The Namibian Government has called on its citizens to remain calm, as the Cabinet committee will deliberate on visa requirements to the United Kingdom (UK).
This follows an announcement by the UK Government on Wednesday that all Namibian nationals will need a visa before travelling to the UK, including to visit.
This move is with immediate effect.
“The decision to impose a visa regime has been made because of the sustained and significant increase since 2016 in the number of UK asylum applications from Namibian nationals at the UK border,” said British High Commissioner to Namibia, Charles Moore.
This constitutes an abuse of the provision to visit the UK for a limited period as non-visa nationals, he added.
However, Executive Director in the Ministry of International Relations and Cooperation Penda Naanda in a statement issued on Wednesday said the Namibian Government has taken note of the announcement made by the UK on the visa introduction.
“The government therefore, calls upon the Namibian nation to remain calm, as the Cabinet Committee will deliberate on the issue, in order to ensure that Namibian nationals are not disadvantaged by such a decision,” he said.
He indicated that Cabinet has deliberated on the matter and has established a committee to look into the matter.
The changes, which come into effect immediately, will apply to all Namibian nationals travelling to the UK. However, there will be a four-week transition period until 16 August 2023.
During this period, Namibian nationals holding confirmed tickets booked before 19 July 2023 will still be permitted to travel to the UK as a non-visa national.
Moore said: “I fully understand that the imposition of a visa regime will be of concern to the many Namibian nationals who we warmly welcome to visit the United Kingdom as genuine visitors.”
Unfortunately, the diplomat said, the significant increase in asylum claims from Namibian nationals on arrival at the UK border has made it necessary for them to implement these new measures.
“We have regularly discussed the increase in asylum applications with the Government of the Republic of Namibia, and continue to work jointly on returning those Namibian nationals who are ultimately determined to be ineligible for asylum in the UK,” he said further.
Moore said the changes announced bring Namibia into line with many other visa national countries, including many Commonwealth partners, with whom the UK has warm and friendly relations.
Source: The Namibian Press Agency