Namibia will from 1 September 2026 offer qualifying foreign investors and businesspeople employment permits valid for up to five years, more than doubling the usual two-year period as government moves to reduce immigration hurdles to investment.
The new Employment Permit to Conduct Business will allow approved investors to conduct business and work in Namibia under a single permit, providing longer-term certainty for those establishing and expanding operations in the country.
The Ministry of Home Affairs, Immigration, Safety and Security said the new permit follows amendments to Regulation 17 of the Immigration Control Act, 1993, and forms part of government efforts to simplify investment-related processes.
“The Employment Permit to Conduct Business is designed specifically for investors and business persons, and forms part of ongoing efforts to streamline investment-related processes in Namibia,” the Ministry said.
“The new permit may be issued for a period of up to five (5) years, as opposed to the usual two-year period applicable to employment permits. This longer validity period is intended to provide greater certainty for investors and support long-term business planning and investment in Namibia.”
The move effectively reduces the frequency with which qualifying foreign investors will have to renew their employment permits and is aimed at making Namibia a more attractive destination for foreign direct investment.
Government expects the measure to support investment, industrialisation, economic growth and employment creation.
However, the five-year permit will not be automatically available to all foreign businesspeople.
Applicants will first have to qualify as investors through the Namibia Investment Promotion and Development Board (NIPDB), which will assess the proposed investment and its potential economic impact.
Applications must be submitted manually through NIPDB, which will conduct an economic evaluation and impact assessment before forwarding qualifying applications to the Chief of Immigration.
The Immigration Selection Board will then consider the application before a permit can be issued.
Foreign nationals who do not qualify under the new investor category will continue to use the existing Employment Permit application process.
Successful applicants will pay N$2,600, the same fee applicable to a General Employment Permit.
The Ministry said the new application forms and requirements will be available at Home Affairs offices countrywide, its website, the One Stop Service Centre at the BIPA Head Office in Windhoek and NIPDB offices.
