Namibian citizens travelling to Spain will continue to require a Schengen visa for short stays, with the Embassy of Spain in Namibia confirming that no changes have been made to the country’s visa requirements for holders of ordinary Namibian passports.
The embassy said Spain’s entry requirements remain unchanged, despite claims circulating on social media that Namibia is among a group of African countries whose citizens will enjoy visa-free access to Spain and the wider Schengen Area from 2026.
According to the posts, citizens of Botswana, Namibia, Eswatini, Lesotho, Mauritius, Seychelles, Cape Verde and Rwanda would be allowed to travel visa-free to Spain and other Schengen countries for stays of up to 90 days within a 180-day period for tourism, business and other short-term visits.
However, the Spanish Embassy said the information is false and advised travellers to verify entry requirements through official government channels before making travel arrangements.
The embassy confirmed that holders of ordinary Namibian passports must continue to obtain a Schengen visa before travelling to Spain for short visits.
Spain is part of the 29-member Schengen Area, where visa policies are governed under a common legal framework. Any amendments to Schengen visa rules are adopted collectively by the European Union and participating member states and communicated through official channels.
The embassy also cautioned against relying on unverified social media posts for travel information, noting that official announcements on visa policy are issued by the relevant European Union institutions and member states.
The clarification comes as travellers seek information on upcoming changes to Europe’s border management systems, including the European Travel Information and Authorisation System (ETIAS). The new system, once introduced, will apply only to travellers from countries that already enjoy visa-free access to the Schengen Area and will not replace visa requirements for countries whose citizens currently require Schengen visas.
