BIPA Namibia: the complete guide
What BIPA does, where to find it, how to check an application, why annual duty keeps your business alive, and how to register without the queue.
Looking for BIPA itself? Chrimson is an independent registration agent, not BIPA. Official links:
- BIPA official website
- BIPA how-to guides (name searches, status checks)
- Name reservation forms
- Business registration at BIPA
- Head office, per BIPA's website: 3 Rühr Street, Northern Industrial Area, Windhoek
BIPA is the Business and Intellectual Property Authority: the government body that registers Namibian businesses and intellectual property such as trade marks.
Every Close Corporation and company is registered at BIPA, pays BIPA annual duty every year, and files changes such as new members or directors with BIPA.
You can deal with BIPA yourself, or use an agent so you never queue, never lose a week to a rejected name, and never miss annual duty.
What BIPA does
BIPA was established under the Business and Intellectual Property Authority Act of 2016. For a business owner, the parts that matter are:
| Area | What it covers |
|---|---|
| Business registration | Close Corporations, private and public companies, Section 21 (not-for-gain) companies, and external companies (branches of foreign companies) |
| Name reservation | Checking and reserving the name before a business is registered |
| Changes | New or departing members, directors and shareholders, change of name, address or business activity |
| Annual duty | The yearly payment that keeps every CC and company active |
| Good Standing certificates | Proof that a business is active and its annual duty is paid |
| Intellectual property | Trade marks, patents and industrial designs |
Registering a business at BIPA
Registration follows the same four steps for every structure: choose the structure, reserve a name, lodge the founding documents, and receive the certificate. A Close Corporation suits most small businesses; a Private Company suits businesses with investors or corporate shareholders. Our full guide, how to register a business in Namibia, covers each step, the documents and the timelines.
Checking a name reservation or application
BIPA's own website explains how to search names and check the status of an application; use the official links at the top of this page. When you register through us, you do not need to check anything: every step is shown on your private order page, and we tell you the moment BIPA approves the name or issues the certificate.
If an application has been sitting for longer than expected, the usual causes are a name that was too similar to an existing one, documents that were unclear or did not match, or a missing signature. Each of these is fixable, but the application usually has to be corrected and resubmitted.
BIPA annual duty: the payment that keeps your business alive
Every Close Corporation and company must pay annual duty to BIPA each year. It is not optional and it is not linked to whether the business traded:
- Miss it and penalties are added to what you owe.
- Keep missing it and BIPA can deregister the business. A deregistered business cannot trade, tender or get a Good Standing, and has to be restored first.
- Pay it and you can get a BIPA Good Standing certificate whenever a tender or bank asks for one.
The most common surprise we see is an old year that was never paid, sometimes from before the current owners bought the business. Check before you need a certificate, not on the day of a tender. Read more in our Good Standing guide.
Changing members, directors or details
When someone joins or leaves a Close Corporation, the founding statement has to be amended at BIPA. For a company, changes to directors and shareholders are filed in the same way. Keep these up to date: banks, NamRA and tender committees compare the names on your BIPA documents with everything else you submit, and a mismatch stops the process.
Doing it yourself, or using an agent
Anyone can deal with BIPA directly. What an agent saves you is the queue, the trial and error with names and forms, and the follow-up. We file with BIPA every week, so we know what gets an application through first time.
What it costs with us
Fixed prices, all-inclusive: no government fees are added later.
| Service | Price |
|---|---|
| Close Corporation registration | N$1,300 |
| Private Company registration | N$5,500 |
| BIPA Good Standing certificate | N$300 |
| Annual compliance plan: BIPA annual duty filed and Good Standings kept current | From N$9,600 a year |
Frequently asked questions
What is BIPA in Namibia?
BIPA is the Business and Intellectual Property Authority, established under the BIPA Act of 2016. It registers Close Corporations and companies, records changes to them, collects annual duty, issues Good Standing certificates and registers intellectual property such as trade marks.
Where is the BIPA head office?
According to BIPA's website, its head office is at 3 Rühr Street, Northern Industrial Area, Windhoek. Use bipa.na for current contact details and office hours. Chrimson is an independent agent, not BIPA.
How do I check my BIPA name reservation or application status?
BIPA's website explains how to search names and check an application's status. If you register through Chrimson, every step is shown on your private order page and we notify you when BIPA approves the name or issues the certificate.
What is BIPA annual duty?
It is the payment every Close Corporation and company must make to BIPA each year, whether or not it traded. Missing it adds penalties, and continued non-payment can lead to deregistration.
What happens if I do not pay BIPA annual duty?
Penalties are added, a BIPA Good Standing certificate cannot be issued, and BIPA can eventually deregister the business. A deregistered business cannot trade or tender and must be restored before it can operate again.
Can I register a business at BIPA without going to the office?
Yes. Through Chrimson the whole process runs online: you upload documents, sign, pay by card or bank transfer, and receive your certificate electronically.
Need help registering your business in Namibia?
Chrimson Consultants handles company registration, BIPA compliance, NAMRA tax registration, and tender-readiness for Namibian businesses. Contact us today.