What is the process for a husband to assume his wife's surname after marriage in Namibia?

It's not very common in Namibia for the husband to assume the wife's surname. I got married in 2022 and initially thought the process would be just the same as it would be for my wife.

Equality right? ... Wrong.

When the wife assumes the husband's surname, they simply have to take a couple of copies of ID's, their marriage certificate and fill in the application.

The husband? Well in this post you'll experience a play-by-play of what is required.

The preparation

The first thing you can do is obtain all the necessary forms from Home Affairs, you have to obtain ALL the different forms categorized as "Change of Surname". This can only be done in Windhoek. The form that's (probably) most important is the one that also has space for 2 references to attest for you.

Also make sure to obtain the affidavit form, you will need to get this signed by a Commissioner of Oaths. Usually your local police station can do that.

Online Forms

There are some forms available here

Required Certifications

Make sure to have five certified copies of each of the following ready:

• Your ID
• A police clearance certificate
• Your wife's ID
• Your marriage certificate
• The affidavit form
• Your birth certificate (also bring the original)
• A school report or your high school diploma (not sure why)

For good measure I'm also taking my Passport.. Because I've been bitten by this process before.

This is the point where I am at now. I will list my next steps below so you know what you need to do. But in the coming days I will document exactly my experience in doing them. I'm travelling to Windhoek and staying there for 4 days to get the process done.

Steps you need to take

• Obtain the forms from Home Affairs in Windhoek. (see above)
• Visit the Magistrate's Court in Windhoek (situated in Katutura). Here you need to obtain a special letter, after stating your goal in court.
• Take the letter that you obtained at the Magistrate's Court to The Ministry of Justice.
• At the MoJ you will apply with that letter for them to place your intentions in a Government Gazette. This will cost ~N$2000.
• They will provide you with a date that the Gazette will be published. Take all the proofs and documents obtained so far to the headquarters of The Namibian or New Era newspaper.
• The newspaper will then (at a fee) publish your intentions on 2 seperate dates and inform you of the dates that it will circulate.
• Wait....
• Once the Ministry of Justice publishes the Gazette on the given date, you need to go obtain that Gazette.
• You also need to obtain each copy of the newspaper that published your intentions on the dates they circulate, make sure not to miss it.
• Take all these documents and newspapers to Home Affairs in Windhoek and lodge your application. (~N$600)

When lodging at Home Affairs - be sure to double check with the clerk that you have all the required docs. Go to counter M.

Very important to remember

By going through this process, you are not effectively doing the same thing your wife would have done. If your wife assumes your surname, she always has the option to revert back to her maiden name if (God forbid) things go wrong. This process is not reversible, you are physically changing your Surname in the registers, for good, and possibly would have to go through the same process to undo it.

My Experience

Friday 18 July, 2025

Still in Walvis Bay - I went to get all the necessary documents certified. I also wanted to finish my Police Clearance but the system has been offline for 3 days, so I'm leaving for Windhoek on Monday morning without the Police Clearance. I should still be able to do the work at the Magistrate's Court and Ministry of Justice without it. I will also re-attempt applying for my Police Clearance on Monday in Windhoek.

I decided to pop in to the Home Affairs office here as it was next to the Police Station where I did my certifications. The reason was that it looked kind of empty and thought I'd try my luck, because last night I discovered something:

The Civil Registration and Identification Act, 2024. Which is an Act that was signed by The President of Namibia and has been Gazetted in December 2024. It's purpose is to make the Aliens Act obsolete. In this new act, under Clause 22 - it states specifically that both the husband and wife can follow the same route to assume the other's surname.

I was hopeful that I can now make my life simpler by going that route, but surprise-surprise, 7 months later and the Act still has not commenced and it's up to the minister to do so. I enquired with a familiar face at the Home Affairs office in Walvis Bay. They have no knowledge of any plan or system that is being put in place to implement the Clause 22 for the husband.

I must say that 'hopeful' is an overstatement, I was moreso curious and knew that it probably won't happen.

It was not all in vain. The lady at the counter could not help me with the exact steps I outlined above or which order to execute them in, but she did offer me 3 phone numbers of people in Windhoek who do know. Naomi - bless her heart - was kind enough to explain what I wrote above clearly and in detail. This is more than I've ever got out of any Home Affairs clerk I've enquired to.

I got the affidavit signed and for good measure also the form that the wife would normally use - just in case. Thereafter I went to get my first 'Reference' signature (thanks mom). This weekend Dad-in-law will sign the second. Just before I set off for Windhoek on Monday.

That's it for today, I must say - I was pleasantly surprised in a strange way that most people I encountered actually did their job. That's a lot to ask for a Namibian Government employee. Let's hope the trend continues (not optimistic). I hope that I will be one of the last men to have to go through this highly unequal process. Hopefully you reading this, wanting to do the same can simply use Clause 22 of The Civil Registration and Identification Act, 2024.

Why am I writing this?

The Act that controls all these procedures - The Aliens Act 1 of 1937 (yes, you read that right 1937). Is outdated to say the least. I'm hopeful for the new Act mentioned in this post - but moreso I want to document this for historical purposes and to help more people who are going through the same thing.

Most importantly, In 2002, the United Nations Human Rights Committee which oversees the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights signed by Namibia said that having different rules on married surnames for men and women is unfair sex discrimination. In typical Namibian fashion, the Government has not done anything about it. (Perhaps the new Act changes that).

This document is also here to raise awareness - to inform these policy makers and the public that this is an issue that needs to be addressed. By putting this out there I stand firmly in my beliefs and hope that my actions can bring more people's experience to light. It's not that the process is currently impossible or about the money - it's a deeper issue of equality and fairness in our society.