Namibia launched investor permits valid up to 5 years on Sept. 1

Namibia introduced an Employment Permit to Conduct a Business on Sept. 1, giving qualifying foreign founders and investors a permit valid for up to five years.

A longer permit for business owners

Foreign investors establishing or managing an enterprise in the country previously relied on general employment permits, which usually run two years. The new investor permit can be issued for up to five years and also serves as work authorization for the approved business activity. The General Employment Permit remains in place for other foreign workers.

Applications must be submitted first through the Namibia Investment Promotion and Development Board (NIPDB), which confirms investor status and runs an economic evaluation before the Ministry of Home Affairs, Immigration, Safety and Security makes the final immigration decision. The fee is NAD 2,600 ($145), payable on approval, the same as for a General Employment Permit.

Distinguishing commercial permits from nomad and contract visas

The investor permit serves people running an in-country enterprise and doesn't alter rules for short-term project staff or remote workers. Foreign nationals working in the country fall under three distinct categories:

• Employment Permit to Conduct a Business: Valid up to 5 years for foreign investors and business owners managing registered local operations.

• Short Term Employment Permit: Valid for up to 6 months for temporary corporate assignments, technical installations or media projects tied to a local employer.

• Digital Nomad Visa: Valid for up to 6 months for location-independent remote workers employed outside the country, with local employment strictly prohibited.

Entrepreneurs weighing Namibia's residency rules must note that the five-year route requires an operating business and runs through NIPDB, while remote workers earning foreign income use the dedicated nomad visa.

Correction, Oct. 11, 2026: An earlier version of this article said the new permit replaced the two-year permit for business stays and gave its NAD 2,600 fee as a yearly charge. It was a new, separate investor permit valid for up to five years, with a NAD 2,600 fee payable on approval, when this article was published. The earlier version also gave a NAD 1,000 fee for the Short Term Employment Permit and said current permit holders could switch to five years at renewal. No official source confirms either claim, and both have been removed.