The Namibia Revenue Agency (NamRA) will lower the financial guarantees required from customs and trade operators from 1 November 2026, in a move aimed at reducing the amount of capital businesses must commit to meet customs requirements.
The new framework will replace the existing system, under which businesses may be required to provide security covering 100% of potential duties and taxes, with guarantee levels based on the risk associated with different customs activities.
Under the revised structure, Authorised Economic Operators will provide guarantees equivalent to 10% of their customs exposure, while businesses involved in extractive minerals and related activities will be required to provide 30%.
Standard bonded operations will require guarantees of 50%, while businesses involved in higher-risk activities, including luxury and excise goods, will be required to provide 75%. Deferment facilities will remain subject to a 100% guarantee.
NamRA said the changes are expected to free up capital for businesses operating in trade, logistics, warehousing and distribution, while maintaining safeguards for the collection of customs duties and taxes.
“By reducing guarantee requirements, NamRA is lowering barriers to entry for logistics and trade operators, supporting growth in warehousing, transshipment and distribution, and enhancing Namibia’s attractiveness as a gateway for regional and international trade,” NamRA said.
The agency will also introduce fixed guarantee amounts for some operators, with dry ports and container depots required to provide N$300,000, while transit shed operators and cargo handlers will provide N$200,000.
Clearing agents will be required to provide a fixed guarantee of N$20,000.
The lower guarantees will, however, not reduce the total customs liabilities businesses may incur. NamRA said its customs system will continue to set operating limits based on each operator’s full customs exposure.
“Reduced guarantee is not reduced accountability,” the agency said.
NamRA said transactions will continue to be monitored, with businesses prevented from exceeding the exposure limits set within the customs system.
The new framework will apply to new customs guarantee applications approved from 1 November, while existing operators will have until 31 January 2027 to bring their guarantees in line with the new requirements.
During the 90-day transition period, operators will have to reconcile outstanding customs duties and taxes and either adjust their guarantees or settle liabilities exceeding their approved limits in cash.
NamRA said the reform is intended to make Namibia’s customs system more responsive to the risk posed by individual operators instead of applying the same security requirement across businesses with different risk profiles.
The changes also form part of efforts to strengthen Namibia’s position as a regional logistics hub, while reducing trade costs and supporting investment in warehousing, transport and distribution.
