u/BlahBlahBlahStop667

Imports to Nambia when a tourist?

Namra now say that if you wish to import a toothbrush, toilet roll or Ferrari into Namibia you must register for a Trader ID Number (TIN).
https://www.namra.org.na/documents/cms/uploaded/public-notice--mandatory-tin-on-asycudaworld--9-dec-2025-7d1548a64e.pdf

To do this, you first have to register as an actual Namibian tax payer, then use your tax number to register for the Trader ID Number (TIN).
When approved, the TIN will be the same number as your tax number, but 'flagged/allowed' to progress on the import of your desired toothbrush from overseas. You must do both steps.

I have a Canadian friend, here for 3 weeks as a tourist, stuck in a remote location, and needs a few small parts for his broken vehicle that can't be sourced locally.
Parts delivery is now with the courier company in Windhoek, but they insist they can't release them unless he registers for a TIN, which of course means registering as a tax payer.

Seems utter madness, what a way to treat tourists.

Does anybody have any experience of what I would hope would be some exceptions for the TIN registration for tourists/foreigners like this?

(They are happy to pay the import taxes, just crazy they need to register as a tax payer with no process for non-citizens etc)

reddit.com
u/BlahBlahBlahStop667 — 6 days ago
▲ 16 r/Namibia

'Namibian Visa regime change bites tourism numbers'

The linked article is interesting: seems imposing a confusing and costly procedure on potential visitors has been a mistake when it comes to attracting them... who could have predicted it??!!

https://www.namibian.com.na/visa-regime-change-bites-tourism/

"German tourists make up the largest percentage of tourists from non-African countries. According to the report, the number of German tourists dropped by 27.4% in 2025. The number of tourists from Europe also dropped by 21%.

“It is of great concern to note that this decline [in tourists] is experienced in most of our key source markets such as Germany, South Africa and France, just to mention a few,”"

Our neighbouring competitors for these same visitors:
Angola - Free entry on arrival
Zambia - Visa on arrival $50USD
Botswana - Free entry on arrival
South Africa - Free entry on arrival

u/BlahBlahBlahStop667 — 6 days ago