Documentation for Cruiser staying in Windhoek

[Kezi]

Hello All,
We are SA residents with a SA registered Toyota Landcruiser.
We would like to drive from KZN into Namibia and explore the South, to hike and MTB our hearts out.
After 2 weeks of adventure, we would like to drive to Windhoek and leave our Cruiser and bicycles there and fly back home to SA.
2 months later, we would like to fly into Windhoek and pick up our vehicle and do more hiking, driving, MTBing and exploring and after 2 weeks, return the Cruiser to Windhoek and fly home again.
We would like to continue doing this until we have seen every inch of the country or we are bored silly and move on to Zambia and hopefully repeat the process there. But let me not get ahead of myself!
My question is: How do I do this in Namibia?
What documentation do I need?
How long can I leave the vehicle in Namibia for?
Do I have to drive the vehicle across a border and back into Namibia to get a longer permit?
Can I have permits extended at an office somewhere?
I don't even know all the questions I need to ask!
I would VERY MUCH appreciate some guidance and suggestions on how I can make this happen!!
Kezi

[Caracal]

SA citizens are allowed to visit Namibia for 90days per annum, be it taken in one go or taken in multiple visits. This is the legal allowance, so you cant plan to be in Namibia longer than that.

The vehicle may stay longer under certain conditions. You can temporarily import the vehicle whereby you will have to pay the 16.5% import duty on its NAMIBIAN value, IF you are given permission to temporarily import it. This is usually motivated by a work visa or work permit which allows one to be in the country longer than the 90 day period. The 90 day period is related to tourists, which you will ultimately be. I have temporarily imported a vehicle on a work permit and the process to recover the monies is a long and frustrating one.

There is a roads tax permit required for SA vehicles. This can be renewed every 3 months at various Roads Authority offices around the country. This is required even if your vehicle is temporarily imported.

I would rather store it in Upington, which has an airport, so you can still fly in and out. For the north of the country maybe consider Maun or Kasane, which have daily flights servicing both centres. I think the 90 day rule applies to Botswana too, not sure from a tourist perspective. Im sure those based in Botswana can shed more light on this subject

[Kezi]

Thank you Caracal for your feedback.
At 2 weeks/14 days every 2 months, we are luckily under the 90 day limit!
Leaving our vehicle in Upington is still a lot of driving from SA and in Namibia and so I would like to find a working plan for Windhoek.
When we arrive at the border as a tourist - what is the longest amount of time we can request - 3 months? - as a tourist to enter the country with our vehicle?
Then would it be possible on the next fly-in to Namibia, we renew the road tax at the vehicle licensing department to allow us another 3 months of the vehicle staying in Windhoek?
Perhaps this is a plan?
Thanks,
Kezi

[Searcher]

You cannot leave your vehicle in Namibia for longer than 90 days.
Having a valid road permit does not give you permission to do so.

The road permit might get you through the odd road block, but if there is an inquisitive customs official at said road block and he discovers that your vehicle has been in Namibia longer than 90 days, you are in for a whole lot of pain.
Very expensive fines and customs penalties and you will be given minimal time to get your vehicle out of Namibia.
Also insurance will be an issue.

I faced the same dilemma and ended up importing my SA Cruiser to Namibia, where it now permanetly stays.

[Caracal]

Thank you Caracal for your feedback.
At 2 weeks/14 days every 2 months, we are luckily under the 90 day limit!
Leaving our vehicle in Upington is still a lot of driving from SA and in Namibia and so I would like to find a working plan for Windhoek.
When we arrive at the border as a tourist - what is the longest amount of time we can request - 3 months? - as a tourist to enter the country with our vehicle?
Then would it be possible on the next fly-in to Namibia, we renew the road tax at the vehicle licensing department to allow us another 3 months of the vehicle staying in Windhoek?
Perhaps this is a plan?
Thanks,
Kezi

They have roadblocks around the country which are strategically placed for this type of thing. The one day that customs are at the road block is the day you lose your vehicle. It will be impounded and you wont get it back until you pay a hefty fine and told to immediately leave the country.

In short, it is IILLEGAL to have an SA registered vehicle in Namibia more than 90 days per annum on a tourist visa. The quicker you accept that there is no legal "other plan" the better. If there was a work-around, every Tom, Dick and Harry would be ducking the system, precisely what the NAM authorities DONT want.

Also take what Searcher is saying. There is no other way. Trust us.

[Kezi]

Thanks for all the feedback - I really appreciate it.
However my mind is looking for solutions and how to make this work.
So here goes again.....
If we get a 3 month tourist permit at the border upon entry, travel for 2 weeks, leave the vehicle in Windhoek, fly back to SA.
Then 2 months later fly back to Windhoek and in the 2 weeks we are there (which are the last 2 weeks of our Namibian vehicle TIP), we pop across the border closest to our adventure travels e.g. MataMata for SA or to Botswana/Buitepos etc. then turn around and come back in again and repay the road tax and get another 3 months tourist permit for the car.
Would this be possible?
As for the 90 days human person legality - Our passport would reflect the amount of days we were actually in the country.
The vehicle would get a three months road tax permits each time we re-enter the country.
Is this feasible?
Thanks
Kezi

[Lou07]

Thanks for all the feedback - I really appreciate it.
However my mind is looking for solutions and how to make this work.
So here goes again.....
If we get a 3 month tourist permit at the border upon entry, travel for 2 weeks, leave the vehicle in Windhoek, fly back to SA.
Then 2 months later fly back to Windhoek and in the 2 weeks we are there (which are the last 2 weeks of our Namibian vehicle TIP), we pop across the border closest to our adventure travels e.g. MataMata for SA or to Botswana/Buitepos etc. then turn around and come back in again and repay the road tax and get another 3 months tourist permit for the car.
Would this be possible?
As for the 90 days human person legality - Our passport would reflect the amount of days we were actually in the country.
The vehicle would get a three months road tax permits each time we re-enter the country.
Is this feasible?
Thanks
Kezi

Yes I have also heard of somewhere in Windhoek (probably one of the Road Fund Administration offices) that you can renew that permit.

Just be careful and get advice from someone who understands the legalities. As Caracal says: they sometimes (seemingly arbitrarily) decide that you should have imported the vehicle and then it gets impounded at huge cost.

Better to get the proper advice from a customs agent or someone who understands these things, than to take a chance and be at the mercy of a misinformed police officer or customs official at one of our many roadblocks.

[CalDriver]

To take this further - if you could have your vehicle registered in any country, which country would make cross border travel the easiest?

Namibia certainly seems promising, but I heard something a while back that Namibian vehicles are hard to get into Angola - is this true? Are there other advantages/disadvantages to Namibia? What about Botswana registry?

I was under the impression, apparently mistakenly - and thank you Searcher and Caracal for your posts - that vehicles within the SACU had more lenient rules, but that appears not to be the case.

We have pondered trying to re-register our vehicle, or even that if we were ever to get a new vehicle to be strategic about where we got it. I loath to pay the exorbitant park fees in Tanzania, maybe we should get a TZ registered car? I think this is quite hard for a foreigner, so maybe not.

Any thoughts on this?

[Kezi]

Found this document from NamRa re: TIP albeit dated 2023
Google: NamRa Public Notice Directive on TIP

It states that:

All travellers, excluding tourists from SACU member countries (i.e. Botswana, eSwatini, Lesotho and South Africa), importing or driving a motor vehicle bearing a foreign registration plate number into Namibia are required to complete a TIP.


As a South African, I understand from this, that I do not need to complete a TIP and therefore the 90 days per annum does not affect the vehicle?

I would love any and all feedback and I will certainly mail my questions to the 2 e-mail addresses listed on the document for clarity in the hopes that they can iron this out.
Thanks,
Kezi

[Kezi]

Public Notice Directive on Temporary Import Permit TIP | Announcements


Here's the link! :-)

[Kezi]

I mailed the gents on the NamRa TIP attachment as listed above.
I am surprised and extremely pleased to say I got a response to my enquiries almost immediately.
As I understand, the situation is not so complicated.
No TIP at the border for SA registered cars.
Road Fund permit is paid at the port of entry managed by the Road Fund Administration Namibia and is for 90 days.
if you require more days than the 90 days granted then the vehicle will be subject to payment of provisional payment (PP) of VAT (16.5%) on the value of the vehicle. Note that the PP procedure allows the vehicle to be temporarily imported for 6 months and is refundable after re-exportation of the same vehicle. - This was mentioned by another Forum member.
HOWEVER, before the end of 90 days, one can exit Namibia at a border post close to where you are travelling and come back into Namibia the same day or the next day and repurchase a tourist visa for 90 days i.e. 'Arrangement can be made with the Regional Manager of the Namibian border you wish to travel through.'

[JLK]

However you are only allowed 90 days per year, but I think you can apply for extension.

[Lou07]

I mailed the gents on the NamRa TIP attachment as listed above.
I am surprised and extremely pleased to say I got a response to my enquiries almost immediately.
As I understand, the situation is not so complicated.
No TIP at the border for SA registered cars.
Road Fund permit is paid at the port of entry managed by the Road Fund Administration Namibia and is for 90 days.
if you require more days than the 90 days granted then the vehicle will be subject to payment of provisional payment (PP) of VAT (16.5%) on the value of the vehicle. Note that the PP procedure allows the vehicle to be temporarily imported for 6 months and is refundable after re-exportation of the same vehicle. - This was mentioned by another Forum member.
HOWEVER, before the end of 90 days, one can exit Namibia at a border post close to where you are travelling and come back into Namibia the same day or the next day and repurchase a tourist visa for 90 days i.e. 'Arrangement can be made with the Regional Manager of the Namibian border you wish to travel through.'

Just please make sure you have all this documentation and communication printed and in a file in the car ready for inspection at the road blocks.

Unfortunately some of our dear public servants at these road blocks are not clued up and give you grief regardless.


About 18 months ago the cops came out with communication stating that all buses (including mini-buses) MUST have a fire extinguisher. This is actually only for fare-carrying passenger buses and minibuses, but do you think they knew that when we went through a roadblock outside Windhoek in my wife's Kombi? I stood arguing with them for about half an hour until they eventually got bored and let me leave.

[CalDriver]

Can anyone recommend a reputable/reliable importer or clearing agent? There are many online, but my experience with clearing agents is they vary widely in quality.

[Searcher]

Hey CalDriver, I will respond fully tomorrow to your pm and here.
Just a bit busy today.

Having recently gone through the import process, I am sure I can help with the process, procedures and contacts.

[CalDriver]

Hey CalDriver, I will respond fully tomorrow to your pm and here.
Just a bit busy today.

Having recently gone through the import process, I am sure I can help with the process, procedures and contacts.

Thanks! No rush.

[JLK]

I used Transworld Cargo a few times. https://www.transworldcargo.net/customs-clearance

[Searcher]

Hi CalDriver

This is how I imported my Cruiser into Namibia from SA.

You need the following to import a vehicle into Namibia from SA. (Yourself as export and import entity)

● 3 x Valuations
● SARPCCO Certificate (First get the RPC from Traffic Department)
● Full residential and postal address in RSA
● Full residential and postal address in Namibia
● SARS Export Customs Code and Certificate if value > N$150,000
● Data dot certificate (From DEKRA)
● Copy of your RSA ID or Foreign ID (Certified)
● Original SA Vehicle Registration Document

The chap that helped me in Swakop with vehicle police clearance, vehicle registration, etc, was Angelo: +26481...... (PM me for number) Excellent service and knows his way around and has the right contacts.

For the border clearance, SAD 500 and customs papers at the border, I used Netty Custom Clearing Agency: Manderita: +26463297044. I went through the Vioolsdrift border post and they had customs agents on the SA side and on the Namibian side at the border, so getting all the paper work approved and stamped and paying the duties was a breeze.

I imported my Cruiser from SA to Nam as a Namibian citizen and used my Namibian ID to register the Cruiser in Namibia.
Maybe just give Angelo a call sometime and find out if it is exactly the same process if you register your vehicle using your foreign ID in Namibia. I suspect it will be the same process, but better to make absolutely sure.
I was told that importing a vehicle from yourself to yourself is a slightly easier process than to or from different entities.

A headups for documentation certification in Namibia.

Namibian police no longer certify any non-Namibian documents or so called foreign documents.
These includes a foreign ID, Passport and other documents of foreign origin.

The police will refer you to your countries embassy in Namibia for them to certify the foreign documents.
You can also try an attorney, but documents certified by an attorney are not accepted everywhere I have heard.

Best practice is to get your documents certified in your own country before visiting Namibia.

Each import will be somewhat unique to your current circumstances, but the clearing agent will be able to give you more detail.

Let me know if there are any other questions I can maybe help with.

Cheers

Searcher

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