Employment Permit (general) and Short-Term Employment (Work) Visa
Namibia's main long-term work route is the Employment Permit from the Ministry of Home Affairs, Immigration, Safety and Security (MHAISS). The employer must show a local vacancy advert and give details of unsuccessful Namibian candidates. Work of up to 6 months uses a short-term employment (work) visa, applied for online or at ministry headquarters. Since 1 September 2026, investors confirmed by NIPDB can instead apply for a new Employment Permit to Conduct Business, valid for up to 5 years.
1 entry rule for Namibia based on recent travel
These apply to people who were recently in certain countries. Sign in and add your trips to see whether any apply to you.
Yellow fever certificate needed after a stay in countries with risk of yellow fever transmission (WHO list)
Travellers aged 9 months and over arriving from a yellow fever risk country (or after more than 12 hours' airport transit in one) need a valid yellow fever certificate.
WHO International Travel and Health, Annex 1: Countries with risk of yellow fever transmission and countries requiring proof of vaccination against yellow fever (18 Nov 2022, revised 3 Jan 2023) WHO ITH Country List: Vaccination requirements and WHO recommendations for international travellers, 2022 edition (18 Nov 2022, revised 3 Jan 2023) Checked October 19, 2026
Life in Namibia
Money
3
Currency
Namibian Dollar
NAD
Namibian Dollar
Cost of living
41
Price level · US = 100
World Bank price levels, 2025
Tax
18–37%
Income tax (national)
VAT 15%
0% up to NAD 100,000 a year, then 18/25/28/30/32%, and 37% above about NAD 1.55 million.
Living
1
Happiness
#106 of 145 countries
World Happiness Report 2025
Your edge here Members
What gives you an edge here: passports, visas and permits you hold, work, study, language and family ties
Who it’s for
Foreign nationals offered a job by a Namibian employer where suitable Namibians are not available. The short-term visa is for assignments of up to 6 months.
Eligibility
Job offer
The employer completes an employer's representation form (work offer) and provides a company profile.
Labour-market test
The employer must prove the vacancy was advertised in a local newspaper. It must give the CVs, or names, qualifications and contacts, of unsuccessful Namibian candidates.
Social security registration
The employer gives proof of Social Security Commission registration and a printout of registered employees.
A sneak peek at what's inside
- Next requirementDeed of surety
- Document checklistTemporary work or student permit form 0/2742(2)
- FeesEmployment Permit
The full requirements are for members
Create an account and subscribe to see every requirement, the full document checklist, fees, steps, processing times and conditions, and how your profile compares.
- 6 more requirements
- 12 documents
- 5 fees
- 7 steps
- Processing times and conditions
Places to visit in Namibia
Attractions picked for you, based on your profile and interests.
Finding places for you…
Official sources
Other routes to Namibia
All routes to Namibia →Work permits in other countries
- New CaledoniaNew Caledonia work authorisation for foreign nationals
- NigeriaSubject to Regularization (STR) Visa (R2A Employment - Expatriate) and CERPAC / e-CERPAC residence permit
- NicaraguaResidencia temporal para trabajar
- NetherlandsResidence permit for highly skilled migrant
- NorwayResidence permit for skilled workers (oppholdstillatelse til faglærte), Immigration Regulations section 6-1
- NepalNon-Tourist Working Visa
