VISA AND IMMIGRATION INFORMATION

   Updated 26th September 2005

 Click here to download a Word Document on:
Guidelines on the issuance and extension of Permits,
Visa Requirements and Procedures

A visa is an endorsement on a visa form or in a valid passport of a foreigner granting such person authority to enter Zambia within a specific period upon examination by an Immigration officer at the port of entry.

The period of stay in Zambia shall be determined by an Immigration Officer at the port of entry.  The validity of the visa is NOT the period which the holder is entitled to remain in the country but a period within which the holder has to enter Zambia.

 The following visa procedures will therefore apply:-

 1. ENTRY VISA REQUIREMENTS FOR DIPLOMATS AND UNITED NATIONS PERSONNEL ACCREDITED TO ZAMBIA.

  • Official or Gratis Visas could be obtained at Zambian Missions abroad or at ports of entry on presentation of letters of accreditation.

  • Persons in category 1.1 above who are not accredited to Zambian may get visas at a Missions abroad or at ports of entry on presentation of official/diplomatic passports.

 2.  DELEGATES COMING TO ZAMBIA ON CONFIRMED GOVERNMENT BUSINESS

  • Delegates from International Organisations coming to Zambia should obtain Entry Visas at Zambian Missions Abroad or ports of entry provided they produce official invitation letters.

  • Persons under paragraph 2.1 above include delegates from countries listed at paragraph 4 provided they have confirmed letters of invitation from relevant Ministries, Departments or International Organisations represented in Zambia.

3. .TOURISTS TO ZAMBIA

  • A bonafide tourist is any person traveling to Zambia as an individual or group of persons on a pre-arranged package tour through a foreign tour operator or travel agent in conjunction with a local tour operator.  Tour operators include hotels registered in Zambia as such.

  • All bonafide tourists shall be issued with visas at any port of entry to Zambia or at  Zambian Missions abroad EXCEPT for those at paragraph 4 who require visas authorized by the Chief Immigration Officer or the stipulated Zambian Mission abroad.

  • Any bonafide tourist traveling to Zambia as an individual or in a group  on a pre-arranged package tour through a foreign tour operator or travel agent in conjunction with a local operator shall be issued with a FEE WAIVED VISA at any port of entry to Zambia.

  • Any person qualifying as a bonafide tourist under paragraph 3.3 above shall be issued with a multiple entry visa at any port of entry and such a visa shall be valid for the duration of the visit which shall not exceed a period of fourteen (14) days.

  • The duly signed notice of tourists intending to come to Zambia on fee waived visa should be furnished to the officers at the port of entry at least twenty –four (24) hours prior to their arrival.  The notice should include the following details:  Passport particulars (full names, passport numbers and nationality), expected date of arrival and itinerary.
     

  • PRIVATE VISITORS

  • Nationals of countries which require visas to enter Zambia for the purpose of visiting friends or relatives should be issued with visas at Zambian Missions abroad or ports of entry.  Those nationals who may wish to obtain such visas well in advance should apply for them to the Chief Immigration Officer – P . O Box 50300, LUSAKA-ZAMBIA, Zambiavisa@zamnet.zm.

  • BUSINESS VISITORS

  • Nationals of countries which require visas, coming as experts on business with organisations in Zambia could be issued with entry visas at ports of entry EXCEPT for those from countries listed under paragraph 4 below.  A Business visitor should produce an invitation letter from the institution which invited him/her.  A Business visitor is entitled to thirty (30) days visit in a period of twelve (12) months.

  • TRANSIT VISITORS

  • Nationals of countries who require transit visas could obtain them at Zambian Missions abroad or ports of entry except for those from countries listed at 4 below.  A transit visa shall be valid for a maximum period of seven (7) days.

  • DAY TRIPPERS

  • Day tripper visas shall be issued at ports of entry to tourists coming to visit Zambia for a period of less than twenty-four (24) hours.

 

4. REFERRED VISAS

Nationals of the following countries coming to Zambia as Private/Business visitors or in transit shall apply for visas to the Chief Immigration Officer or the following Zambian Missions Abroad:-

London (U.K)  * Pretoria (South Africa)  * Lubumbashi (DRC) * New Delhi  (India) *Beijing (China)
see contact details below

  • AFGHANISTAN

  • ARMENIA 

  • AZERBAIJAN

  • BANGLADESH 

  • BELARUS

  • BENIN 

  • BURKINA FASO 

  • CAMEROON

  • CENTRAL AFRICA REP

  • COMOROS

  • CHAD

  • CHINA

  • EGYPT 

  • EQUATORIAL GUINEA

  • GABON 

  • GAMBIA 

  • GEORGIA 

  • GHANA

  • GREECE

  • GUINEA BISSAU

  • GUINEA CONAKRY

  • HONG KONG

  • INDIA    

  • INDONESIA  

  • IRAN  

  • IRAQ 

  • IVORY COAST                    

  • JORDAN                   

  • KAZAKHSTAN                  

  • NORTH KOREA

  • KUWAIT                              

  • LEBANON

  • LIBERIA

  • LIBYA

  • MALI

  • MAURITANIA

  • MOLDOVA

  • MOROCCO

  • NIGER

  • NIGERIA

  • OMAN

  • PAKISTAN

  • PAPA NEW GUINEA

  • RUSSIA

  • SAUDI ARABIA

    •

  • SENEGAL

  • SIERRA LEONE

  • SRI-LANKA

  • SOMALI

  • SUDAN

  • SYRIA

  • TAJIKISTAN

  • TUNISIA

  • TURKEY

  • UKRAINE

  • UNITED ARAB EMIRATES

  • UZBEKISTAN

  • YEMEN

    •

However, nationals from these countries who come to Zambia on confirmed Government business could obtain their entry visas at Zambian Missions Abroad or ports of entry as at paragraph 2.1 above upon production of official invitation letters.

 

 

5. COUNTRIES WHOSE NATIONALS DO NOT REQUIRE VISAS TO ENTER ZAMBIA

(a)        Nationals of all Commonwealth countries do not require visas to enter Zambia
except for the following countries that need visas on a reciprocal basis:-

  • Australia

  • Britain

  • Canada

  • Gambia

  • Ghana

  • India

  • New-Zealand

  • Nigeria

  • Sri-Lanka

  • Sierra-Leone

  • Pakistan

  • Papa New Guinea

LIST OF COMMONWEALTH COUNTRIES WHOSE NATIONALS DO NOT REQUIRE VISAS TO ENTER ZAMBIA 

  • Antigua and Barbuda

  • The Bahamas

  • Bangladesh

  • Barbados

  • Belize

  • Botswana

  • Brunei

  • Canada

  • Cyprus

  • Dominica

  • Fiji Islands

  • Grenada

  • Jamaica

  • Kenya

  • Kiribati

  • Lesotho

  • Malawi

  • Malaysia 

  • Maldives

  • Malta

  • Mauritius

  • Namibia

  • Naurau

  • New Zealand

  • St. Kittis and  Nevis

  • St. Lucia

  • St. Vincent and Grenadines

  • Samoa

  • Seychelles

  • Singapore

  • Solomon Islands

  • South Africa

  • Swaziland

  • Tanzania

  • Tonga

  • Trinidad and Tobago

  • Tuvalu

  • Uganda

  • Vanuatu

  • Zimbabwe

(b)       Nationals of Ireland, Romania and Yugoslavia which have signed Visa abolition agreements with Zambia.

 

 

6.OTHER PERSONS WHO MAY OBTAIN VISAS AT PORTS OF ENTRY OR MISSIONS ABROAD.

1. Nationals of the following COMESA and SADC countries can obtain entry visas at the ports of entry
    or Zambian Missions abroad.

  • Angola

  • Burundi

  • Democratic Republic of Congo

  • Djibouti

  • Eritrea

  • Ethiopia

  • Madagascar

  • Mozambique

  • Rwanda

 2.

  • ALBANIA 

  • ANDORRA 

  • ANGOLA 

  • AUSTRALIA

  • AUSTRIA 

  • BELGIUM

  • BOLIVIA

  • BRAZIL 

  • BRUNEL

  • BULGARIA

  • BURUNDI 

  • BURMA (MYANMAR) 

  • CANADA 

  • CAMBODIA

  • CHILE  

  • COLOMBIA 

  • CONGO DR.

    •

  • CONGO BRAZZAVILLE

  • COOK ISLANDS

  • COSTA RICA 

  • CROATIA 

  • CUBA  

  • CZECH REPUBLIC 

  • DENMARK 

  • DJIBOUTI  

  • ECUADOR  

  • ERITREA  

  • ESTONIA  

  • FINLAND

  • FRANCE

  • GERMANY

  • ETHIOPIA  

  • GUYANA GUATEMALA

  • HAITI

    •

  • HERZEGOVINA

  • HONDURAS

  • ICELAND

  • ISRAEL

  • ITALY

  • JAPAN

  • LAOS

  • LATVIA

  • LIECHTENSTEIN

  • LITHUANIA

  • LUXEMBOURG

  • MADAGASCAR

  • MONACO

  • MONGOLIA

  • NEPAL   

  • NETHERLANDS 

  • NICARAGUA  

    •

  • NORWAY 

  • PANAMA 

  • MEXICO

  • MOZAMBIQUE

  • NAURU

  • PARAGUAY

  • PERU

  • PHILIPPINES

  • POLAND

  • PUERTO RICO

  • PORTUGAL

  • RWANDA

  • SOUTH KOREA

  • SPAIN

  • SWEDEN

  • TAIWAN

  • THAILAND

  • VIETNAM

    •

 

7. AMERICAN VISA REQUIREMENTS

  • Diplomatic personnel and government officials from U.S.A. shall be issued with multiple entry visas valid for three  years at Zambian Missions abroad or ports of entry.

  •  American tourists and business travelers shall be issued with multiple entry visas valid for three (3) years at a fee of US$40 at Zambian Missions Abroad or ports of entry.

  • american students shall be issued with multiple entry visas for the whole period of their studies in Zambia on production of letters of acceptance from  Institutions of learning in Zambia.

  • Americans traveling to Zambia to take up employment shall be 

  • issued with multiple entry visas valid for three (3) years at Zambian Missions Abroad or ports of entry.

  • The spouse and children of an American employee shall pay US$20

  • visa  fee each valid for three (3) years.

  • American nationals working for Non-Governmental or Non-Profit-

  • making  Organisations shall pay entry fees of US$30.  Their spouses and children shall pay US$10 each.

 

8. GRATIS VISAS

Gratis Visas shall be issued to the following categories of persons at Zambian Missions abroad and ports of entry:-

  • Diplomats accredited to Zambia.

  • Diplomats coming to Zambia on official business

  • Holders of official passports coming on confirmed government business.

  • United Nations personnel accredited to Zambia.

 

9. RE-ENTRY VISAS

  • Private and Business visitors wishing to visit neighbouring countries for a short period shall be issued with re-entry visas valid for a maximum period of seven (7) days at Internal Immigration offices or some authorized border posts before departure from Zambia.

  • Holders of Employment, Self employment and Entry Permits shall be issued with re-entry visas valid for a maximum period of ninety (90) days at internal offices.  However, British nationals resident in Zambia holding Entry Permits are on reciprocal basis exempted from re-entry visa requirements.

  • Students whose parents hold Employment Permits and require visas to enter Zambia shall be issued with re-entry visas valid for a maximum period of one hundred and eight (180) days at internal offices.

 

10.  TYPES OF VISAS

  •  Single Entry

  •  Double Entry

  •  Multiple Entry

  • Transit

  • Double Transit

  • Re-entry

  • Gratis

  • Day Tripper

 

11. VISA FEES

            The following Visa fees shall apply:-

(a)  British Nationals

  • Single Entry visa    -   ₤35 or US$60 at port of entry  /   ₤33 in London                                                   -

  • Double/Multiple Entry visa    -   ₤45 or US$75

  • Transit visa      -   ₤35 or US$60

  • Re-entry visas   -   K5,000.00 (ZKW)

  • Day Tripper    -  US$10

(b)  Ghanaians

  • Single    ₤30 or dollar Equivalent

  • Double  ₤30

  • Multiple  ₤30

(c)   Nigerians

  • Single    )                      

  • Double   )        ₤17 or dollar Equivalent

  • Multiple  )

(d)  Angolans

  • Single      US$50

  • Double    US$80

  • Multiple   US$80

 (e)  Rwandans

  • Single   )                      

  • Double  )            US$65

  • Multiple )

 (f) Canadians

  • Single   )                                  

  • Double )      US$55

  • Multiple  )

(g) Mozambicans

  • Single  )                      

  • Double  )            US$30

  • Multiple  )

 

NOTES:

  • Double and Multiple Entry Visas shall be issued at Immigration Headquarters and         Zambian Missions Abroad except as stipulated in paragraph 4. above.

  • Applications for Visas shall be accompanied with two (2) passport size photographs, a letter of invitation from the host in Zambia, proof of Immigration Status in Zambia of the host, Photostat copy of the return air ticket to the country of origin where applicable and proof of sufficient funds for sustenance while in the country.

  •  Visa fees unless authorized by Immigration Headquarters, shall be paid in United States dollars and British pounds sterling only.

 

FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT:

  • The Chief Immigration Officer

  • Immigration Headquarters

  • Kent Building

  • Haile Sellassie Road

  • P O Box 50300, LUSAKA

  • Tel:     254393;   252659; 252831; 251725

  • Fax:     251725

  • E.mail Immighq@zamnet.zm

 

  • VISA APPLICATION FORMS CAN BE DOWNLOADED FROM www.zhcl.org.uk
     

    •

  • Click here for a list of Zambian embassies, high commissions and consulates around the world
     

  •  Click here to download a Word Document on: Guidelines on the issuance and extension of Permits, Visa Requirements and Procedures

 

For more information please contact:

The High Commissioner
Zambia House
2 Palace Gate
London, W85NG
0207 589 6655 fax 0207 581 0546 ,
E-mail : immzhcl@aol.com  
Website: www.zhcl.org.uk

The High Commissioner of the Republic of Zambia
P.O. Box 12234
Hatfield 0083
Pretoria , South Africa
Tel: 00 27 12 326 223  / Fax: 00 27 12 326 2140

The High Commissioner,
Zambia High Commission
F-8/22, Vasant Vihar
New Delhi
India
Tel: 009 111 614 1183

Consul-General
The Republic of Zambia
001:7033902755
B.P. 596
Tel / Fax: 32 2 676 8264

Come Ruwe / Lufira Lubumbashi
P.O. Box 10958
Chingola

 

Close this window to return to where you were
or click here to go to the maps menu

Return to the Guide to Zambia home page     

Webmaster / Editor      © copyright