Noordoewer Border Control is situated between Namibia (Noordoewer) and South Africa (Vioolsdrift).

Namibia has a very mature immigration and customs system, so passing through border posts is normally quite easy, given you have the correct documents. So make sure you have all the necessary official documents.

Some travellers have had unfortunate experiences with having to pay bribes at border posts elsewhere in Africa. Happily, Namibian border post officials tend to be efficient and not open to bribery. Service is not always delivered with a smile but if you take off your hat and sunglasses and adopt a cheerful manner, chances are good that you will receive a warmer reception.

24 hours

CUSTOMS:
It is illegal to have any of the following goods in your possession:

Narcotic, habit-forming drugs and related substances in any form.
Firearms, ammunition and explosives.
Indecent and obscene material such as pornographic books, magazines, films, videos, DVDs and software.
Namibia is a tourist-friendly country and allows visitors to take personal items like binoculars, cameras, clothing, jewellery, etc. into the country without having to pay customs duty. There are, however, restrictions on the duty-free quantities of the following consumables:
Cigarettes – 400
Cigars – 50 Tobacco – 250 g Wine – 2 litre
Spirits or other alcoholic beverages – 1 litre Perfume – 50 ml
Eau de Toilet – 250 ml

Other than your personal items, travellers can take new or used goods to the value of not more than the equivalent of 3 000 South African rand duty-free into Namibia. You are not allowed to take maize or firewood into Namibia.

Meat, fruit and vegetables: The import regulations on meat, meat products, fruit and vegetables change frequently because they’re based on disease outbreaks in the region. You can also ask a trustworthy travel forum (www.tracks4africa.co.za/community, www.4x4community.co.za or www.overland.co.za) for an update.

DURATION OF STAY:
You can travel Namibia for a maximum of 90 days per year, thereafter you have to apply at the Ministry of Home Affairs for an extended stay.

DOCUMENTS REQUIRED WHEN TRAVELLING BY VEHICLE:
A valid passport with at least six months remaining validity before expiry. Double check your passport is stamped with the correct date when entering the country.

Original vehicle registration certificate (a certified copy is acceptable). Drivers whose vehicles are still financed by a bank will not have the original vehicle registration document and will have to use the vehicle licence papers (from which the renewal disc is cut out annually), or a copy of the vehicle registration certificate, which must be signed by a Commissioner of Oaths.

If the car registration number on your registration papers is not the same as on the vehicle number plate (for instance if it was pre-owned) you must also present the registration paper from which your license disc was cut out.

If you’re not the registered owner of the vehicle (i.e. it’s still being financed by the bank, you are renting a vehicle or you are driving a friend’s vehicle), you must have a letter from the financial institution, company or friend giving you authorization to take the vehicle across the border. This letter must stipulate dates for which you are allowed to take the vehicle out of the country and must also be signed by the owner and a Commissioner of Oaths.

In the past Namibia required a Police Clearance Certificate but since 2015 the SA Police Service no longer issues vehicle Clearance Certificates for tourist cross border travel; only if the vehicle is being export- ed from the country or if you enter with a work permit.
Drivers of vehicles arriving in Namibia from outside the Southern African Customs Union area (Botswana, Lesotho, South Africa, eSwatini and Namibia) must have a Carnet de Passage for the vehicle.

Proof of vehicle insurance.

A yellow fever certificate is strongly recommended. If you’ve been to an affected country, a yellow fever certificate is compulsory. Neighboring Angola has a history of yellow fever and the potential risk is high for this to spread to bordering countries like Namibia and Zambia.

IMPORTANT:
Be at the border post at least an hour before closing time or at the least 15-20min before closing.

PHONING:
Best time to phone is in the morning.

SOUTH AFRICANS:
Make sure you have a 'ZA' sticker on your car if traveling from South Africa, which can be purchased at a 'AA' agent or at outdoor retailers.

TRAVELLING WITH CHILDREN:
If you intend crossing into South Africa and you’re travelling with children under 18, they must carry valid passports, unabridged birth certificates stating both parents’ names, and affidavits from both parents (if either one or both aren’t present).

VISAS:
Nationals from the following countries DO NOT require visas to visit Namibia: Angola, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Belgium, Botswana, Brazil, Canada, Cuba, Denmark, Eswatini, Finland, France, Germany, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kyrgyzstan, Lesotho, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Malawi, Malaysia, Mauritius, Moldova, Mozambique, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Portugal, Russia, Seychelles, Singapore, South Africa, Spain, Swaziland, Sweden, Switzerland, Tajikistan, Tanzania, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, United Kingdom, United States of America, Uzbekistan, Zambia and Zimbabwe.

Nationals from the following countries can get a visa on arrival (N$1000) at Hosea Kutako International Airport or Walvis Bay Airport if they show a return ticket and their passport is valid for at least another 6 months: Benin, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cape Verde, Cambodia, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Chile, Comoros, Côte d’Ivoire, Czech Republic, Djibouti, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Gabon, Gambia, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Hungary, Liberia, Madagascar, Mexico, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Poland, Romania, Rwanda, São Tomé and Príncipe, Sierra Leone, Slovakia, South Korea, Thailand, Togo, Tunisia, Turkey, Uganda, United Arab Emirates, Venezuela and Vietnam.
Visitors from other countries should check with their nearest Namibian consulate about obtaining a visa.
* For the purpose of tourism, visitors can stay for up to 90 days.
Namibia recently announced a Digital Nomad Visa Programme whereby visitors can work, travel and study in Namibia for a total of six months. Applicants will have to prove that they earn enough money to be self-sufficient and apply online: https://nipdb.com/nomadvisa/.

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