Zambia
Visa Zambia
Afrique · Afrique de l’Est
In Zambia, visas fall to the Department of Immigration. The pages consulted on 2026-09-17 describe an application made entirely online, list seven visa categories with their fees in United States dollars, state a validity of 90 days from issue for most of them and detail the documents expected according to the purpose of travel. No processing time is announced.
The information on this page helps prepare a case. Only the competent authority decides; always check the official source before filing an application.
Machine-assisted draft, reviewed by a person on 23 September 2026. Only the authority cited is authoritative.
Published on 23 September 2026 · Reviewed by vg_admin on 23 September 2026 · Sources consulted on 17 September 2026
At a glance
- Authority
- Department of Immigration — immigration department of Zambia, headquarters in Lusaka and regional offices in the ten provinces
- Submission channel
- Online service of the department (eservices.zambiaimmigration.gov.zm), which the department presents as accessible at all times
- Electronic visa
- Yes: the department presents an online electronic visa application, with payment by card and an approval letter issued online
- Portal language
- English
Do you need a visa?
Choose a nationality to see the recorded entry rule. No answer is shown until reviewed data exists.
Documented visa types
- "Single Entry Visa" — single-entry visa
- The portal states that it allows one entry into Zambia, for a fee of 25 United States dollars, and a validity of 90 days from issue. Official page (new tab)
- "Double Entry Visa" — double-entry visa
- The portal states that it allows two entries, for a fee of 40 United States dollars, and a validity of 90 days from issue. Official page (new tab)
- "Multiple Entry Visa" — multiple-entry visa
- The portal states that it allows several entries, for a fee of 75 United States dollars, and that it is issued online only. Validity of 90 days from issue. Official page (new tab)
- "Transit Visa" — transit visa
- The portal states that it is for transit by land, for a maximum duration of seven days and a fee of 25 United States dollars. Official page (new tab)
- "Day Tripper" — day trip visa
- The portal states that it is for visits of less than 24 hours, for a fee of 10 United States dollars, and that it is available only in certain places. Official page (new tab)
- "KAZA UNIVISA" — KAZA common visa
- The portal states that it covers Zambia and Zimbabwe, with multiple entries, for 30 days and a fee of 50 United States dollars. Official page (new tab)
Where and how to apply
The Department of Immigration presents its mission as facilitating and regulating the entry and exit of persons and controlling the stay of immigrants and visitors. It states a headquarters in Lusaka and regional offices in the ten provinces, and presents its services as accessible at all times.
The visa application is filed online, on the department's electronic service: the site invites applicants to apply for a Zambian visa or permit online. The portal also lists a seventh category, the free visa ("Gratis Visa"), issued free of charge to diplomats.
Steps in the procedure
- Create a user account on the department's online service.
- Log in to that service.
- Fill in the application form.
- Review the application before sending it.
- Pay the fees online by credit or debit card.
- Retrieve the receipt issued by the service.
- Submit the application, then follow its progress.
- Retrieve the approval letter once the application has been approved.
Documents mentioned by the authority
- Identity photograph.
- Copy of the applicant's passport.
- Valid passport, valid for at least six months and containing three blank pages.
- Covering letter, on the letterhead of the company, establishment or institution depending on the purpose, or signed by the applicant.
- Letter of invitation from the host or the company, depending on the purpose.
- Proof of accommodation, containing the information about the host.
- Hotel booking, depending on the purpose.
- Return air ticket, for an arrival by air.
- Proof of sufficient means, for an arrival by land or by river.
- For a business purpose: certified true copy of the company's registration certificate.
- For a religious purpose: authorization from the competent ministry.
- For study: letter of admission from the institution and proof of the host's status.
The portal states that all documents must be in jpeg, tiff or png format. The exact list depends on the purpose of travel; only the official page is authoritative.
Stated fees and processing times
According to the portal consulted on 2026-09-17: single-entry visa 25 United States dollars; double-entry visa 40 dollars; multiple-entry visa 75 dollars, issued online only; transit visa 25 dollars; day trip visa 10 dollars; KAZA common visa 50 dollars; free visa at no charge for diplomats.
According to the same portal, all visas are valid for 90 days from their issue, with the exception of the day trip visa and the free visa. The processing time is not stated on the portal consulted. The Department of Immigration decides.
After the decision
The portal states that the progress of the application is followed online and that the approval letter is retrieved on the same service once the application has been approved.
The site also names separate immigration permits, for work, investment, study or residence, whose conditions are not stated on the pages consulted.
Published procedures
No reviewed and published procedure for Zambia to date. We prefer an empty page to an invented requirement.
Explore proceduresFrequently asked questions
Is a visa required to travel to Zambia?
It depends on nationality and on the purpose of travel; the rule reviewed by VisaGuideline is shown with the nationality selector on this page. Always check with the authority.
Where is the application filed?
Online, on the electronic service of the Department of Immigration. The department states a headquarters in Lusaka and regional offices in the ten provinces.
Is there an electronic visa?
Yes. The portal describes an online application with the creation of an account, uploading of the documents, payment by card and retrieval of an approval letter.
What are the stated prices?
According to the portal consulted on 2026-09-17: 25 United States dollars for a single entry, 40 for a double entry, 75 for multiple entries, 25 for a transit, 10 for a day trip and 50 for the KAZA common visa.
How long is a visa valid?
According to the portal consulted on 2026-09-17, all visas are valid for 90 days from their issue, with the exception of the day trip visa and the free visa.
What is the processing time?
Not stated on the portal consulted.
Official sources
Consulted sources
Official pages read to write this guide, with the date they were read. A page may have changed since: check it before taking any step.
- Zambia Department of Immigration – Just another WordPress site (new tab) read on 17 September 2026
- Information for visitors (new tab) read on 17 September 2026
- Visa Requirements by Purpose of Visit (new tab) read on 17 September 2026
What this guide does not know yet
Points the official source does not specify and which this guide therefore left blank. Ask the competent authority about them before filing an application.
- No processing time is announced on the pages consulted.
- The department's online service was not consulted directly: it is therefore not listed as an official link.
- The length of stay authorized on entry, distinct from the validity of the visa, is not stated for most categories.
- The places where the day trip visa is available are not listed on the page consulted.
- The pages that divide nationalities according to the visa requirement have not been taken up here: they fall to the nationality selector.
Prepare my case
This method is the same for every destination. It does not list any document as an official requirement: only the authority’s source is authoritative.
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Describe your situation
Nationality, residence, purpose and dates. The checker tells covered routes apart from situations that are still unknown.
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Check at the source
Open the destination’s official source and compare it with your situation before starting a procedure.
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Track what is left to do
Your space keeps your answers and your declared checklist. A complete checklist does not announce a favorable decision.
The information on this page helps prepare a case. Only the competent authority decides; always check the official source before filing an application.