Recognition of same-sex unions in Namibia

Notes

^ ^a ^b Performed in the Netherlands proper (including the Caribbean Netherlands), as well as in Aruba and Curaçao. May be registered in Sint Maarten in such cases, but the rights of marriage are not guaranteed.
^ Neither performed nor recognized in Niue, Tokelau, or the Cook Islands.
^ Neither performed nor recognized in six British Overseas Territories.
^ ^a ^b Neither performed nor recognized in some tribal nations of the US. Recognized but not performed in several other tribal nations and American Samoa.
^ Registered foreign marriages confer all marriage rights in Israel. Domestic common-law marriages confer most rights of marriage. Domestic civil marriage recognized by some cities.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d The Coman v. Romania ruling of the European Court of Justice obliges the state to provide residency rights for the foreign spouses of EU citizens. Some member states, including Romania, do not follow the ruling.
^ A "declaration of family relationship" is available in several of Cambodia's communes which may be useful in matters such as housing, but is not legally binding.
^ Guardianship agreements confer some limited legal benefits in China, including decisions about medical and personal care.
^ Hong Kong provides inheritance, guardianship rights, and residency rights for foreign spouses of legal residents.
^ Indian courts have recognised guru–shishya, nata pratha or maitri karar–type contractual relationships, but they are not legally binding.
^ Most Japanese cities and prefectures issue partnership certificates, but they are not legally binding.
^ Marriages conducted abroad between a Namibian national and a foreign spouse provide residency rights in Namibia.
^ Romania provides hospital visitation rights through a "legal representative" status.

Same-sex marriage is not legal in Namibia. On 16 May 2023, the Supreme Court ruled 4–1 that same-sex marriages concluded outside of Namibia should be recognised for residency purposes. Bills seeking to overturn the ruling and criminalise advocacy for same-sex marriage passed the Parliament of Namibia in September 2023, but they were not signed into law by President Nangolo Mbumba. Nevertheless, Mbumba signed a new marriage law in October 2024 that explicitly defines marriage in heterosexual terms.^[1]

^ "Namibia: Anti-Same-Sex Marriage Law Enacted". Mambaonline. 21 January 2025.