Reciprocal Service of Civil Process Act, 1994 (Act 27 of 1994)

Government Gazette no. 977
This is the latest version of this legislation commenced on 29 Nov 1994.
Coat of Arms

Reciprocal Service of Civil Process Act, 1994

Act 27 of 1994

  • Published in Government Gazette no. 977 on 29 November 1994

  • Assented to on 16 November 1994

  • Commenced on 29 November 1994

  • [This is the version of this document from 29 November 1994 and includes any amendments published up to 6 October 2022.]


ACTTo provide for the reciprocal service of process in civil matters in Namibia and in designated countries, and for matters connected therewith.BE IT ENACTED by the Parliament of the Republic of Namibia, as follows:-


1. Definitions

In this Act, unless the context otherwise indicates -“designated country” means a country declared as such under section 2(1);“Minister” means the Minister of Justice;“process” means any process in a civil matter and includes any document relating to such matter.

2. Designation of countries for purposes of this Act

(1)The Minister may, for the purposes of sections 3 and 4, by notice in the Gazette declare as a designated country any country with which Namibia has in terms of the Namibian Constitution entered into an agreement providing for the reciprocal service of civil process.
(2)The Minister may by notice in the Gazette withdraw any declaration made under subsection (1).

3. Service of process received from designated country

(1)Whenever any process, other than a process relating to the enforcement of a civil judgment, purporting to be issued by an officer of a competent court of law in a designated country, is received from such officer by any magistrate within whose area of jurisdiction such process is sought to be served, such magistrate shall, if he or she is satisfied that the process was lawfully issued, notwithstanding the provisions of any other law relating to the service of process received from a foreign country, endorse such process for service, whereupon it shall be served as if it was a process issued out of the court of that magistrate.
(2)Any process not drawn up in the English language shall not be endorsed in terms of subsection (1) unless it is accompanied by a sworn translation thereof in English.

4. Service of process in designated country

Notwithstanding the provisions of any other law relating to the service of any process outside Namibia, any process, other than a process relating to the enforcement of a civil judgment, may be issued by the registrar of the High or Supreme Court or by any clerk of the magistrate’s court, as the case may be, without leave of the court in question.

5. Authentication

Notwithstanding the provisions of any other law, the authentication of any process for the purposes of the service or a return of service thereof shall not be required if such process is issued within a designated country and was certified to be an original process or a true copy or translation thereof, as the case may be.

6. Short title

This Act shall be called the Reciprocal Service of Civil Process Act, 1994.