Namibia
Corporate Guide

What are the requirements for obtaining a work permit in Namibia?

Short-term work visa (up to six months)

Purpose and eligibility

This visa is intended for timelimited assignments such as installation, commissioning, maintenance, audits, training, short projects, or urgent technical work. It does not cover openended employment.

Typical applicant documentation

• Completed visa application form (accompanying dependents must complete a separate application form).
• Valid passport (with sufficient validity and blank pages) and passportsize photos.
• Certified copy of passport (if in Namibia, attach current status).
• Certified copies of qualifications (must be translated into English).
• Professional registrations (if applicable), CV and evidence of relevant experience. 
• Motivation letter from the employer explaining the purpose of work and why Namibians cannot be employed.
• Proof of tender/contract awarded.
• Detailed assignment letter from the Namibian sponsor setting out the work to be done, location(s), duration, and why the specific skills are required.
• Where applicable, evidence that parallel sector approvals are in place (e.g. mine/site access, plant safety induction, or regulator notifications).
  • Filming applications must include a filming permit from the Namibia Film Commission.
  • Media applications must include an accreditation letter from the Ministry of Information, Communication and Technology.
  • A tour operator application must include a Namibia Tourism Board certificate from the Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Tourism.
• Original police clearance certificate from the country of origin (must be translated into English, and only applicable for applications for a visa for longer than three months).
• Radiology reports (applicable for applications for longer than three months).
• Medical certificates (applicable for applications for longer than three months).
• A government, organisation or agency that is applying on behalf of an applicant must upload the power of attorney signed by the applicant to apply for a short-term employment permit.
• Visa fee of NAD 1,600 (for visas for three months or less) or NAD 3,200 (for visas for up to six months).
• Travel and accommodation details; proof of medical insurance for the stay.

Sponsor/employer documentation

• Motivation letter describing the project, skills gap, duration and work locations. 
• Proof of local registration and good standing (e.g. BIPA incorporation/registration, tax and SSC registrations), if requested.
• Any sectorspecific licenses/permits relevant to the worksite or activity.

Process and conditions

• Application is lodged through a Namibian embassy/consulate (or as directed by the immigration authorities). Some ports of entry have handled certain cases historically, but planning for mission submission is prudent.
• Visa, if granted, is timebound, assignmentspecific and usually singleentry or limited entries. No work beyond the authorised scope, period, employer or location is permitted.

Employment permit (longer term, commonly one to two years, renewable)

Purpose and eligibility

This permit is for ongoing employment in Namibia with a locally registered employer (or a Namibian entity within a group). It is tied to the specific employer, job title/description and primary location.

Typical applicant documentation

• Valid passport and passportsize photos.
• Signed employment contract stating role, duties, remuneration, location and duration.
• Detailed CV, certified copies of qualifications and professional registrations (where relevant), and reference letters/experience evidence.
• Medical certificate and chest Xray/radiological report (completed on prescribed forms).
• Recent police clearance certificate(s) from country(ies) of residence.
• Proof of health insurance coverage.
• If applicable, marriage/birth certificates for accompanying dependents and proof of support.

Employer/sponsor documentation

• Motivation letter explaining the need for foreign skills, skills transfer plan, and training/mentoring of Namibian staff.
• Evidence of attempts to recruit locally (advertisements, interview records, reasons local candidates were unsuitable), especially for longerterm roles.
• Company documents showing good standing and local footprint (e.g. BIPA registration/incorporation, NamRA tax registration, SSC registration and, where relevant, workers’ compensation compliance).
• Sector licences or regulator noobjection/fitandproper approvals if the role sits in a regulated industry (banking/insurance, telecoms, mining, energy, fisheries, aviation, healthcare, etc.).
• Organisational chart and number of employees, including any existing expatriate posts and succession planning for localisation.

Process and conditions

• Application is adjudicated in Namibia by the immigration authorities; submission pathways differ depending on whether the applicant is abroad or applying to change their status.
• Decisions weigh the genuineness of the role, scarcity of skills, employer compliance and publicinterest
  factors.
• The permit, if granted, is endorsed for a set period (often one to two years) and specifies the employer, job and location. Changes generally require a new application or amendment before taking effect.

Common standards the authorities look for

• Clear, consistent documentation across forms, contracts and letters (title, duties, salary, duration, and location must match). 
• Genuine need for skills and a credible plan for training/skills transfer to Namibians.
• Clean police clearances and satisfactory medical reports. 
• Employer compliance history (tax, social security and sectoral obligations). 
• No work before approval; and only the authorised work, employer and sites once granted.

Renewals and dependents

• Renewals should be filed well before expiry with updated motivation, compliance certificates and evidence of the continued need. 
• Family members may accompany permit holders on an appropriate status; spouses who wish to work require their own work authorisation.