| Lonely Planet™ · Thorn Tree Forum · 2020 | ![]() |
Namibia immigration rules - tough or easygoing?Country forums / Africa / Namibia | ||
Any problem entering Namibia with a one-way ticket only? European (EU) passport, tourist. | ||
Flew recently from Jo'burg into Windhoek (Canadian passport). Nobody was the least bit interested in whether I had a return ticket. | 1 | |
Also flew into Namibia from J'burg in July (Irish passport). Nobody looked for return ticket BUT a lot of people were being questioned at immigration, I only overheard one conversation where a coulple were being questioned about their visa. You do need to know where you are staying and they always seem to want the physical address not just a P.O.Box no. Just don't mention work or volunteering. Having said that I was not questioned at all. If you are worried then buy the cheapest Intercape bus ticket on-line out of the country and call in to their office in Windhoek and you will get a partial refund. | 2 | |
Thanks for your feedback! @ambarush: did those questioned look anyhow "suspicious" in the way immigration officers think? Such as either run-down hippies, black travellers, or businessmen on tourist visa? I do not intend to work or volunteer. If an officer is happy with a bus ticket out of the country he should be aware that it´s a pretty ridiculous rule as anyone can buy one and even get a refund. But it´s a good idea if it saves me trouble, so thanks a lot! @ nanertak: no one was interested but you had one? At least the airline knew then at check-in, sometimes that´s the first obstacle with one-way ticket travels, they sell you a ticket but don´t check you in. | 3 | |
No, that was the odd thing, they queried families, people who seemed to be part of groups, couples and singles. All looking fairly respectable. I couldn't figure a common denominator. Everybody got through and I was at the end of the queue(for ages). | 4 | |
Last month we arrived in Windhoek from London by way of Jo'burg -US passports. We did have ongoing tickets but not return, so the airline didn't know when we checked in. We didn't spend more than a couple of minutes with the immigration officer - just the usual passport scan and a couple of questions about how long we were staying and why we were there. They didn't care about anything after that. Have a great time in Namibia. | 5 | |