The Ministry of Home Affairs, Immigration, Safety and Security (MHAISS) has launched a new Employment Permit to Conduct Business, aimed at creating a more streamlined and predictable immigration process for investors and businesspersons.
The new permit allows qualifying investors to conduct business and work in Namibia under a single permit, which may be issued for up to five years, compared to the previous two-year validity period.
Director of Visas, Permits, Passports and Citizenship, Deon Scott, says the reform responds to concerns raised by investors around lengthy administrative processes and the limited period provided under the previous system.
Among the changes is a shorter application form, with several requirements removed. These include education and tertiary qualification details, employment records and descriptions of duties to be performed.
Applications will first be submitted to the Namibia Investment Promotion and Development Board (NIPDB), which will assess the proposed investment and its potential economic impact.
Scott says the new system is intended to give investors greater certainty.
"The security aspect will never be neglected. That will always place the centre of the consideration of the application, that our security aspect remains fully intact."
For Namibian business owners, the new permit also presents an opportunity to attract international investors and partners by making it easier for foreign investors to establish and conduct business in the country.
MHAISS Minister Lucia Iipumbu says the reform is ultimately aimed at supporting investment, industrialisation, skills transfer and job creation, while maintaining the integrity of Namibia's immigration system.
"We deem this is an important step in our efforts to improve and modernise not only the immigration but also the administration of our activities in general so that we provide a conducive and enabling environment for the business to thrive in Namibia."
The assessment will consider factors including job creation, local procurement, export earnings, tax contributions and the value of investment into Namibia. The application will then be forwarded to the Ministry of Home Affairs for consideration and approval by the Immigration Selection Board.
The ministry says applicants will be able to access the application form through its website and ministry offices, while additional submission points are being facilitated to accommodate investors based outside Namibia.