Location: Namibia (countrywide)
Event: Namibia Announces New Stages, Special Dispensation for Parts of Erongo
The Namibian Ministry of Health and Social Services has confirmed 67 cases of COVID-19 in Namibia. Twenty-one of these cases have recovered, and there have been no fatalities.
On June 22, 2020, the Namibian Government announced that the majority of Namibia will move forward to “Stage Four” of Namibia’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic beginning at 11:59 p.m. on Monday, June 29, 2020. Thirteen regions will be at Stage 4 for an extended ten-week period until at least September 17, 2020. The government further announced that the Erongo Region will migrate from Stage 1 to Stage 3 at midnight tonight, Monday, June 22, 2020, until at least midnight on Monday, July 6, 2020. Travel between towns in the Erongo Region and to the rest of the country will be permitted, with the exception of the Walvis Bay, Swakopmund and Arandis Local Authority Areas. Travel between these Local Authority Areas will be permitted, though travel into and out of these Local Authority Areas to the rest of the country will be restricted to emergency situations only. Additional information about these measures can be found on the Namibian Presidency’s Facebook page and Twitter page.
The Namibian Government has added an additional Stage – Stage 5 – to address the opening of ports of entry and the resumption of air travel. Stage 5 will commence no earlier than September 18, 2020. Until then, Namibia’s borders will remain closed to non-Namibians, with the exception of permanent residence permit holders and certain professionals with valid work permits. All Namibians and non-Namibians entering the country must submit to a COVID19 test on arrival and mandatory, government-supervised quarantine at their own cost. All non-Namibians must also present a negative COVID-19 test result valid for 72 hours before entering Namibia.
The U.S. Embassy in Windhoek is not aware of any additional flights departing Windhoek at this time, nor is it planning any future repatriation flights. If you have not yet expressed your interest in a repatriation flight and would like information on any future flights, should they become available, please fill out one Repatriation Form per potential traveler and you will be contacted by the U.S. Embassy. Qatar Airways is now offering an online registration feature for those wishing to depart Namibia on a repatriation flight. Individuals can register their interest here, and will be contacted by Qatar Airways if a flight is scheduled.
If you are currently in Namibia on a Visitor’s Entry Permit (VEP), the Namibian Ministry of Home Affairs and Immigration has announced that it will extend expiring VEPs for no fee through June 30, 2020, for individuals who can provide proof of their original intended departure flight. Extensions can be requested at Counter 3 at the Ministry of Home Affairs and Immigration office in Windhoek.
If you are a U.S. citizen remaining in Namibia, please verify that you have registered in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP). As a reminder, the Consular Section is not currently taking appointments for routine services, and staff are working remotely in compliance with Namibian Government lockdown instructions. Should you have an inquiry for the Consular Section, please contact us at ConsularWindhoek@state.gov. If you have an emergency involving a U.S. citizen, please contact the Embassy at +264-61-295-8500.
The Department of State has issued a Global Level 4 Health Advisory for COVID-19, and the Centers for Disease Control issued on March 27, 2002 a global Warning Level 3 Travel Health Notice to avoid nonessential international travel.
Actions to Take:
- Consult the CDC website for the most up-to-date information.
- For the most recent information on what you can do to reduce your risk of contracting COVID-19, please see the CDC’s latest recommendations.
- Visit the COVID-19 crisis page on travel.state.gov for the latest information.
- Check with your airlines, cruise lines, or travel operators regarding any updated information about your travel plans and/or restrictions.
- Visit our Embassy webpage on COVID-19 for information on conditions in Namibia.
- Visit the Department of Homeland Security’s website on the latest travel restrictions to the United States
Assistance:
- U.S. Embassy Windhoek, Namibia
- 14 Lossen St., Ausspannplatz, Windhoek
- +264-61-295-8522; +264-85-686-0853 (U.S. citizen emergencies after hours)
- ConsularWindhoek@state.gov
- https://na.usembassy.gov/
- State Department – Consular Affairs
- 888-407-4747 202-501-4444
- Namibia Country Information
- Enroll in Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) to receive Alerts.
- Follow us on Facebook and Twitter
