ACCESS GRANTED: The New 2-for-1 KAZA UniVisa

There’s good news for tourists intending to travel to either Zambia and or Zimbabwe as the KAZA UniVisa is back in the system and is already being issued at the entry ports.

The Kavango Zambezi Trans-Frontier Conservation Area (KAZA) is an initiative by Zambia and Zimbabwe aimed at granting tourists’ easy movement between the two countries, by allowing them to enter both Zambia and Zimbabwe using just one document.

The KAZA UniVisa Project was launched in November 2014 for an initial six-month trial period, which was later extended for a further six months. After the success of the UniVisa during this period, Zambia and Zimbabwe began the official roll-out of the KAZA UniVisa in December 2016, starting with a single point of entry – Livingstone, Zambia.

Finally – as of 2017, the KAZA UniVisa is available to 65 nations, starting with the Zambian and Zimbabwean governments printing 50 000 unified visas for foreign visitors to their countries.

The Kaza Uni-Visa is valid for 30 days and allows you to cross between both countries as many times as you wish. The standard tourist visas available allow visitors to stay for up to 90 days, BUT only in the designated country – therefore, making you purchase a visa for each country.

The Uni-Visa even allows for day-trips to Botswana to visit attractions like the Chobe National Park – provided you return to Zambia or Zimbabwe the same day. If it’s accommodation in Botswana that you’re looking for – you will need to obtain another visa.

Blessed with awe-inspiring natural wonders, an abundance of wildlife, huge water bodies and vast open spaces, Zambia is endowed with natural tourist attractions. The country even features one of the Seven Natural Wonders of the World – Mosi-oa-Tunya (Victoria Falls).

Zambia has so much to offer in the tourism sector, as well as being acknowledged as one of the safest countries in the world to visit – and yet, over the years, Zambia has remained one of the least considered tourist destinations in the world.

Despite this – we are seeing an increased number of visitors every year, and the issuance of the KAZA visas will no doubt contribute to increased tourist inflows and subsequently revenue, due to a reduced cost of visiting our bucket-list-worthy country.

The KAZA visa will be available through the Immigration Department to citizens from 65 different countries (which includes those eligible to obtain visas on arrival in either country).

The usual tourist visas are still active and can be obtained at any of the entry points into either country. Currently, Zambia charges US$50 for a single entry and Zimbabwe US$35 (depending on the traveller’s nationality), which means that the Kaza UniVisa is not only cheaper if you want to visit both countries, but also allows you to avoid unnecessary visa queues.

ALL YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT THE KAZA UNIVISA:

Cost: US$50 per person

Valid: 30 days from entry

Border crossings: Unlimited (between Zambia and Zimbabwe only)

Botswana day-trips: through Kazungula Borders

KAZA UniVisas can be obtained at the following points of entry:

Zambia

Harry Mwaanga International Airport

Victoria Falls border

Kazungula border

Kenneth Kaunda International Airport

Zimbabwe

Victoria Falls International Airport

Victoria Falls border

Kazungula border

Harare International Airport

Nationals eligible to obtain KAZA UniVisas on arrival:

NATIONS EXEMPTED FROM VISA

*Please note that these countries do change and we advise that you visit Zambia Immigration for up to date Visa information before you travel.

Words by Jess Fogarty