A business license is issued by the county, but there are other permits and licenses you may need depending on the type of business you run. We’ve listed some of these permits and licenses below, as well as the contact information for further inquiries. And be sure to check out our guide to starting a business in Namibia for even more information.

Business owners in Namibia have a number of permits and licenses to secure before opening.

• Business license
• Business permit
• Trade license
• Trade permit.

A business license is issued by the county, but there are other permits and licenses you may need depending on the type of business you run. For example, if you will be selling alcohol, you will need to obtain a liquor license. If your business involves operating machinery or vehicles, such as operating a crane or forklift, then you will need to obtain an operating license from the Namibian Road Traffic Safety Authority (NRTSA).

We’ve listed some of these permits and licenses below, 

The government requires that you obtain a liquor store license before operating a business selling alcoholic beverages. You can apply for this license at your local district council office, and it will cost you N$1,000 per month.

You’ll also need to register with the Ministry of Trade, Industry, Labour and Immigration (MTILI) as an employer in order to hire staff members. To do so, fill out an Application for Registration form with MTILI’s Employment Service Centre in Windhoek and pay N$100 per employee per year.

What Permit/License Do I Need for My Business?

There are a few different permits you may need:

• An offshore permit to open a bank account (if your business is based outside Namibia)
• A tax clearance certificate (if you’ve been working in the country for less than three years)
• A certificate of incorporation, or CIC. This is not a permit, but rather a document that shows proof of ownership of your business. You’ll need it when applying for other permits as well as licensing. It’s also required by most banks when opening an account and can be issued by the Companies and Intellectual Property Commission or Registrar General’s office.

 Alcohol License

An alcohol license is required for anything from bars, restaurants and nightclubs to liquor stores. The requirements for each type of establishment are slightly different but generally include having the correct type of building (liquor store), staff background checks and a liquor permit from the Namibian Liquor Board.

The cost for an alcohol license in Namibia ranges between N$5,000 – N$10,000 depending on the type of business being opened. It normally takes 6 weeks or more to get your license approved by the government if you have no issues with your application as long as you submit all relevant documents correctly and on time.