Namibia has announced a one-month amnesty allowing foreign nationals who have overstayed their immigration permits to leave the country voluntarily without facing prosecution, fines or detention, the government has said.
The amnesty will run from December 15, 2025, to January 15, 2026, according to a statement by the Ministry of Home Affairs, Immigration, Safety and Security.
It applies to foreign nationals who have overstayed their residence or visa permits, as well as those who failed to report to immigration authorities as required under Namibia’s Immigration Control Act.
Home Affairs Minister Lucia Iipumbu said the measure was introduced in response to mounting pressure on law enforcement and detention facilities, as well as concerns over constitutional and humanitarian standards in immigration management.
“The decision follows challenges related to overcrowding in police cells, limited enforcement capacity and the need to manage migration in a humane and orderly manner,” the ministry said.
Under the directive, affected individuals must voluntarily present themselves at the nearest immigration office within the 30-day amnesty period and produce valid identification or travel documents.
Those who comply will be issued a 120-hour departure notice, allowing them to exit the country within five days without facing any legal penalties, the ministry said.
Beneficiaries of the amnesty will be exempt from prosecution, fines or detention for the duration of the programme. The directive applies retroactively to all immigration violations covered by the amnesty that occurred before December 15.
However, the ministry stressed that the amnesty does not amount to a waiver of future immigration controls and includes post-departure restrictions on re-entry.
Foreign nationals who overstayed their permits by more than 30 days will be declared persona non grata and barred from re-entering Namibia for 12 months. Those whose overstay was less than 30 days will face a six-month re-entry ban, it said.
The authorities will also prioritise the release of immigration detainees who qualify under the amnesty, as part of efforts to ease congestion in detention centres and police holding cells.
Namibia, a sparsely populated country of about 2.6 million people, attracts migrants from across southern Africa seeking employment, education and business opportunities, particularly from neighbouring Angola, Zambia and Zimbabwe.
In recent years, the government has stepped up enforcement of immigration laws amid concerns about undocumented migration, labour market pressures and public service capacity.
Rights groups have previously raised concerns over prolonged detention of undocumented migrants and conditions in police cells, urging authorities to adopt alternatives to detention and improve administrative processing.
The ministry said the amnesty was intended as a temporary administrative measure and urged eligible foreign nationals to take advantage of the opportunity.
“Failure to comply within the amnesty period will result in the full enforcement of immigration laws, including arrest, detention, prosecution and deportation,” the statement said.
Officials added that after January 15, immigration authorities would resume normal operations and apply penalties stipulated under the Immigration Control Act without exception.
The government said it would continue to review immigration policies to balance national security, economic interests and human rights obligations, while maintaining orderly migration management.
The amnesty comes as several countries in the region face growing migration pressures linked to economic hardship, political instability and climate-related shocks, prompting governments to reassess enforcement-heavy approaches in favour of administrative and humanitarian measures.
