Eileen van der Schyff
The Ministry of Home Affairs and Immigration directed its officials at offices countrywide that visa renewals every two years for permanent residents is no more needed. Staff were notified by internal memorandum on 12 August.
The full extract of the internal memorandum reads as follows:
“Permanent Resident holders required visas to be stamped into their passports every two years in the past. The memorandum states that this practice is not written in any provision of the Immigration Control Act. (Act No. 7 of 1993).
The memorandum reads:
“VISA REQUIREMENTS FOR HOLDERS OF PERMANENT RESIDENCE PERMIT (PRP) ALSO KNOWN AS RE-ENTRY VISAS
1. Over the years Permanent Resident Permit (PRP) holders have been required to apply for re-entry visas every two years. While this had been sometimes for their convenience, it has be-come clear that it is a practice which is not rooted in any provision of the Immigration Control Act, (Act No7 of 1993).
2. In fact Section 12 of the Act does not apply to persons holding PRP in Namibia as they are by the definition of the Act, domiciled in Namibia.
3. It is therefore hereby directed that with immediate effect no person holding a PRP should be required to acquire a re-entry visa. Border Officials are therefore directed to allow without hindrance the PRP holders to return to Namibia, provided that they have not stayed away for a period exceeding two (2) years without the written consent of the Minister.”