Gay men and lesbians in Namibia: law, couples and safety

Namibian legal status as of October 2024

The British Country Policy and Information Note, version 3.0 of October 2024, sums it up: before 21 June 2024, the common law criminalised sexual relations between adult men. The Friedel Dausab case brought these offences down, but the government's appeal had not been decided.

Why the Supreme Court appeal matters

Until the Supreme Court has ruled, the 2024 decision may be upheld or overturned. We do not know the outcome: before any trip or any public visibility, check the state of the law with a recent official source.

Lesbian women and Namibian law

According to the British note, the offences struck down in 2024 concerned relations between men. Our sources mention no text specifically targeting relations between women. The absence of an offence does not, however, guarantee freedom from prejudice or family pressure.

No marriage or civil partnership in Namibia

Namibian law allows neither marriage nor civil partnership between people of the same sex, the British government states. A 2001 judgment, Immigration Selection Board v Frank, excluded such marriage from the scope of Article 14 of the Constitution.

The Digashu judgment of May 2023

The Supreme Court did, however, recognise in May 2023, in Digashu v Government, same-sex marriages lawfully concluded abroad, for immigration purposes. A couple married in Europe can therefore rely on it, subject to legislative developments.

The Ekandjo bills

Passed in July 2023 by the National Assembly and the National Council, these bills would narrow the definition of spouse, block recognition of marriages concluded abroad and criminalise their celebration or promotion. We have not verified their final fate.

Dating apps: discretion by default

On Taimi, an LGBTQ+ app for adults only, as on Tinder or Bumble, use a pseudonym, hide your precise location and do not show your face until you have built a minimum of trust with the man or woman you are talking to.

Fake profiles and extortion in Namibia

The British FCDO and the State Department report that, in some countries, fake profiles are used to entrap LGBT+ people. If a contact demands money while threatening to expose you, stop the conversation, do not pay and keep the evidence.

Meeting safely in Windhoek

For a first date, choose a busy public place over a private home. Give a friend the person's identity, the place and the time, with an agreed check-in message. Cities can be more open than rural areas, the FCDO notes.

Advice for foreign visitors to Namibia

Save the contact details of your embassy or consulate. Americans can register free of charge with the STEP programme and, if arrested, ask for their embassy to be informed. Avoid public displays of affection, which can attract unwanted attention.

Related pages: Namibia and Botswana

The country's general context, from family law to verified platforms, is on the Namibia page. For over-60s, see senior dating in Namibia, and for a regional comparison, the LGBT+ situation in Botswana.

Phone, cloud and messages: limiting your traces

Do not store intimate photos in a shared cloud or on a phone others can access. Turn off message previews on the lock screen and regularly delete sensitive conversations. These habits limit the risks if a device is lost or seized.

Official sources and the app mentioned

• GOV.UK – CPIN Namibie, orientation sexuelle (octobre 2024): British note detailing the Dausab ruling, the appeal, the Digashu judgment and the Ekandjo bills.
• FCDO – conseils aux voyageurs LGBT+: British guidance on app-based entrapment, caution in public and non-judgemental consular help.
• Département d'État – voyageurs gays et lesbiennes: US advice on app surveillance, fake profiles and the STEP programme.
• Taimi: Inclusive dating app for the whole LGBTQ+ spectrum, open from 18 and free in its basic version.

Dating in Namibia without exposing yourself

1. Check the state of Namibian law, including the Supreme Court appeal, before a trip or a date.
2. Choose an adults-only app and a pseudonym with no link to your real name.
3. Hide your face, workplace and neighbourhood in photos until trust is established.
4. Confirm the other person's identity by video call before arranging a date in Windhoek or elsewhere.
5. Meet in a public place and alert a trusted contact, with an agreed alarm code.
6. Note your embassy's number and keep evidence in case of threats or blackmail.

Namibian LGBT+ law in one table

What to take on a stay in Namibia

• Valid passport, with a digital copy kept off your phone
• Contact details for your embassy or consulate
• A trusted contact reachable throughout your stay
• Foreign marriage certificate, if you are married, for immigration procedures
• Proof of travel insurance

Mistakes for LGBT+ people to avoid in Namibia

• Treating the June 2024 ruling as final when the government's appeal had not been decided by October 2024.
• Sending intimate or identifiable photos to a recent contact who could use them to blackmail you.
• Paying money in exchange for silence: blackmail almost always resumes after a first payment.
• Displaying your relationship demonstratively in a small town where attention can turn hostile.
• Believing you are married under Namibian law after a symbolic local ceremony with no legal value.

Information up to date as of October 2026. AfriqueRencontres.com does not arrange meetings and never asks for money: never transfer money to someone you know only online.