Answer grounded in published legislation
Your question
Can I become a citizen after living 11 years in Namibia?
Yes, you may apply for Namibian citizenship by naturalisation if you are ordinarily resident in Namibia when applying and have been ordinarily resident there continuously for at least 10 years. Therefore, 11 years may satisfy the residence period, but it does not automatically make you a citizen. 1
The Minister must also be satisfied that you were lawfully admitted for residence, are at least 18, are of good character, intend to continue residing in Namibia or meet the specified service conditions, understand the responsibilities and privileges of citizenship, are willing to renounce foreign citizenship, and have not been convicted of an offence listed in the Act. 2
Some periods do not count, including residence under only a temporary permit, detention, involuntary residence, or residence as a visitor or in breach of the law. 4 You would therefore need to apply for a certificate of naturalisation and satisfy the Minister that all requirements are met. 2
Verified sources
Where this answer comes from
Namibian Constitution
Republic of Namibia 11 Annotated Statutes Namibian Constitution (5) Citizenship by naturalisation may be applied for by persons who are not Namibian citizens under Sub- Articles (1), (2), (3) or (4) hereof and who: (a) are ordinarily resident in Namibia at the time when the application for naturalisation is made; and (b) have been so resident in Namibia for a continuous period of not less than ten (10) years; and [Sub-Article (5)(b) is amended by the Namibian Constitution Second Amendment Act 7 of 2010. ] (c) satisfy any other criteria pertaining to health, morality, security or legality of residence as may be prescribed by law. (6) Nothing contained herein shall preclude Parliament from aut...
Namibian Citizenship Act 14 of 1990
certificate of naturalisation as a Namibian citizen to any person who satisfies the Minister that - (a) he or she complies with the requirements and conditions for the acquisition of citizenship by naturalisation; and (b) he or she has been lawfully admitted to Namibia for residence therein; and (c) he or she is not a child under the age of 18 years; and (d) he or she is of good character; and (e) he or she intends to continue to reside in Namibia or to enter or continue in the service of the Government of Namibia or of an international organization of which the Government of Namibia is a member, or of a person or association of persons resident or established in Namibia; and (f) he or she h...
Namibian Constitution
and (bb) subsequent to such marriage have ordinarily resided in Namibia as the spouse of such person for a period of not less than ten (10) years; and [Sub-Article (3)(a)(bb) is amended by the Namibian Constitution Second Amendment Act 7 of 2010.] (cc) apply to become citizens of Namibia; (b) for the purposes of this Sub- Article (and without derogating from any effect that it may have for any other purposes) a marriage by customary law shall be deemed to be a marriage: provided that nothing in this Constitution shall preclude Parliament from enacting legislation which defines the requirements which need to be satisfied for a marriage by customary law to be recognised as such for the purpose...
Namibian Citizenship Act 14 of 1990
(3) No period during which an applicant for naturalisation under subse ction (1) - (a) is or was confined in a prison, reformatory or mental institution or other place of detention established by or under any law; (b) has the right to reside in Namibia only by virtue of a temporary permit issued under any immigration law; (c) involuntarily remained or resided in Namibia; or (d) has entered or remained in Namibia as a visitor or by error, oversight, misrepresentation or in contravention of any law, shall for the purposes of the computation of any period of residence or ordinary residence as contemplated in that subsection, be regarded as a period of residence or ordinary residence in Namibia....
Namibian Citizenship Act 14 of 1990
the registration of a person as a Namibian citizen and cause a certificate of registration to be issued to such person, if the Minister is satisfied that such person complies with the requirements and conditions for the acquisition of citizenship by registration. (2) (a) An application referred to in subsection (1) shall, in the case of a child who is under the age of 18 years and who is not or has not been married, be made on behalf of such child by the responsible parent or guardian of such child. (b) Any person on whose behalf an application has been made in terms of paragraph (a), may at any time within one year after attaining the age of 18 years, or if he or she is married before havin...
Regularisation of Status of Certain Residents of Namibia, their Descendants and Foreign Spouses Act 15 of 2024
(a) is currently ordinarily resident in Namibia; (b) was issued with a valid South West Africa identification document; (c) has been ordinarily resident in Namibia since the date of issue of the South West Africa identification document; and (d) is not already documented as a Namibian citizen; may apply to the Minister in the prescribed form and manner, within a period five years from the date of commencement of this Act for Namibian citizenship by naturalisation to regularise his or her status and submit such application to a registrar at any office of the Ministry. (2) The Minister may, by notice in the Gazette , extend the period referred to in subsection (1) for a further period not exce...