How to Apply for a Namibian Passport: Documents, Fees and Steps

Whether you are crossing into Angola or Zambia for business, visiting family in South Africa or heading overseas to study, you need a valid passport. Namibia has issued electronic passports with a security chip since January 2018. This guide explains what to take, what it costs and how to avoid a wasted trip to the office.

Who can apply

Any Namibian citizen can apply, adult or child. Adults apply for themselves, in person. A parent applies for a child under 16 who does not yet have an ID. The ministry states clearly that no agents or other third parties may apply on someone else’s behalf.

If you are 16 or older, sort out your ID first. The passport checklist asks for a copy of your Namibian ID, or a receipt that shows you have applied for one.

Documents to take

The ministry asks for copies that have been certified, plus the originals so officials can check them. A commissioner of oaths must also certify one section of the application form, so ask at the office which part before you sign.

Document	Who needs it
Passport application form (from the office)	Everyone. Applicants aged 13 and older sign it themselves.
Full or abridged birth certificate: certified copy plus the original	Everyone
Namibian citizenship certificate: certified copy plus the original	Citizens who hold one, for example people born outside Namibia
Copy of your Namibian ID, or your ID application receipt	Applicants aged 16 and older
Marriage certificate or divorce order	Women whose surname changed through marriage or divorce
One colour passport-size photo with a plain background	Regional office applicants and children under 16 (see below)
Your current or old passport	Anyone replacing a passport
Police declaration saying where, when and how it was lost	Lost passports only

Do you need to bring a photo?

It depends on where you apply. In 2019 the ministry began taking passport photos at the office, starting with a pilot at its Erongo regional office, and said it would extend this to other regional offices. Its passport checklist, however, still asks for one colour passport-size photo with a clear background if you apply at a regional office, through an embassy, or for a child under 16.

Ask your office before you go. If you cannot check, take one photo along: it costs little and can save you a second journey. Namibian embassies list photo rules such as a white or plain light background, facing the camera with shoulders square, ears and forehead visible, no glasses, no hat and a neutral expression.

Step by step

1. Get your ID first if you are 16 or older. A receipt for your ID application is acceptable.
2. Gather your documents from the table above and have the copies certified by a commissioner of oaths.
3. Go to a Home Affairs office in person. In Kavango West, the regional office in Nkurenkuru, opened in March 2026, processes passports. If you live in Windhoek, you can start a new or renewal application on the ministry’s e-services site; it said the online service was only available in Windhoek at the time of checking.
4. Complete the form, have your details captured and pay the fee. Keep your receipt safe.
5. Track your application. The ministry offers status tracking online for e-services applicants and has used SMS updates for passports. Make sure the cellphone number you give is correct.
6. Collect your passport at the office where you applied, taking your receipt with you.

Fees

Service	Fee (ministry, checked October 2026)
New ordinary passport	N$400
Replacing a passport that is full	N$400
Replacing a lost or damaged passport	N$800
Emergency travel certificate	N$300

Some Namibian embassies charge the higher fee when someone replaces a passport that still has more than six months left. If you want to renew early, ask your office whether this applies.

How long does it take?

The ministry does not publish a standard processing time, and waiting times have varied over the years. The Namibian embassy in Finland tells citizens abroad to expect two to six months. At home it may be quicker, but do not book flights until you have your passport in hand.

The ministry’s fee list shows no express or urgent passport. For an urgent trip, ask about an emergency travel certificate (N$300). It is a temporary document, and not every country accepts it, so check with the country you plan to visit first.

Passports for children

• A parent applies for a child under 16 who has no ID.
• Take the child’s birth certificate, certified copies of the parents’ IDs or birth certificates, and one colour passport photo of the child.
• Children aged 13 and older sign their own form.
• Passports for applicants under 21 are valid for five years, because faces change quickly at that age.
• The ministry’s checklist does not spell out consent rules. If only one parent can attend, ask whether the other parent needs to sign a consent affidavit.

When children cross the border, officials may also ask for the child’s full birth certificate and, if only one parent is travelling, the other parent’s written consent. Keep certified copies with the passport.

Renewing, lost or damaged passports

Renewing: you apply the same way as for a new passport and hand in the old one. Many countries refuse entry if your passport has less than six months left, so start early. Frequent travellers whose passports are full also attach certified copies of the photo page and the last stamped page.

Lost: report the loss to the police and get a declaration stating where, when and how it was lost. Then apply with the usual documents and pay N$800. If you are abroad, contact the nearest Namibian embassy or high commission.

Damaged: hand in the damaged passport with your new application. The fee is N$800.

Frequently asked questions

Can someone else apply for me?

No. The ministry does not allow agents or third parties. The only exception is a parent applying for a child under 16 without an ID.

I am 17 and still waiting for my ID. Can I apply?

Yes, if you have the receipt showing you applied for your ID. The checklist accepts it in place of an ID copy.

How long is a Namibian passport valid?

Ten years for adults, under a change announced in 2019 to apply from 2020, and five years for applicants under 21. Always check the expiry date printed in your passport.

Can I apply online?

Only partly, and only in Windhoek for now. You still go to the office for your details to be captured.

Related guides: How to Apply for a Namibian ID Card · How to Register a Birth and Get a Birth Certificate in Namibia

Last checked: 10 October 2026. Rules and fees can change, so always confirm with your nearest Home Affairs office before you go.