Namibia: Remote Work Visa Introduced

• Validity. The visa is valid for six months, with the possibility of renewal for six months at a time.
• Other criteria. The requirements for the visa include proof of sufficient minimum income according to government regulations; a bank statement from the past six months; a support letter from the employer; a police clearance certificate from the country of residence; and proof of health or travel insurance. Local work in Namibia is not allowed.
• Fee. The processing fee is USD 62, and it must be paid upon arrival.
• Application process. There is currently no online application for the Digital Nomad Visa applications, though a portal will be made available eventually; in the meantime, applications must be completed by hand and scanned and emailed to a dedicated email address ([email protected]). The timeline for issuing the visa after processing is yet to be announced.

This new category provides an immigration pathway for remote workers, which was previously not available.

• Continuing trend. The introduction of the Digital Nomad Visa is part of an initiative of the Namibian authorities to revive the tourism sector which was negatively affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.
• Remote work visa warning. In countries where remote work is unregulated, workers and employers may unknowingly put themselves at risk of noncompliance with many aspects of the law, exposing them to possible fines or other penalties, depending on the country. Importantly, noncompliance with regulations could result in employers losing their rights to hire foreign labor. Additionally, this type of work arrangement may have employment or tax law impacts. It will become increasingly important as such policies are developed (and in many countries where remote work is unregulated) for employers to analyze strategies and assess risks associated with implementing and/or continuing remote work policies with a trusted immigration partner.

Remote work and non-traditional non-sponsored statuses remain of high interest to corporate and public stakeholders globally. As the pandemic continues to impact mobility worldwide, countries continue to seek innovative measures to boost post-COVID-19 economic remobilization. Additionally, as the remote work trends continue at a slower pace, governments want to keep up with the competition for sought-after talent by introducing remote work policies in line with neighboring states. Fragomen will report on related developments.