WINDHOEK, July 23 (Xinhua) -- Namibia's Ministry of Home Affairs, Immigration, Safety, and Security (MHAISS) has issued a public clarification over its arrival form procedures to address confusion among international travelers.
The updated guidelines aim to streamline the entry process for certain categories of visitors.
MHAISS Executive Director Etienne Maritz, in a statement released Tuesday, said that not all travelers are required to complete arrival forms upon entry into Namibia.
This exemption applies to Namibian citizens, individuals domiciled in Namibia (which includes non-Namibians married to Namibian citizens and their dependent children), and holders of permanent residence permits issued under Namibia's Immigration Control Act of 1996.
Additionally, travelers holding e-visas are no longer required to complete a separate arrival form if their e-visa explicitly indicates that it serves this purpose. These individuals are simply required to sign the printed e-visa in the presence of an immigration officer at the port of entry, Maritz said.
However, he said, travelers who obtained their e-visas before the implementation of the new e-visa format will still need to complete an arrival form, as their version does not serve this dual purpose.
"This requirement will remain in effect until all older e-visas are phased out. Travelers with older e-visas are encouraged to log into the e-visa portal and download the updated version of their visa, which now includes arrival form functionality," Maritz added.
He urged travelers to carefully read the conditions stated on their e-visa and visit the ministry's website and social media platforms regularly for the latest updates.
"The ministry remains committed to facilitating smooth and efficient entry procedures while ensuring compliance with immigration requirements," Maritz said.
Namibia launched its new visa-on-arrival application form and e-visa-for-visa-on-arrival system on April 1 to simplify the visa application process for international travelers. ■
