By C. Perera, JadeTimes News
Michelle Nehoya, a Namibian resident, has spent nearly $500 on the visa application process to visit Canada, but after almost two years, her visa has yet to be granted. The 38 year old from Windhoek longs to visit her family in Quebec, whom she hasn't seen in almost a decade. The application required multiple forms, six months of bank statements, an invitation letter, and a detailed travel history. Additionally, she had to travel to South Africa to submit her biometric data.
Her situation is common for Africans traveling to Western countries. In 2022, seven of the top ten countries with the highest visa rejection rates in the Schengen area were African, according to Henley and Partners. "It has been lengthy and frustrating. I haven’t been given any reason why it’s taken so long," Ms. Nehoya told the BBC.
In contrast, Canadian passport holders can currently enter Namibia without a visa. However, this will change in eight months. Starting next April, nationals from Canada, Germany, the US, the UK, and 29 other countries will require a visa to enter Namibia. This change targets all "non-reciprocating countries" where Namibian passport holders need visas.
Namibia’s immigration ministry announced in May that these changes aim to ensure parity and fairness in diplomatic interactions. Visitors will be able to buy a 90 day visa for $90 upon arrival, unlike the more burdensome requirements for African passport holders seeking visas beforehand.
The British High Commissioner to Namibia, Charles Moore, acknowledged Namibia's right to impose new regulations. He noted that the UK had introduced a visa regime for Namibians last year due to a rise in asylum seekers, which affected bilateral relations. The UK government explained that the increase in asylum applications from Namibians since 2016 was an abuse of the provision to visit the UK for a limited period as non visa nationals.
For Ms. Nehoya, Namibia’s visa requirement is long overdue. "I think it is fair. It feels like Namibia is standing up for itself," she said. Social media reactions echoed her sentiments, with many calling for reciprocal treatment for Western visitors.
African passport holders face high visa costs for the Schengen area, the US, and Canada. The EU made over €53m from rejected visa applications from African countries in 2023. Most rejections are due to doubts about applicants' intentions to return home. In June 2024, the cost of Schengen short-term visas increased from €80 to €90, and in October 2023, the UK visa fee rose from £100 to £115. Nearly a third of African visa applicants to the Schengen area were rejected, higher than the global average. Even approved visas come with uncomfortable border security experiences, as noted by UNAids head Winnie Byanyima in 2022.
Despite praise for Namibia’s visa initiative on social media, the tourism industry is concerned. The Hospitality Association of Namibia fears the message it sends to the global travel trade. In 2022, tourism accounted for 7% of Namibia's GDP, with most tourists coming from Germany and the US. However, Soni Nrupesh, a tourism expert in Windhoek, believes the visa move will not deter visitors. “It’s just when you get to the airport you will fill a form, pay the fees, and enter.”
Prospective travelers like Ms. Nehoya hope for future reciprocity. "People come to Namibia, and they love it. But we also want to see what is happening on the other side," she said. “It would be nice to go to Canada, the US, or the UK and just get a visa on arrival. But right now, we must plan everything so far in advance.”
