Who does not need a visa?
Citizens listed via the link do not need a visa to enter Zambia. However, like other non-citizens and non-residents arriving in Zambia by air, they must have valid return tickets. Persons arriving by land and water must have sufficient means to stay in and leave Zambia.
Who can get a visa on arrival (Voa) or apply at embassies abroad?
Citizens of the countries listed via the link can obtain a visa to Zambia upon arrival, at any port of entry, or at individual Zambian embassies abroad. They can also apply for a visa online through the eServices portal.
Who needs a visa before traveling?
Zambian entry visas for nationals whose countries fall under this category require prior approval from the Zambian authorities. Applicants must apply for a visa through the Director General of Immigration before arriving in Zambia. The applicant must receive a letter of authorization before the start of the trip. Applications for visas of this category must be submitted online through the eServices portal.
Types of Zambia Visas
The Zambia government issues the following types of visas to foreign nationals :
- Single-entry visa, which allows the holder to enter the territory of Zambia only once for the duration the visa is issued
- Double-entry visa, which allows the holder to enter Zambia twice for the duration the visa is issued
- Multiple-entry visa, which allows the holder several entries into the country for the duration of the visa
- Zambia Transit visa, which is issued to foreigners who will transit through the territory of Zambia on their way to a third country. The visa is valid for seven days
- Zambia Day-Tripper visa, which is issued to foreigners who want to visit Zambia for only one day. You can get a Zambia Day Tripper Visa at the Victoria Falls and Kazungula Border Controls, and you must exit through the same point you have entered.
- KAZA Visa, which is a universal visa for both Zambia and Zimbabwe, allowing the holder to travel between those two countries for a maximum of 30 days. Only certain nationals are eligible for the KAZA visa – see below.
Visas for Zambia are also categorized depending on the reason for which you’re traveling to Zambia. For example:
- Zambia Tourist Visa, for foreigners traveling for tourism and leisure
- Zambia Business Visa, for foreigners traveling for short-term business-related purposes
- Zambia Work Visa, also known as an Employment Permit, issued to foreigners traveling to Zambia for long-term employment
- Zambia Student Visa, also known as a Student Permit, issued to foreigners traveling to Zambia to study in one of its educational purposes
What are the Zambia Visa Requirements?
When you apply for a visa for Zambia, you must have several documents to support your application, such as:
- Photocopy of your passport, which must be valid for at least another six months
- Passport-size picture of yourself
- Copy of a return flight ticket
For Zambia Tourist Visa:
- Hotel booking or other form of tourist accommodation
- A signed cover letter addressed to the Director-General of Immigration
For Zambia Business Visa:
- An invitation letter from the company hosting you in Zambia
- A letter from your company addressed to the Director-General of Immigration and written in the company’s letterhead, stating the details of your trip, address and contact numbers
- A certified copy of the host company’s certificate of incorporation
For Zambia Transit Visa:
- Proof of onward travel
- Visa for the final destination, if a visa is required
- A signed cover letter addressed to the Director-General of Immigration
How to Apply for a Zambia Visa?
There are two ways through which you can apply for a Zambia visa:
- Online, through Zambia’s eVisa application system
- Through a Zambia embassy or consulate abroad
Applying for a Zambia visa online (Zambia eVisa)
As of 2014, anyone who needs a visa for Zambia (including those who are eligible for the Visa On Arrival) can apply online. The process is as follows:
- Submit the Zambia eVisa application here. You have to create an account and complete the online application form.
- Upload electronic copies of the required documents.
- Pay the Zambia visa fee. You have to pay online through a debit or credit card like Visa, American Express, MasterCard, Discover, Maestro UK, Visa Electron and Maestro Int. You will receive a receipt on your email, which you must print and show to the immigration officers upon entry to Zambia.
- Wait for the visa application to be processed. If your application is approved, you will receive a Zambia e-Visa approval letter, which you must print and bring with you when you travel to Zambia. Also keep an electronic copy of the visa in a phone, laptop, or tablet, just in case.
Applying for a Zambia visa at an embassy or consulate
You can also apply for a Zambia visa at one of the embassies or consulates of Zambia abroad. You will have to contact the embassy or consulate of Zambia in your country and learn about the opening hours, working days, and any specific requirements they have regarding visa application submissions.
You may be able to apply online or you’ll have to apply by post. If there is no Zambian representation in your country, you can always apply online.
How long Does it Take to Process a Zambia Visa?
The processing time for a Zambia visa depends on your nationality as well as the method through which you apply.
When applying online
If you are from one of the countries which are eligible for a Zambia Visa On Arrival, the processing time is three days.
If you are from a country that is not eligible for a Zambia Visa On Arrival, the visa processing time is five days.
When applying at an embassy or consulate
It depends on the specific consular office or embassy, but you should expect a minimum of 5 days from the time they receive your completed application.
What is the Duration of a Zambia Visa?
Single-, double-, and multiple-entry visas issued for tourism purposes are valid for ninety days within a 12-month period, whereas visas issued for business are valid for 30 days within a 12-month period.
You can enter Zambia within 3 months from the approval date of the eVisa.
Can you Extend a Zambia Visa?
Yes, you may be able to ask for an extension of your Zambia visa. You have to apply for a 30-day Zambia visa extension from an office of the Department of Immigration in Zambia.
The visa extension is free of charge, and you can apply twice for a total of 90 days.
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The Kavango-Zambezi Transboundary Conservation Area (KAZA TFCA) is a conservation area spanning five southern African countries: Angola, Botswana, Namibia, Zambia and Zimbabwe, centered on the Caprivi-Chobe-Victoria Falls area. With the aim of regional economic development through tourism, the Republics of Zambia and Zimbabwe with the support of the World Bank in partnership with
The KAZA TFCA Secretariat started the development of the KAZA UNIVISA pilot project with the aim of facilitating the movement of tourists between the two pilot countries.
You can also apply for KAZA UNIVISA online [e-Visa] only if you arrive at Kenneth Kaunda International Airport, Harry Mwanga Nkumbula International Airport, Victoria Falls Border and Kazungula Border Control on the Zambian side.
If you are transiting through Zambia
Transit is when you pass through one country on your way to your final destination.
If you are traveling to a destination that requires a negative COVID-19 certificate, you will be required to present proof of a negative SARS-CoV-2 PCR test certificate from a Ministry of Health-certified COVID-19 testing laboratory upon departure from Zambia. Travelers must upload their negative PCR test certificate to https://globalhaven.org/. Holders of tests taken outside Zambia are not exempt from this requirement, even if their tests were taken within the previous 72 hours.
Exceptions
There are no exceptions to entry requirements in Zambia.
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To enter or pass through Zambia as a guest, you will need a tourist or business visa, as well as valid return tickets (if arriving by air) and sufficient cash for your stay. Zambia recognizes dual citizenship. However, to avoid delays you should leave Zambia using the same passport you entered the country with.
- Passport-size photo;
- A copy of the applicant's passport; and
- A cover letter from the applicant addressed to the Director General, which must be signed by the author.
Transit visas are issued to citizens who are required a visa to enter Zambia and are transiting using land transport and are valid for a maximum period of seven (07) days.
Please note that travelers proceeding through Zambia by direct air transport or those staying within the airport are not required a transit visa and do not need to present themselves to an immigration officer for immigration formalities.
In the event of flight delays, which may include overnight stops, transit passengers may be issued an immigration officer's order allowing them to stay at a designated hotel and appear for departure from Zambia.
Your pet will not be quarantined upon entry into Zambia provided the following requirements are met. Unless otherwise stated, the following rules apply only to pet, emotional support and service dogs and cats.
Zambia does not require your pet to be identified by microchip, but it is recommended that you microchip it and register your contact information prior to your trip for identification should the animal get lost or separated from you.
If your pet does not have a registered microchip, make sure your pets are tagged with owner identification and contact information.
Your pet must have proof of current rabies vaccination administered at least 30 days ago but no more than 12 months prior to entry into Zambia.
A rabies test is not required to enter Zambia from any country.
An animal import permit is required to enter Zambia. Visitors should apply for a permit to bring an animal into Zambia in advance of their visit if required. An import form will be mailed to you along with instructions to be given to your veterinarian to prepare a veterinary certificate.
A licensed veterinarian must complete the https://www.pettravelstore.com/pet-passport-zambia/ veterinary certificate for Zambia, certifying that the animal is healthy and free from human-transmissible diseases.
We recommend that your vet be USDA accredited and that the vet certificate be endorsed by your state USDA office or CFIA office if your dog or cat is traveling from Canada.
Importation of live animals into Zambia must be done through Kenneth Kaunda International Airport in Lusaka as air cargo.
All domestic dogs and cats must be free of signs of human-transmissible disease when inspected at the port of entry into Zambia. If your pet is not completely healthy, an additional examination by a licensed veterinarian may be required at your expense.
Other animals
Rabbits and birds, invertebrates, tropical fish, reptiles, amphibians, and mammals such as rodents are not required to be vaccinated against rabies but may meet other requirements and must have a health certificate for entry into Zambia Pet owners are strongly advised to obtain additional information from the relevant authorities of your country and/or the authority of the country of destination.
Unless your pet is a dog, cat or ferret, and especially if it is a turtle or parrot, you should make sure that it is not protected by the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES). In this case, you will have to apply for additional permissions. More than 180 countries participate in the Convention and enforce CITES rules.
