How to Get a Driving Licence in Namibia: 2026 Step-by-Step Guide
Under Namibia's Road Traffic and Transport Act, a learner's licence is the provisional licence that allows you to learn to drive. In general, you must hold the appropriate learner's licence before you can be tested for the corresponding full driving licence.
Here is the process from beginning to end.
Step 1: Check which licence code you need
The minimum age depends on the type of vehicle you want to drive.
According to the Roads Authority:
Code 1 — A and A1: 16 years and older
Code 2 — B and BE: 17 years and older
Code 3 — C1, C, CE1 and CE: 18 years and older
Applicants older than 65 must provide a valid medical certificate. Roads Authority
For many people learning to drive an ordinary passenger car, Code 2 is the relevant category.
Step 2: Apply for your learner's licence
The Roads Authority currently requires applicants to complete an Application for Learner Licence and attach a copy of either a valid traffic-register number or certified Namibian ID.
The learner-test application fee listed by the Roads Authority is N$45. Roads Authority
Bookings are available every day at NaTIS Valley in Windhoek, Swakopmund NaTIS and Oshakati NaTIS. For other centres, the Roads Authority advises applicants to contact the NaTIS centre directly for its booking arrangements. Your test date is provided after payment. Roads Authority
NaTIS also operates an online service that includes booking options for learner's-licence and driving-licence tests. RA
Step 3: Prepare for the learner's licence test
The learner's test checks whether you understand three fundamental areas:
Rules of the road — how drivers are expected to behave on public roads.
Road traffic signs — signs, signals and markings you need to recognise and obey.
Vehicle controls — the controls relevant to the type of vehicle you intend to drive.
These subjects aren't arbitrary study recommendations. They are specified in Namibia's Road Traffic and Transport Regulations as matters a driving examiner must establish that an applicant understands before issuing a learner's licence. Namiblii
Twara tip: Don't only memorise answers. Practice identifying signs and applying road rules to situations. That makes unfamiliar questions easier to reason through.
Step 4: Take your learner's licence test
Namibia is currently modernising this part of the process.
In June 2026, the Ministry of Works and Transport launched a computerised learner-licence testing system and Book and Pay system at Okahandja NaTIS.
The new system is designed to provide instant results, reduce paper-test leakage, increase testing capacity and improve the integrity of the testing process. The government described the system as ready for national rollout. Informante
That means applicants should not assume every NaTIS centre currently uses exactly the same testing method while rollout continues. Check with your selected centre when booking.
Step 5: Receive your learner's licence
If you satisfy the learner-test requirements, the examiner can issue or authorise issuance of your learner's licence. Namiblii
The Roads Authority says the learner-licence issuing fee as N$50. A duplicate learner's licence is listed at N$30. Roads Authority
Your learner's licence is what moves you into the practical-learning stage.
Step 6: Learn to drive
Now the objective changes.
The theory test establishes that you understand the rules. The next stage is learning to apply them while controlling a vehicle safely.
This is where you can practise with a driving school or qualified instructor before booking the practical driving test.
Step 7: Apply for the driving test
Namibian law says a learner's-licence holder seeking a full driving licence applies to a driving testing centre for the class of vehicle authorised by that learner's licence. Namiblii
The official NaTIS online portal also lists Driving Licence Test — Book now among its services. RA
Step 8: Take the practical driving test
For your driving test, Namibian law requires you to provide a vehicle of the class for which you are applying.
The examiner assesses whether you are competent to drive that class of vehicle. If you demonstrate the required competence and satisfy the other requirements, the examiner can authorise issuance of the driving licence. Namiblii
There is an important detail here.
If you provide an automatic-transmission vehicle or an electric vehicle for your test, Namibian law requires the resulting licence to be endorsed to authorise driving accordingly. Namiblii
So think carefully about the vehicle you use for your test.
Step 9: Receive your Namibian driving licence
Once you pass the required driving test and satisfy the applicable requirements, your driving licence can be issued. Namiblii
You've now moved through the full journey:
Choose licence code → Apply → Book learner test → Study → Pass learner test → Practise driving → Book driving test → Pass practical test → Receive driving licence.
Preparing for your Namibian learner's test?
Twara is building tools to make the journey from learner to licensed driver easier for you.
Practice the areas that matter, including road rules, traffic signs and vehicle controls and identify what you need to improve before test day.