The short version
- Netherlands grants a longer initial stay (24 months vs 6), and it is renewable.
- Only Netherlands offers a direct path to permanent residence on this permit.
- Tax treatment differs: Namibia — territorial taxation; Netherlands — standard resident taxation. Tax outcomes depend heavily on personal circumstances.
| Criteria | Namibia DNV | Netherlands DAFT |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum income / month | €1,720 | No fixed threshold |
| Income basis | Mixed (salary, freelance or savings) | Savings accepted |
| Initial duration | 6 months | 2 years (better) |
| Renewable | No | Yes (better) |
| Maximum total stay | 6 months | No fixed limit |
| Path to permanent residence | No | Yes (better) |
| Path to citizenship | No | Via permanent residence |
| Family inclusion | Yes | Yes |
| Working for local clients | Not allowed | Allowed |
| Tax treatment | Territorial taxation | Standard resident taxation (Possible 30% ruling (if eligible)) |
| Health insurance | Required (explicit) | Required (explicit) |
| Insurance duration required | Full visa period | Full visa period |
| Application fee | ≈ €175 (better) | ≈ €423 |
| Where to apply | Online | In country |
| Processing time | 2–4 weeks | — |
Green values mark the objectively better number in that row.
Full guide
Namibia DNV →
Requirements, application steps, insurance and sources.
Full guide
Netherlands DAFT →
Requirements, application steps, insurance and sources.
Don't forget insurance
Both programs have their own health-insurance rules — we match plans against each one's published requirement, with the evidence shown.
Sources
- Government Digital Nomad Visa - Namibia Investment Promotion and Development Board (NIPDB) (opens in a new tab) accessed 2026-06-15
- Government NIPDB Digital Nomad Visa - income thresholds (USD 2,000 / 1,000 / 500), 6-month non-renewable, NAD 3,300 fee, required documents (opens in a new tab) accessed 2026-06-15
- Government NIPDB Digital Nomad Visa - insurance requirement (valid international health and travel insurance for duration of stay) (opens in a new tab) accessed 2026-06-15
- Media Namibia Digital Nomad Visa - Citizen Remote (launch Oct 2022, email application, income via payslips/contracts not savings) (opens in a new tab) accessed 2026-06-15
- Law firm Namibia's Digital Nomad Visa and the Nomads' Namibian tax implications - Hugo van den Heever (tax practitioner; source-based tax, DTA list) (opens in a new tab) accessed 2026-06-15
- Media Namibia Digital Nomad Visa: Benefits, Requirements & Apply - Freaking Nomads (processing time ~2-4 weeks, non-renewable, 12-month reapply rule, email application) (opens in a new tab) accessed 2026-06-15
- International organisation Universal Health Coverage on the Horizon in Namibia - Abt Global (public ~80% coverage, private ~20%) (opens in a new tab) accessed 2026-06-15
- International organisation Cabinet approves universal health cover policy in Namibia - P4H Network (opens in a new tab) accessed 2026-06-15
- Government Residence permit self-employed person | IND (opens in a new tab) accessed 2026-06-15
- Government IND form 7524 — self-employed (DAFT code 453 / Dutch-Japanese treaty 510) (opens in a new tab) accessed 2026-06-15
- Government Fees — IND (self-employed incl. DAFT: EUR 423) (opens in a new tab) accessed 2026-06-15