Tips pertaining the declaration of funds when arriving in or departing from Namibia.

Non-residents (visitors/tourists) to Namibia

a)    There is no limit to the amount of foreign currency that a Non-Resident (herein after referred to as tourist/visitor)  may bring into Namibia;

b)   Foreign currency may be brought in any form, e.g. cash, travelers’ cheques, credit cards, store value cards etc;

c)    Transactions through international credit cards such as Visa, American Express are accepted at most of the branches of the Commercial Banks;

d)    Exchange of foreign currency in Namibia and any other exchange control related transaction, is permissible only through an Authorized Dealer i.e. Commercial Banks or Bureau de Changes;

e)    Dealing in foreign currency by unauthorized dealers (“black market”) constitutes a criminal offence and is punishable on conviction in terms of a  fine, a term of imprisonment or both a fine and imprisonment. In addition, any funds confiscated during a dealing in foreign currency operation by an unauthorized dealer, may be confiscated to Government either by a court convicting the involved offenders or by the Treasury in terms of the Currencies and Exchanges Act, 1933 (Act No. 9 of 1933) and its complementing regulations.

f)      Some tourist related outlets such as Hotels, Travel agents, Restaurants etc. are allowed to accept foreign currency in payment for services rendered or goods sold;

g)    Tourists/visitors must at all times keep copies of documentary evidence confirming the origin /source of monies in their possession as proof thereof may be required at a Namibian Police or Customs Checkpoint , especially upon departure at  airports and border posts within Namibia;

h)    When returning to their countries of origin, tourist/visitors may take with them any unspent portion of foreign currency introduced/brought into Namibia;

i)      Importation and Exportation of the Bank of Namibia notes or any notes of other member countries of the Common Monetary Area “(CMA) (Lesotho, South Africa and Swaziland) in excess of a total value equaling N$10 000 (ten thousand) is prohibited.

Any importation or exportation of Bank of Namibia notes or any notes of CMA member countries, in excess of a total value of N$10 000 (ten thousand), constitutes a criminal offence and is punishable on conviction in terms of a  fine, a term of imprisonment or both a fine and imprisonment.

In addition, any funds confiscated during an importation or exportation operation pertaining the N$10 000 (ten thousand) threshold, by a tourist/visitor, may be confiscated to Government either by a court convicting the involved offenders or by the Treasury in terms of the Currencies and Exchanges Act, 1933 (Act No. 9 of 1933) and its complementing regulations.