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Country-Specific Information:
- The Ministry of Health and Social Services has confirmed 12,367 cases of COVID-19 in Namibia. Of these, 10,528 have recovered and 132 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); public gatherings are limited: has been increased from 50 to a maximum of 200 persons until 30 November 2020; masks are still mandatory in public.
- Grocery stores remain well-stocked, and restaurants may operate normally.
- Alcohol can be sold from licensed vendors until 18:00 Monday through Friday, and until 13:00 on Saturdays.
Entry and Exit Requirements:
- Are U.S. citizens permitted to enter? Yes
- U.S. citizens with permanent residence in Namibia or with valid work permits may enter.
- U.S. citizens are permitted to enter as tourists under the announced Tourism Revival Initiative and will now be permitted to proceed to their final destination in the country, until 30 November 2020.
- Information about the Tourism Revival Initiative can be found here.
- Is a negative COVID-19 test (PCR and/or serology) required for entry? Yes
- U.S. citizens entering as tourists must present a negative COVID-19 PCR test result, valid for 72 hours before boarding their flight to Namibia.
- U.S. citizens who are residents (permit holders) of Namibia may now enter the country with or without a COVID-19 PCR test result, until 30 November 2020. In the event such persons present a positive test result or no result at all, they will be subjected to mandatory quarantine and testing or isolation, after arrival. (It is recommended that U.S. citizens who are residents of Namibia to continue to present a negative COVID-19 PCR test result, valid for 7 days before boarding their flight to 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? No
- 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.
- However, all travellers who arrive in Namibia with a negative PCR test result that is older than 72 hours but not older than 7 days, will be permitted to enter the country. But they will be required to undergo 7-days supervised quarantine at home or tourism facility. In the event that these environments do not fulfil quarantine requirements, the travellers will be placed under mandatory Government quarantine facilities at own cost.
COVID-19 Testing:
- 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.
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 $2,000.00 Namibian dollars.
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. Please email ConsularWindhoek@state.gov to request an appointment.
- Routine visa services are suspended at this time except for visa interviews for the following categories: F, M, J (certain types not affected by Presidential Proclamation), E, I, O and P. Applicants in these categories should email ConsularWindhoek@state.gov to request an appointment. Emergency applications for other visa categories will be reviewed ONLY if they meet the criteria listed here. If you believe you meet these emergency criteria, please email ConsularWindhoek@state.gov to request an appointment.
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:
