Ask a COVID-19 Question
Last Updated January 19, 2021
Effective January 26, all airline passengers to the United States ages two years and older must provide a negative COVID-19 viral test taken within three calendar days of travel. Alternatively, travelers to the U.S. may provide documentation from a licensed health care provider of having recovered from COVID-19 in the 90 days preceding travel. Check the CDC website for additional information and Frequently Asked Questions.
Country-Specific Information:
- All regions of Namibia are currently experiencing an escalated COVID-19 risk.
- The Ministry of Health and Social Services has confirmed 30,753 cases of COVID-19 in Namibia. Of these 27,493 recovered and 293 have died.
- The Government of Namibia has implemented the following restrictions in response to the pandemic: closure of most land borders for tourism purposes (Only Katima Mulilo, Ariamsvlei, and Noordoewer border posts and Walvis Bay Harbor can be used for tourist entries by land and sea).
- The number of attendees at public gatherings (including sports events) is still limited to 50 people. Public gatherings may not exceed 2 hours and cannot continue beyond 20:00. Organizers must keep registers of attendance and ensure that hand sanitizer is available, face masks are used, and social distancing is practiced.
- Grocery stores remain well-stocked.
- A nationwide curfew is in place between 9:00 pm and 4:00 am daily.
- Sale of alcohol for on-site consumption (shebeens, bars, nightclubs, gambling houses, casinos and restaurants) is allowed from 9:00 am to 8:00 pm, Mondays to Saturdays. No sale of alcohol is allowed on Sundays and Public Holidays.
- Salons, beauty parlours, hairdressers, pools, spas, gyms, studios, and fitness canters shall practice public health measures. Both the service providers and clients must wear masks, sanitize, and maintain social
- All non-urgent medical procedures are postponed. Visitations to hospitalized patients is limited to 2 close relatives per visit for no more than ten minutes per visit.
- Vulnerable persons are advised to stay at home, except for attending to essential needs.
- The United States Government does not plan to provide COVID-19 vaccinations to private U.S. citizens overseas. Please follow host country developments and guidelines for COVID-19 vaccination.
COVID-19 Testing
- Are PCR and/or antigen tests available for U.S. citizens in Namibia? Yes
- If so, are test results reliably available within 72 hours? No
- U.S. citizens can obtain a COVID-19 test in Namibia from the private laboratory PathCare, which has multiple locations throughout the country. Testing is paid for by the citizen and costs N$850.00.
- COVID-19 test results from PathCare are emailed and sent via SMS to the individual who was tested.
- PathCare tests individuals for the purpose of travel by appointment only. Please email clients.namibia@pathcarenamibia.com for more information.
COVID-19 Vaccine Information:
- Has the government of Namibia approved a COVID-19 vaccine for use? No
- The United States Government does not plan to provide COVID-19 vaccinations to private U.S. citizens overseas. Please follow host country developments and guidelines for COVID-19 vaccination. According to Namibian Minister of Health and Social Services Kalumbi Shangula, Namibia has made progress in its preparation to acquire suitable COVID-19 vaccines. The government has paid to acquire enough vaccine doses to vaccine 20% of the population through the COVAX Facility. Namibia may receive a small–scale “first wave” of vaccine deliveries as early as the end of January or February. Additional resources need to be secured for acquisition of additional doses to vaccinate at least up to 60% of the population in order to achieve a desirable level of herd immunity. Namibia will prioritize frontline health care workers and population groups vulnerable to severe COVID-19 once the vaccine becomes available.
- Information from the CDC regarding COVID-19 vaccination.
Entry and Exit Requirements:
- Are U.S. citizens permitted to enter? Yes
- All non-Namibian travelers arriving in Namibia are required to present a negative COVID-19 PCR test result from their country of departure which is not older than 7 days. If the traveler meets this requirement, Non-Namibian travelers arriving with a negative result that is older than 7 days will be placed in quarantine and tested for COVID-19 on the same day at their own cost and will only be released if the results of this test return negative. This requirement does not apply to children under the age of 5 years. Information on this policy can be found here.
- U.S. Citizens with permanent residence in Namibia or with valid work permits may enter the country under the conditions described above OR will also be permitted to enter without a COVID-19 PCR test result or with a positive result. However, in cases of arrival without a COVID-19 test result or with a positive result, s/he will be swabbed immediately upon arrival and placed in quarantine until the new test result comes out negative, after which time they will be released from quarantine.
- Is a negative COVID-19 test (PCR and/or serology) required for entry? Yes
- Please see testing/entry requirements listed above, as they differ for U.S. citizen visitors vs. U.S. citizens normally resident in Namibia.
- Are health screening procedures in place at airports and other ports of entry? Yes
- Visa extensions for U.S. citizens in Namibia are processed by the Namibian Ministry of Home Affairs and Immigration. This service is offered at Counter #3 at the Home Affairs office in Windhoek.
Movement Restrictions:
- Is a curfew in place? Yes
- A nationwide curfew is in place between 9:00 pm and 4:00 am daily.
- Are there restrictions on intercity or interstate travel? No
Quarantine Information:
- Are U.S. citizens required to quarantine? No
- Arriving international tourists do not have to quarantine if they present a negative COVID-19 PCR test result that is not older than 7 days. However, non-Namibian travelers arriving with a negative result that is older than 7 days will be placed in quarantine and tested for COVID-19 on the same day at their own cost. If the results of this test come out negative, they will be released from quarantine. If positive, they will be isolated at their own cost, according to Namibia’s isolation protocols.
Transportation Options:
- Are commercial flights operating? Yes
- Ethiopian Airlines and Eurowings offer international flights to and from Namibia. Air Link and West Air Aviation have commenced regional flights between Namibia and South Africa.
- Is public transportation operating? Yes
- Passengers must use masks in all public transportation, including taxis.
Fines for Non-Compliance:
- Non-compliance with Namibian Government regulations on COVID-19 will result in fines of $100,000.00 Namibian dollars or 10 years imprisonment.
Consular Operations:
- Routine ACS services including passport applications, applications for Consular Reports of Birth Abroad, and notary services for documents to be used in the United States are available in limited quantities to ensure the safety and health of our customers and our staff, and are subject to cancellation with minimal notice due to changes in local health conditions. Please schedule an appointment on our website.
- In response to significant worldwide challenges related to the COVID19 pandemic, the United States Embassy in Windhoek, Namibia is unable to provide routine nonimmigrant visa services at this time. If you have an urgent matter that meets our criteria for an emergency appointment and need to travel immediately, please follow the guidance on this page and contact ConsularWindhoek@state.gov to request an emergency appointment. Only requests meeting the criteria outlined here will be considered.
Local Resources:
- If you believe you have symptoms of COVID-19 or may have been exposed, please contact +264-0800-100-100 to seek direction from the Namibian Ministry of Health and Social Services.
- Namibian Ministry of Health and Social Services Facebook page.
- Namibian Presidency Facebook page.
- Namibian Ministry of Information and Communication Technology Facebook page.
Other links:
- COVID-19 Traveler Information page on travel.state.gov
- CDC page on COVID-19
- Travel.state.gov Country Information and Travel Advisory page
