Only 379 Illegal Foreign Nationals Voluntarily Leave Namibia During Amnesty Period
By TUW
A total of 379 illegal foreign nationals voluntarily left Namibia during the government’s amnesty period that ran from December 2025 to February 2026, according to the Executive Director of Immigration, Nghidinua Daniel.
Speaking in an interview with NAMPA on Monday, Daniel confirmed that Zimbabwean nationals made up the majority of those who took advantage of the temporary arrangement to regularize their status by leaving the country without facing penalties. The amnesty period officially expired on Friday.
What Is Amnesty?
An amnesty is a limited-time government offer that allows individuals who may have violated certain laws, in this case, immigration regulations, to come forward and comply without facing arrest, detention, fines, or deportation bans.
In the context of immigration, amnesty gives undocumented or illegally staying foreign nationals the opportunity to leave the country voluntarily without being blacklisted or subjected to legal consequences that would normally apply.
Breakdown by Nationality
According to the figures released, the 379 individuals who departed Namibia during the amnesty period were from the following countries:
- Zimbabwe – 210
- Angola – 36
- South Africa – 30
- China – 21
- Zambia – 19
- Botswana – 13
- Democratic Republic of Congo – 9
- Germany – 8
- Ghana – 6
- Malawi – 6
- Kenya – 4
- Congo Brazzaville – 3
- Cameroon – 2
- Tanzania – 2
- Nigeria – 2
- Burundi – 1
- Russia – 1
- Cuba – 1
- Czech Republic – 1
- India – 1
- United Kingdom – 1
- Norway – 1
- Poland – 1
Zimbabwe accounted for more than half of the total departures, making its nationals the largest group to respond to the government’s call.
Immigration authorities have indicated that with the amnesty period now closed, normal enforcement of immigration laws will resume, and those found to be in the country illegally may face the full consequences under Namibian law.
Officials have encouraged foreign nationals to ensure their documentation is valid and up to date to avoid legal complications.
