Namibian trust amendments: where things stand
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If you administer Namibian trusts, here is the short version of the Master of the High Court's June 2025 directive and what it still means for your practice.
The new system handles new trusts only
The Master's new electronic case management system went live on 21 February 2025. It currently registers new trusts only. Trusts already on the legacy system cannot yet be amended on it, because data migration is still being completed.
The manual amendment window has closed
The Master opened a short paper-based window for amendments between 1 July and 31 August 2025. That window has now passed. If you still have outstanding amendments, contact the Trust Department directly to confirm the current route before lodging anything.
You must be registered to submit
Only trust practitioners registered under Section 27 of the Trust Administration Act 11 of 2023 may submit. If you are not yet registered, sign up on the Master's partner portal. Accountants and auditors register on the same portal. Trust practitioners registering companies or juristic persons must submit Form E physically at the Master's office.
What a complete amendment file looks like
Annexure A of the directive sets out the requirements for change of trustee, change of accountant, change of beneficiary, amendment to trust deed, and deregistration. The common items across most applications are:
A resolution confirming the change
Beneficial Ownership Declaration (BOD) forms for founders, trustees and beneficiaries, with certified IDs (passports for foreign beneficial owners)
Resignation letters, death certificates or removal notices where applicable
Proof of NamRa tax lodgement, or a letter confirming the trust is not tax-registered
Signed financial statements of the trust
The original trust certificate, or an affidavit if it has been lost
If your trust has corporate or trust parties
You also need to lodge:
Certified BIPA registration documents for any entity that is a founder, trustee or beneficiary, showing directors and shareholders
BOD forms for those directors and shareholders, plus for the entity's representative
An organogram of the entity structure
For a trust that has another trust as a beneficiary: a certified copy of that trust's registration certificate (or notarised copy if foreign-registered), plus BOD forms for its founder, trustees and beneficiaries
Practical filing tips
Submit a complete bundle. Missing documents trigger query letters and delays.
When you deliver in person, check the file is entered in the Master's register, get your copy stamped, and ask who the legal officer on your matter is.
Why this matters
Clean trust administration data is part of Namibia's effort to come off the FATF grey list. The work members do on these files counts toward that.
Contact
Trust Department lead: Mrs. Olivia Mutjavikua, Deputy Master, 061 292 1503, Olivia.Mutjavikua@mojlr.gov.na. The full officer list (legal and admin) is in the directive.