This development comes in the backdrop of African nations making up seven of the top 10 nations with the highest rejection for the Schengen visa. AP
Namibia is halting visa-free travel for several Western countries.
Starting April 2025, visitors from 33 countries will need a visa to visit the Southern African tourist nation.
But why is Namibia doing so? And what does this mean?
Let’s take a closer look:
Namibia is essentially adopting a tit-for-tat approach to diplomacy.
“Namibia has extended gestures of goodwill and favourable treatment to nationals of various countries. However, despite these efforts, certain nations have not reciprocated,” Namibia’s immigration ministry said.
“In light of this disparity, the government has deemed it necessary to implement a visa requirement to ensure parity and fairness in diplomatic interactions,” the ministry continued.
According to BBC, this means visitors from Canada, UK, US and Germany among others will need to visa to visit Namibia.
This development comes in the backdrop of African nations making up seven of the top 10 nations with the highest rejection for the Schengen visa.
A Schengen visa is a type of visa that allows its holder to travel freely within the Schengen area, which is a zone comprising 27 European countries that have abolished passport and other types of border controls at their mutual borders.
As per BBC, almost a third of Africans applying for a Schengen visa are rejected.
That’s higher than the global average.
Michelle Nehoya, a Namibian citizen, told BBC that she has spent nearly $500 on a visa to visit Canada.
But two years later, still no dice.
“It has been lengthy and frustrating. I haven’t been given any reason why it’s taken so long,” Nehoya tells the BBC.
According to NewTimes.co.rw, visas can often be turned down for several reasons.
Most rejections are due to “reasonable doubt about the visa applicant’s intention to return home.”
It also comes as the UK last year curbed the number of visas given to Namibians after a surge in asylum applications from Namibian citizens since 2016.
“[The UK] unfortunately imposed a visa regime on Namibia last year due to the number of asylum seekers we were receiving. That was impacting on our relationship with Namibia,” British High Commissioner to Namibia, Charles Moore told BBC.
UK, Schengen countries make big bucks
Meanwhile, the UK and Schengen countries are minting money even as they reject visas.
The EU made $139 million from Schengen visa rejections in 2023.
This includes $58 million from African countries.
Meanwhile, Schengen visa rejections brought in $113 million in 2022, the data compiled by Marta Foresti and Otho Mantegazza at Lago Collective showed.
The UK itself made $56 million in rejected fees last year.
The fees are non-refundable.
The price of Schengen short-term visas went up from $86 to $96 for adults in June.
Similarly, the UK visa price increased from $128 to $148 in October.
Ninety per cent of the fees for rejected Schengen visas come from African and Asian nations.
African nations are most affected with Ghana, Senegal and Nigeria having rejection rates as high as 40 to 50 per cent.
But it’s not all bad for visitors to Nambia.
According to NewTimes.co.rw, visitors to Namibia can still obtain their 90-day visa on arrival.
African passport holders, on the other hand, need to get their visas in advance.
While some have praised the decision, others have not.
_NewTimes.co._rw quoted the Hospitality Association of Namibia as saying it was worried about how tourists would react to the move.
Tourism comprises around 7 per cent of Namibia’s GDP.
It is the third largest contributor to the economy.
Experts say it won’t be much of a chore.
“It will not change much; you can still get on a plane without a visa. It’s just when you get to the airport you will fill a form, pay the fees and enter,” tourism expert Soni Nrupesh told the website.
With inputs from agencies
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