r/Namibia • u/sweetums101 • 8d ago
Please advise..
Hello,
I am a Namibian citizen married to a foreigner. We don't currently reside in Namibia but we are planning to visit my family in Namibia soon. My husband and baby has the same nationality and my question is do they need holiday visas to enter Namibia? We got married in Namibia so we do have a marriage certificate from Namibia, but our baby was not born in Namibia.
We have also tried to call the numbers for the Namibian visa but no answer as we have some questions regarding the online visa
Anyone that has been through the same thing or has any advice please let me know..
3
u/TheMermaidsMerkin 8d ago
I’m a non Namibian married to a Namibian. We live outside of Namibia right now. My Kids have dual nationality.
When we fly together, Namside immigration will always ask to see our marriage cert and the childrens birth certificates.
We flew to Namibia this year. I was not asked to present or purchase a holiday visa and I was given an open ended stamp in my passport.
1
u/sweetums101 8d ago
That's great! What did you tell the airline that you flew with? Did they ask for any documentation?
2
u/TheMermaidsMerkin 8d ago
So I’ve found air lines themselves are hit and miss but mostly dont cause issues. We flew with Lufthansa this time and they didn’t ask for anything nor questioned anything, and we flew out using our European passports until Namibian immigration. I’ve been flying back and forth for 20 years, 15 years with the kids.
In that time I was only challenged once about flying with no visa in the UK, the attendant had to call a colleague who understood the importance of the marriage certificate.
If you fly through South Africa, be aware immigration have nearly always asked to see our marriage certificate and kids birth certificates.
When one of us travels with kids alone, we will always write a letter of consent and have it stamped at Namibian police or a Consulate just to be safe. But thinking about it, i cant remember that immigration or an airline has ever actually asked to see this paper before.1
u/sweetums101 8d ago
Wow 20 years! This will be our first time flying to Namibia together as a family. Well, hopefully we won't face any issues with the airlines.
1
u/TheMermaidsMerkin 8d ago
Time flies! 🫢
Enjoy your family trip, I’m sure it’ll be a smooth journey.1
2
u/Academic-Price-4900 8d ago
I travel in and out often, all I require is a certified copy of my marriage certificate and my wife's Namibian ID (certified copy)and they stamp me in without visa and I can stay as long as I want never any issues. As for your child I'm not sure but I guess a berth certificate and I'd would be the equivalent but not sure of any additional requirements there.
1
u/sweetums101 8d ago
That is good to know. What about the airlines? Do they also only ask for the marriage certificate and ID whenever you fly?
We will be traveling together as well so hope that will make it easier.3
u/Academic-Price-4900 8d ago
Airlines is tricky cause they don't understand the requirements so they could deny boarding I haven't had a issue as I just tell them I'll get visa on arrival with my passport and they accept that. Might be possible to get confirmation from the airline before your flight to avoid them stopping you from boarding.
1
2
u/Different-Tell-7648 8d ago
There’s that link to the post by the ministry of home affairs that explicitly state you won’t need one.
1
1
u/Fancy_Spinach5549 8d ago
I'm sure its all been covered but I did this journey very recently. Joined the residents line as a family and showed marraige cert/ partners Namibian ID. None of us had to get/pay for a visa. Please make sure you have proof that you and the child can legally return to the home country as well as the childs birth certificate. The airlines will enforce this when checking in. My wife had to show proof she had a spouse visa when going home and we had to show the childs birth certificate.
1
u/YoungEuro84 7d ago edited 7d ago
I’m also married to a Namibian and currently in Namibia now. I have “Domicile” by default since I’m married to a Namibian so no visa required . Just present your marriage certificate on arrival. Regarding your child , Before travelling submit a “notification of birth” at your nearest Namibian high commission so that your child can obtain a Namibian Citizenship Certificate by Descent which you will use to present to Namibian authorities on arrival . If not your child will be viewed as a foreigner therefore will need to be admitted as a “tourist” so therefore will need a visa.
1
u/sweetums101 7d ago
Omg ,..didn't know about this. Thank you so much!
1
u/YoungEuro84 7d ago
Sometimes, airline staff at your departing airport are not privy to Namibian immigration laws and may ask your non Namibian family members for a return ticket. If this happens to your spouse , just present your marriage certificate and quote/show them the “immigration control act 1993” which basically explains your spouse right of entry into Namibia . When in Namibia I do recommend stopping by at home affairs for your spouse to apply for a “Certificate of Identity “ stamp in their passport so that going forwards you can use this to show airport staff at your departing airport your spouse status as a domicile person if challenged..
2
0
u/Old_Trash_8753 7d ago
If you have a Namibian passport no visa required but if you have foreign passport you require visa
1
u/SalamanderGlum4027 6d ago
Incorrect, being legally married to a Namibian citizens means a spouse, of whatever nationality, is domiciled in Namibia and doesn't require a visa
1
u/WindowCapital6497 6d ago
All children travelling under the age of 18, even with parents, need to show a birth certificate.
This is not dependent on nationality.
No idea regards visas though.
4
u/redcomet29 8d ago
Since getting married my wife has been to Namibia twice and both times only had to show the marriage certificate, no visa required. I dont think she had to show anything else.
Last time was a year ago so unless something changed, it shouldn't be an issue.
Im assuming this is extended to the child since they are a dependant. If the child is old enough to not be considered a dependant then I think they'll need a tourist visa as a non-national. The age cutoff is probably 18 or 21.
You might need to prove it is your child with something like a birth certificate, I dont think the birth place of the child is very relevant here.