Export paperwork in Namibia, step by step: NamRA, certificates of origin and trade agreements
A trade agreement only lowers the duty your buyer pays if you can prove your goods qualify. How the certificate of origin works, where NamRA fits in, and why Namibia issued only nine AfCFTA certificates.
Trade agreements such as SADC and the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) lower duties only for goods that qualify as Namibian under the rules of origin. A certificate of origin is the proof.
NamRA issues the SADC electronic certificate of origin (e-CoO), which attests that goods meet the rules of origin, and publishes guidelines on exporting goods.
Namibia had issued only nine AfCFTA certificates of origin according to a 2026 report: the agreement is barely used, which leaves room for early movers.
The documents, in the order you meet them
- Business and tax registration: a registered business with a NamRA tax registration, including registration as an exporter. See our NamRA guide.
- The commercial documents: a pro forma invoice for the buyer, then the commercial invoice and packing list for the shipment.
- The export declaration lodged with NamRA customs, usually through a registered clearing agent. NamRA's exportation of goods guidelines set out the process.
- Permits and certificates for your product: food, plant and animal products, and some minerals, need extra permits, health or phytosanitary certificates or test results before they leave.
- The certificate of origin, if you want your buyer to pay the lower duty under a trade agreement.
- Transport documents: the waybill or bill of lading from your transporter.
The certificate of origin, explained
A certificate of origin states where the goods were made. Under a trade agreement, it is what lets your buyer claim the lower duty, so it can be the difference between a competitive price and none. NamRA launched the SADC electronic certificate of origin, which attests that the goods declared by an exporter meet the rules of origin, and it has a Rules of Origin office for questions. There are also certificates for specific agreements, such as the Namibia and Zimbabwe form.
The rules of origin decide whether your product qualifies. Goods grown, mined or fully made in Namibia usually qualify. Goods made from imported materials qualify only if enough work is done in Namibia. Check your product against the rules for your market before you promise a buyer a duty-free price.
AfCFTA: the agreement hardly anyone is using yet
Namibia exported its first consignment under the AfCFTA in 2025, and a 2026 report put the number of AfCFTA certificates of origin issued at nine, for markets including Ghana, Kenya and Nigeria. A step-by-step guide to trading under the AfCFTA was validated at a workshop in Windhoek in February 2026, for publication on the Namibia Trade Information Portal. Our view: low use means few Namibian competitors in those markets.
Our advice for a first shipment
- Use a clearing agent for the first few shipments and learn the process from them.
- Ask NamRA's Rules of Origin office before you quote a duty-free price.
- Get paid safely: use secured payment methods for new buyers.
- Read the documentation, customs and certification chapters of the Namibia Exporters' Guide.
Sources
- NamRA: Exportation of goods guidelines
- NamRA: Information brochure, electronic certificate of origin
- NamRA: Certificate of origin, Namibia and Zimbabwe (NamRA-CE-FR-044)
- The Villager: Namibia issued only nine AfCFTA certificates of origin (2026)
- The Namibian: Namibia develops guide for AfCFTA trade
- US Trade.gov: Namibia trade agreements
Sources accessed 7 November 2026. Programmes and rules change: confirm with the organisation named before you act.
Need help registering your business in Namibia?
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