Namibian Long-Term Work Permit

Namibia offers two Long-Term work Visas or Permits for foreign nationals seeking employment within its borders: the Namibian Long-Term Work Permit and the Investor/Self-Employed Work Permit.

A Long-Term work permit in Namibia is valid for one to two years (1-2 years).
Suitable for people who need to be in the country to work on a project that will take more than seven months to complete.
In this guide, we will focus on the required documents and forms and provide you with a step-by-step overview of the application process.

Application requirements include:

Note:: All documents which are not in English must be translated by a Sworn Translator.
All certifications to be less than 3 months old at the time of submission.

Documents specific to the applicants themselves:

• Application form (we can provide the prescribed template)
• Visa form (we can provide the prescribed template)
• Certified passport bio-data page copy (the passport must be valid for at least 6 months after the applicant’s intended departure from Namibia and to contain at least 2 completely blank pages at the time of submission)
• 2 original, clear, colour passport sized photos (the originals are to be delivered to the Namibian team’s office
• 2 or more references letters / testimonials from previous employers in line with the intended activities in Namibia (if the applicant has worked for previous employers in the same industry or in a similar position – if not, then the reference letters can be forgone)
• Comprehensive and updated C.V. copy
• Certified copy of Certificate of Service (if available)
• Certified copies of educational and training certificates / qualifications
• Certified marriage certificate (if applicable)
• Power of Attorney authorizing the Namibian team to submit on the applicant’s behalf (we can provide the prescribed form to the applicants)
• An original Namibian PCC – for which we can provide assistance (at an additional cost) and will require:
• A clear, colour copy of a set of wet-ink fingerprints taken at a local police station or diplomatic mission (the Namibian authorities do not have a prescribed form for this and as such the South African PCC fingerprint form (which we can provide) can be used)
• A clear, colour copy of the applicant’s passport bio-data page

Your prospective employer in Namibia must provide the following documents:

• Motivational letters from both the sending company and receiving company (addressed to Home Affairs – The Executive Director, Ministry of Home Affairs, Immigration, Safety and Security, Corner of Hosea Kutako Drive and Harvey Street, Erf: 6971, Windhoek North, Private Bag 13200, Windhoek, Namibia)
• A copy of the employment contract / offer of employment – which must be signed by both the employer and the applicant
• A copy of the current company profile
• Copies of the company registration documents
• The original, hard-copy and valid Good Standing Certificate from Inland Revenue and the company tax registration Certificate (originals to be delivered to the Namibian team’s office)
• Deed of Surety form – which is to be signed and stamped by the employer (we can provide the prescribed form)
• A copy of the ‘representation by prospective employer’ form – which is to be completed by employer (we can provide the prescribed form)
• The original, hard-copy and valid Social Security Good Standing Certificate – which is only valid for one (1) month from its date of issuance (Please be advised that this certificate is only valid for one month)(original to be delivered to the Namibian team’s office)
• The comprehensive list of names of the employees from Social Security
• The Employment Equity Compliance Certificate – which we can assist in obtaining for an additional fee;
• Proof of the company’s registration with the Namibian Professional Board / Council or Association (if applicable)
• Confirmation letter from Ministry of Labor confirming the non-availability of Namibian candidates on their database. The company is to send the request to the Ministry after the position has been advertised for at least 14 days. (We can provide the prescribed form (i.e., form ESA 3a).

There is compulsory Local Labour Market Testing. You must post a job listing in three national Namibian newspapers for two weeks. There are not many national newspapers in Namibia, and IBN Immigration Solutions can help you with this process.

Following that, you need to approach the Department of Labour. They will search their database and say if they can or can’t find somebody for the job. Compared to South Africa, the Namibian Department of Labour is extremely fast and efficient. They also admit that they don’t have everybody on the database or can’t always find local talent.

Your Namibian immigration consultant will go through all the requirements, including the fees and sundry expenses you need to include in your estimate of total costs.

The government fees are N$5200 (Namibian dollars), and there is an additional application fee that will be covered by IBN Immigration Solutions.

Work permit applications in Namibia often have extended processing times, so we encourage you to begin the application process as soon as possible. You don’t want your employment start date to come and go because there were unexpected delays in processing your Namibia permit application.

Your Namibian immigration consultant will guide you through the process every step of the way. So, you can be confident that you haven’t forgotten any necessary documents, forms, or fees somewhere along the way.

Here’s how to apply for a Long-Term Work Visa in Namibia:

Step 1:

• Establish a Need for a Non-Namibian Employee if your company requires the services of a foreign national, you must first demonstrate that you were unable to find a suitable Namibian candidate for the position.

This can be achieved by completing these steps:

• Advertising the job opening in three Namibian newspapers.
• The job advertisement must run for a minimum of 14 days
• Obtaining a confirmation letter from the Ministry of Labour. The letter will confirm the non-availability of the Namibian candidates who possess the necessary qualifications and experience to fill the position.

Step 2:

• Obtain supporting documents
• Medical and radiological reports – both must be signed in black ink and stamped with the medical practitioner’s official stamp (i.e., the medical certificate by the General Practitioner conducting the exam and the radiological report by the radiologist). It is important to note that the original medical certificate and radiological report should not be older than 6 months at the time of submission.
• An original Namibian Police Clearance Certificate is required, which our team can assist in obtaining. All supporting letters must be addressed to The Executive Director, Ministry of Home Affairs, Immigration, Safety and Security, Corner of Hosea Kutako Drive and Harvey Street, Erf: 6971, Windhoek North, Private Bag 13200, Windhoek, Namibia.

Step 3:

The following original documents are required for the submission and must be couriered to our offices:

• 2 clear color passport photos of the applicant
• Original Police Clearance Certificate from the applicant’s country of origin
• Medical Report
• Radiological Report
• Original company social security certificate, including a comprehensive list of names of all employees
• Original of the company’s Inland Revenue Certificate
• A copy of the applicant’s employment contract, signed by both the employee and employer
• Two or more reference letters from previous employers in line with the applicant’s intended duties in Namibia

Step 4:

• We review all documents and compile the application (The Application Pack is Quality Checked by our Namibian Immigration Consultants).

Step 5:

• Our Namibian team submits the applicants (In Namibia, not in the applicant’s country of origin) and tracks the application.

3-5+ months for the approval letter to be issued.
Once this has been issued the Namibian team will make payment to Home Affairs who will then issue the work permit, 5-7 work days thereafter.

1. Types of Work Visas Available in Namibia: Which One Do You Need?
2. Tips for Improving Eligibility for a Long-Term Work Permit in Namibia
3. How to Apply for a Work Visa in Namibia: Step-by-Step Guide
4. Required Documents for a Work Visa Application in Namibia: Don’t Forget These!
5. Explanation of the role of the Labour Ministry in the Work Permit approval process
6. Renewing Your Work Visa in Namibia: Everything You Need to Know
7. Common Reasons for Visa Application Rejection in Namibia: How to Avoid Them
8. Appeals Process for Visa Application Rejection in Namibia: What You Need to Know
9. Namibia Document Requirements: What is a Police Clearance Certificate?
10. The Role of Medical and Radiological Documents: A Comprehensive Guide
11. Requirements from your Namibian Employer
12. Breakdown of Cost of a Work Visa in Namibia
13. Processing time for a Work Visa in Namibia
14. Tips for Avoiding Delays on Your Namibian Work Visa Application
15. Cultural Differences to Expect in Namibia
16. Understanding Namibian Health Insurance
17. Tax Requirements When Staying in Namibia
18. Bringing Your Family with You to Namibia
19. Tips for a Successful Long-Term Work Permit Application in Namibia