). It is also closed on International Women's Day (March 8) and on International Human Rights Day (December 10). The same applies for the Day of German Unity (October 3).

The building has barrier-free access via elevators and the embassy has wheelchair-accessible sanitary facilities.

In case of urgent emergencies concerning German nationals outside of business hours, the embassy's emergency service can be contacted. This is only for emergencies that cannot be postponed to the next working day. In such cases, only emergency measures are taken. The phone number of the emergency service is (+264 81) 1 24 35 72. Someone can always be reached after hours until 10 PM, as well as on weekends and public holidays between 08:00 AM and 10:00 PM.

Due to corruption prevention, employees of the embassy are not allowed to accept any rewards or personal gifts without the explicit consent of the office. Other benefits are also off-limits for employees.

Namibia is a country full of highlights. It can be discovered on one's own by rental car, as it is a safe country to travel. Starting from Windhoek, one can explore the Kalahari Desert, Keetmanshoop, the Fish River Canyon, Big Daddy in Sossusvlei, Swakopmund, the Etosha National Park and the Waterberg Plateau.

Alternatively, a similar round trip can be done as a group tour. Here, an additional day with the San, the oldest ethnic group in Africa, could be integrated.

A beautiful nature and adventure trip can include the desert, the dunes, and the Etosha National Park, as well as the green Caprivi Strip. Here, one can visit the Mafwe, the kings of Caprivi and conclude the trip with a boat safari featuring hippos.