PassportSouth Africa

Trip checklist: Namibia

For South African passport holders. Last checked 5 October 2026.

Visa requirement

South Africans don't need a visa for Namibia.

Permitted stay

You can stay up to 90 days per year.

Before you go

  • 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.

  • Passport validity

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

  • 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).

  • 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.

  • 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).

  • Proof of funds

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

  • Accommodation or invitation

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

  • 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.

  • Arrival forms

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

  • Extending your stay and overstaying

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

  • Transit

    Visa-exempt; no transit visa needed.

  • 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.

  • Confirm with the embassy

    Rules change. Check the official source before you book.

Where to apply

Research sources

  1. 1. Republic of Namibia, Ministry of Home Affairs, Immigration, Safety and Security (fact sheet, 28 May 2025) (Official, eservices.mhaiss.gov.na) https://eservices.mhaiss.gov.na/form/FactSheetVisaRequirementstoNamibia.pdf
  2. 2. Embassy of the Republic of Namibia, Berlin (Official, namibia-botschaft.de) https://www.namibia-botschaft.de/list-of-countries-with-visa-exemption-agreements-with-namibia/
  3. 3. MHAISS e-Services portal, Namibia (Official, eservices.mhaiss.gov.na) https://eservices.mhaiss.gov.na/
  4. 4. Embassy of the Republic of Namibia, Washington DC (fact sheet 18 March 2025) (Official, namibiaembassyusa.org) https://www.namibiaembassyusa.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/Fact-Sheet-Visa-Requirements-to-Namibia_18.03.25.pdf
  5. 5. UK FCDO (updated 2025-12-10) (Other government, gov.uk) https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/namibia/entry-requirements
  6. 6. DIRCO, South African High Commission Canberra (Other government, dirco.gov.za) https://dirco.gov.za/canberra/yellow-fever/
  7. 7. Wikipedia (Reference, en.wikipedia.org) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Visa_policy_of_Namibia

From doineedavisa.co.za/namibia. Always confirm with the embassy before you travel.