PassportSouth Africa

Namibia: do South Africans need a visa?

South Africans don't need a visa for Namibia. You can stay up to 90 days per year.

Visa-free. South Africa is on the Ministry of Home Affairs, Immigration, Safety and Security (MHAISS) list of visa-exempted nationalities. Namibia's 1 April 2025 change (visa now required for UK, EU, US and others) does NOT affect South Africans.12

Before you travel

Purpose of visit

Holiday/tourism and visits. Business visits under the exemption not separately defined in sources checked; MHAISS offers separate MICE visas and short-term employment permits, so paid or project work needs a permit.15

Not yet confirmed by an official source

Passport validity

Valid at least 6 months after date of entry, with at least 3 blank pages.64

Confirmed on an official government source

How to apply

No application needed; visitor's entry permit issued at the border. For reference, nationals who do need visas use the official portal eservices.mhaiss.gov.na (visa on arrival NAD 1,200 for African nationals, NAD 1,600 for others).15

Confirmed on an official government source

Where South Africans apply

Not applicable for visits. For permits: Namibian High Commission in Pretoria, or MHAISS in Windhoek. Extensions at MHAISS regional offices in Namibia.1

Not yet confirmed by an official source

Travel insurance

Not published by official sources

Return or onward ticket

Return or onward ticket required (Visit Namibia lists a valid return ticket; MHAISS fact sheet says proof of onward travel if required).64

Confirmed by other governments' official advice

Proof of funds

Proof of financial means for the stay may be required (MHAISS fact sheet, general entry requirement); no amount published.6

Confirmed on an official government source

Accommodation or invitation

Hotel booking, host invitation or itinerary may be requested (MHAISS fact sheet).6

Confirmed on an official government source

Vaccinations, including yellow fever on return to South Africa

Namibia: yellow fever certificate required for travellers from yellow-fever endemic zones, checked by Port Health before immigration; not required for travel from South Africa. Namibia is not on South Africa's yellow fever risk list, so no certificate needed on return to SA.17

Confirmed on an official government source

Arrival forms

Paper arrival/departure form at the border; no online pre-registration required for exempt nationals found.

Not yet confirmed by an official source

Extending your stay and overstaying

Extensions possible at MHAISS regional offices. Overstay penalties not published in sources checked.1

Confirmed on an official government source

Transit

Visa-exempt; no transit visa needed.1

Confirmed on an official government source

Travelling with children

Children under 18 need their own valid passport and a full (unabridged) birth certificate showing both parents (original or certified copy); abridged certificates not accepted (FCDO, rule applies to all foreigners). Where one parent is absent, carry a parental consent affidavit. South Africa's own departure rules for minors also apply.4

Confirmed by other governments' official advice

What changed

1 April 2025Namibia ended visa-free entry for 33 nationalities lacking reciprocity (UK, EU, US, Canada, Australia, etc.) and introduced visa on arrival / e-visa at eservices.mhaiss.gov.na. South Africans remain visa-exempt.

Sources

Official

The destination's own government

  1. 1Republic of Namibia, Ministry of Home Affairs, Immigration, Safety and Security (fact sheet, 28 May 2025) eservices.mhaiss.gov.na
  2. 2Embassy of the Republic of Namibia, Berlin namibia-botschaft.de
  3. 5MHAISS e-Services portal, Namibia eservices.mhaiss.gov.na
  4. 6Embassy of the Republic of Namibia, Washington DC (fact sheet 18 March 2025) namibiaembassyusa.org

Other government

Official advice from other governments

  1. 4UK FCDO (updated 2025-12-10) gov.uk
  2. 7DIRCO, South African High Commission Canberra dirco.gov.za

Reference

Used to find official sources, never the final word

  1. 3Wikipedia en.wikipedia.org

Last researched 5 October 2026. Rules change; confirm with the embassy before you book.