Everything you need to know about Zambia visa
As
per Zambia’s visa policy, UK
passport holders need a visa to enter the country. The type of visa and
validity you can apply for will depend on the purpose of your trip and duration
of the stay. The most common types of Zambia Visa are E-visas and regular visas.
E-visa
All UK nationals are eligible to apply
beforehand for a single and double entry e-visa. The evisa can be applied for
tourist as well as for business trips.
You can apply online for an e-visa via
our website and we will send you an approval letter.
Present this approval letter and the
receipt at any port of entry and the immigration official will stamp the actual
visa onto your passport.
Payment is required at the airport in
Zambia, hence remember to carry the exact amount of cash in USD, as sometimes
change may not be available.
If you are entering Zambia via the
Kenneth Kaunda International Airport, you can make your payment via credit or
debit card at the Zambian Immigration desks.
Note: E-visa facility is not available
for multiple-entry visas. In such a scenario, you need to get the regular visa
from the consulate division of the Zambian Embassy in London. We can assist you
with the same.
Regular
Visa
Alternatively,
you can also apply for a single or multiple entry visa at the Zambian consulate
by submitting your application via post or in person or using our service. If
you wish to get your passport via post after the visa processing is complete,
then include a pre-paid self-addressed special delivery or recorded envelope.
For this, complete all the questions on the application form and sign the document along with
the date. Next, attach all the supporting documents, which are as follows:
- An original passport that is
valid for at least six (6) months and has a minimum of 2 blank pages.
- A photocopy of the biodata page
of your passport
- Two recent passport size
photographs
- Return air ticket or confirmed
ticket booking or itinerary
You
may also be required to come for an interview at the embassy. Hence its
recommended that
you
verify all your documents before submitting the visa application. If anything
is missing, the incomplete application package will be returned by the embassy to
you without processing.
The most common
types of regular visas to Zambia are Business and Visitor.
Business
Visa
If
you are planning to travel to enter Zambia for business purposes,
church-related activities, government, diplomatic, or official missions,
seminars, volunteer and study-related trips, then you must apply for a business
visa.
In
this case, attach an official covering letter with the application. It should
briefly describe the nature of your intended transactions in Zambia from your
sponsor or prospective employers.
Additionally,
you also need to attach a copy of your flight itinerary and/or return airline
ticket.
Note:
It is mandatory that you obtain a business visa from the Zambian High
Commission in London before departure, if you are a volunteer worker. If you
violate any of the immigration rules, you face risks of arrest, imprisonment
and deportation.
Tourist Visa
If
you are planning to enter the Zambian border for tourism or leisure activities,
attach copies of their flight itinerary or a copy of the ticket with your
application. It is appreciated if you can also include a copy of the tour
itinerary/package.
Visitors
Visa
A
visitor’s visa allows you to meet with your relatives, friends, or family,
residing in Zambia. Here, you need to include a Letter of Invitation and
immigration status of your host in Zambia.
If
your host is not of Zambian nationality, attach a copy of National registration
Card/ passport or an Immigration Permit. Again, you must also submit a copy of
the flight itinerary or ticket.
The
Invitation letter should include the following information
- Host’s name,
phone, and address
- Applicant’s
name
- Length of stay
in Zambia
- Purpose of
visit
Transit Visa
You
shall have to apply for a transit visa if you are transiting through Zambian
borders using land transport. It comes with a validity of 7 days.
Day
Tripper Visa
A
day tripper visa can be obtained at the port of entry if you are a tourist
visting Zambia and you want to explore the country for a period of less than 24
hours.
You
must make your exit through the same port.
You
can also seek this visa if you are entering Zambia on a tourist visa and
planning to visit a neighboring country and re-enter Zambia within 24 hours.
Note:
A day tripper visa is appliable only at the Victoria Falls and Kazungula Border
Controls.
ADDITIONAL
IMPORTANT INFORMATION FOR ZAMBIA VISA
Gratis
Visa
A
Gratis Visa is a zero-charge, free visa that is issued a the Zambiam Missions
Abroad or at Ports of entry to Members of the Diplomatic Community. In order to
obtain this, you have to present a letter of accreditation and/or a Diplomatic
Passport.
Visa Validity
All
tourist and visitor visas are valid for a period of 12 months, with a maximum
allowable limit of 90 days per visit from your date of entry into the country.
However, business visas give a maximum limit of 30 days stay after the date of
entry and hold a validity of 12 months.
However, although all visas do allow you
to stay in the country for up to 90 days per calendar year, check with the
immigration officer at the port of entry for your visa endorsement for the
period of your stay in Zambia.
In many cases, the immigration officer
does not endorse the full length of time just after entry. You may need to
apply for an extension at the nearest immigration office.
Visa Requirements
for Children
Children
under the age of sixteen do not need visas to enter Zambia except for British
nationals.
Entry with Pets
You are allowed to enter Zambia with pets such as dogs or
cats. But you must carry a veterinarian health certificate which is issued in
your country.
Moreover,
you need to carry an import permit, obtained in advance from the Department of
Research and Specialist Services, located in Lusaka, Zambia. When traveling
with dogs, ensure to carry a valid rabies vaccination certificate.
Departure Tax
As
per the policy of the Zambian government, you need to pay a departure tax of
$25 if you are exiting the country via air. Usually, this additional cost is
included in your flight ticket price. If not, you will be required to make a
separate payment at Zambian Kwacha.
Additionally,
the National Airports Corporation has included a Security Charge to all
departing passengers. This amount is payable at all NACL airports.
The
cost amounts to $3 per person per sector for domestic flights and $5 per person
for international flights. The fees is either included in the ticket or must be
paid at Kwacha.
Kaza
UniVisa
The
Kaza UniVisa allows you to travel between Zambia and Zimbabwe multiple times
and gives you the option to embark on day trips into Botswana from Kazungula.
You can avail it at the international airports of Lusaka and Livingstone.
You
may also obtain it at the land borders of Livingstone (Zimbabwe border) and
Kazungula (Botswana border). It will cost you $50 and comes with a validity of
30 days. You can use it as long as you remain within Zambia and Zimbabwe.
UK Emergency
Travel Documents
As a British passport holder, you are allowed to use UK Emergency
Travel Documents (ETDs) for purposes of entry, airside transit, and exit from
Zambia.When you get an ETD, ensure that it is valid for 6 months for if you are
not a returning resident.
Dual Nationality
The
Zambian law does recognize dual nationality. But if you wish to avoid unwanted
delays and complicaions, it is preferable to use the same passport for entry
and exit from Zambia.
Vaccination
Certificates
A certificate of yellow fever vaccination
is mandatory for all international travellers aged above one year, who arrive
from countries with risk of yellow fever transmission.
You shall also need to produce one if you
have transited for more than 12 hours through an airport of a country with risk
of yellow fever transmission.
A yellow fever certificate comes with a
validity that covers the entire duration of the life of the person vaccinated.