What Is BIPA (Business and Intellectual Property Authority) Namibia?
BIPA is the Business and Intellectual Property Authority, the Namibian government authority that registers all businesses and protects intellectual property. What it does, where it is, and how registration works.
BIPA (the Business and Intellectual Property Authority) is the Namibian government authority responsible for registering all businesses and protecting intellectual property. Established under Act No. 8 of 2016, BIPA registers Close Corporations, Private Companies, NGOs and foreign companies, maintains the companies register, and administers trademarks, patents and copyrights from its head office in Windhoek.
BIPA at a glance
| Full name | Business and Intellectual Property Authority |
| What it does | Registers businesses (CCs, companies, NGOs, foreign companies), maintains the companies register, administers annual returns, and protects trademarks, patents and copyrights |
| Where | Head office: Frans Indongo Gardens, Independence Avenue, Windhoek |
| Website | bipa.na |
| Established | BIPA Act No. 8 of 2016 |
| Typical services | Name reservation, business registration, annual returns, good standing certificates, deregistration and restoration, trademark and patent filing |
What does BIPA register?
- Close Corporation (CC): up to 10 members, simpler compliance, suited to small businesses. We register CCs.
- Private Company (Pty Ltd): the structure most tenders and investors expect. We register Pty Ltds.
- Section 21 / NGO: non-profit companies and welfare organisations.
- Foreign companies: external companies establishing a place of business in Namibia.
- Intellectual property: trademarks, patents, industrial designs and copyright.
If you want the registration steps in detail, read our step-by-step BIPA registration process guide.
How registration with BIPA works, briefly
Every registration follows the same broad path: reserve a name, prepare the founding documents, lodge the application at BIPA in Windhoek, respond to any queries, and collect the certificate. Applications are submitted in person or through a registered agent. Timelines vary by entity type and BIPA's workload.
Frequently asked questions
What is the BIPA website?
BIPA's official website is bipa.na. It carries forms, notices and contact details. Name searches and status enquiries can be made there, but most filings are still lodged physically at the Windhoek office or through a registered agent.
Where is BIPA in Windhoek?
BIPA's head office is at Frans Indongo Gardens on Independence Avenue in central Windhoek. This is where documents are submitted and certificates collected. Regional offices handle limited services; the companies register itself is administered from Windhoek.
How does BIPA name reservation work?
You propose up to three names in order of preference on the name reservation form. BIPA checks them against the register and approves the first available one. A reserved name is held for a limited period, so registration should follow promptly. We handle name reservation as part of every registration.
Can I register with BIPA online?
BIPA has been rolling out online services, but full online registration is not yet the norm. In practice most applications are lodged in person in Windhoek or through a registered agent, which is exactly the service we provide for clients anywhere in Namibia or abroad.
How do I check my BIPA application status?
Status can be checked with BIPA directly by reference number, by phone or at the counter. If we lodged your application, we track it for you and tell you the moment it moves, so you never need to queue for an update.
Is BIPA the registrar of companies in Namibia?
Yes. The functions of the old Registrar of Companies now sit inside BIPA, which took over company and CC registration when it was established. If a document or tender asks for the registrar of companies, BIPA is the authority it means.
Need BIPA registration handled for you?
We prepare, lodge and track BIPA registrations every week, name reservation, founding documents, filing and collection, so nothing bounces for a missing form. Start here and tell us what you need, or read about good standing certificates if your company is already registered.
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.