By Koviao Matuzee
The Namibian passport continues to give its holders relatively broad access across Africa and beyond, with the country ranking seventh among 54 African countries in the latest Passport Reports ranking.
The September report gives Namibia a Mobility Score of 78, meaning Namibian passport holders can access 78 destinations without having to obtain a traditional visa in advance, placing the passport 115th globally among 199 countries.
The access translates into fewer visa hurdles when travelling, particularly within the African region.
Out of the 78 destinations, 45 are visa-free, while 29 offer visa-on-arrival or other simplified-entry arrangements and four use electronic travel authorization (eTA) systems. Namibians still require a visa in advance for 120 destinations.
Africa remains the passport’s strongest area of access, with Namibian travelers able to reach 67.9% of African destinations through visa-free, visa-on-arrival, simplified-entry or eTA arrangements.
Among the destinations offering visa-free access are South Africa, Botswana, Kenya, Zambia and Zimbabwe.
The passport also provides access beyond the continent.
The report records total access of 87.5 percent in the Caribbean, 60.9 percent in North America, and 50 percent in Oceania, although access is considerably more limited in Europe, where the rate stands at 6.4 percent.
For Namibians planning trips to destinations such as India, Nepal, Türkiye and Vietnam, the report lists simplified-entry or eVisa arrangements, while Malaysia and Singapore are among destinations listed as visa-free subject to arrival-card requirements.
The figures also highlight the difference between a country’s outbound passport mobility and its own entry requirements.
While Namibia ranks seventh in Africa for the mobility of its passport holders, it ranks 54th globally in the report’s welcoming ranking, which measures access granted to foreign passport holders entering Namibia.
The report places Namibia seventh among African Union members, 37th among Commonwealth countries and 62nd among G77 countries.
The ranking is based primarily on the number of destinations accessible without a prior visa.
Passport Reports says its mobility score counts visa-free destinations together with destinations offering visa-on-arrival or simplified entry and eTA access.
The latest figures paint a picture of a passport that remains particularly useful for movement within Africa, while access to several major global travel markets remains subject to additional visa requirements.
