Namibia Residency By Investment Program | A Complete Guide

What is Namibian Residency By Investment Program:

Namibia’s investment permit program, operational since 1990, stands as one of Africa’s oldest and most stable residency by investment schemes. Currently, applicants have two economic models to choose from:

1. Company Model: Invest 3.95 million Namibian Dollars (approximately $265,000 USD) into a Namibian company. Under this model, the applicant must hold at least 10% ownership in the invested company.

2. Real Estate Model: Purchase a property within the luxury resort and golf course development supported by the local government, President’s Links Estate. Property prices in this resort start from $316,000 USD.

Compared to similar programs in the region, choosing Namibia for investment immigration offers several key advantages:

1. Political Stability: Namibia is recognized as one of the most politically stable countries in Africa.

2. Business Opportunities: While holders of the investment visa cannot engage in employed work, they are permitted to conduct business and undertake self-employed activities in Namibia.

3. Flexible Residency & Property Value: There are no minimum stay requirements, meaning applicants are not obligated to enter the country. Furthermore, property prices in Namibian resorts are stable, generally retaining their value regardless of when they are sold.

4. Tax Advantages: Namibia does not impose property tax or capital gains tax on residents. Even if an investment visa holder becomes a tax resident, income earned outside of Namibia is not subject to local taxation.

Application Process:

The entire application process for Namibia’s investment permit can be completed online. You simply fill out a form on the official website and upload all the required documents to finalize your application.

Required documents for this program include:

• Applicant Identification Documents: This includes passports for all primary and secondary applicants, valid for at least six months with at least three blank pages; two passport-sized photos; and relationship proof documents such as birth certificates and marriage certificates for primary and secondary applicants.

• Official Visa Application Form: The completed and signed visa application form, which is available for download on the official portal.

• Verification of Investment Completion: Documentary evidence demonstrating the successful execution of the required investment, whether through the company model (e.g., share certificates, company registration documents) or the real estate model (e.g., property deed, purchase agreement).

• Proof of Visa Fee Payment: A receipt or official confirmation of the payment of the prescribed visa application fees.

The processing time for the entire Namibia investment permit typically takes around three months. Generally, once you’ve completed your property purchase, you can expect to receive this visa.

Dependents:

The Namibia Investment Permit extends its benefits to your loved ones. As the main applicant, your spouse and any children under 21 years old can also obtain visas as dependent applicants. This means your whole family can secure residency in Namibia under a single investment.

Visa Validity:

The Namibia Investment Visa is issued with a five-year validity period. This visa can be consistently extended every five years, provided the original investment conditions are maintained.

For foreign nationals, the path to long-term residency and even citizenship in Namibia is clearly defined:

• After legally residing in Namibia for no less than ten years, foreign nationals become eligible to apply for permanent residency.

• Should a foreign national reside legally in Namibia for a total of 20 years (with at least 10 of those years holding permanent residency status within the country), they then become eligible to apply for Namibian citizenship.