Legal Document

The master of any ship or pilot of any aircraft arriving in Namibia must lodge a cargo declaration with Customs, answer related questions, and produce necessary documents. They must comply with designated places of entry unless forced by uncontrollable circumstances, and obtain clearance for departures, following prescribed regulations and conditions.

Upon arrival in Namibia, the master or pilot of a ship or aircraft must declare all sealable goods on board and personal property, which may be sealed by the Controller, with exceptions allowed under specific circumstances and written permission required for landing stores.

All goods brought into Namibia are deemed imported at specific times based on their method of entry.

The Permanent Secretary is authorized to designate specific places, routes, and facilities for the entry, exit, and transit of goods and people in Namibia, as well as to set conditions and operating hours for these locations. Additionally, any designated areas must be used exclusively for their intended purposes, with possible provisions for accommodating customs officers if required.

All goods imported into Namibia by ship or aircraft must be placed in an approved location before customs entry, and until then, the carrier remains responsible for the goods and any applicable duties.

For imported goods arriving by train, the railway authority must declare the arrival with Customs, including specific details about the goods, stores, crew, and passengers, while vehicles crossing Namibian borders must obtain written permission from the Controller or ensure all goods are properly declared.

For goods imported into Namibia by post, the completed form or label with necessary duty particulars serves as the entry declaration required by law. Goods not meeting these requirements, or exempted by the Permanent Secretary, must be processed through a customs office, with any discrepancies leading to potential forfeiture.

Anyone entering or leaving Namibia must declare all goods they possess or plan to take with them, including details about the origin, condition, and any legal restrictions, and comply with inspection and duty payment requirements; failure to do so may result in legal action or custody.

The Controller can open and inspect any container or package suspected of being imported, landed, or exported from Namibia in the absence of the importer or exporter, but must first attempt to locate and notify them to allow them the opportunity to be present during the inspection.

An officer may deny the removal of goods from a State warehouse until proof is provided of lawful entitlement, compliance with import, export, or transit laws, and payment of all related charges.

Imported or excisable goods can be moved in bond to a designated entry or warehousing place in Namibia or abroad, but goods from customs and excise warehouses can only be moved to approved warehousing places in Namibia or within the common customs area.

Exporters must pay duty on goods from a customs warehouse unless they provide proof of removal from the common customs area; failure to comply with export rules or conditions may lead to refusal of export entry or additional requirements.