Zambia
Zambia visa guide: visits, eVisa, work, investment and residence
- 11 visa types
- checked 25 October 2026
How visas for Zambia work
Entry and stay in Zambia are managed by the Zambia Department of Immigration under the Ministry of Home Affairs and Internal Security. The department distinguishes visas, which allow entry, from immigration permits, which allow longer stays for work, investment, study, family and residence. Visas and permits can both be applied for online through the department's eServices portal.
The department publishes a list of countries whose nationals do not need a visa to enter Zambia. Following waivers for 43 countries in 2022 and 53 more under Statutory Instrument No. 78 of 2024 (effective 1 January 2025), nationals of 167 countries are visa-exempt. Exempt travellers arriving by air must still hold a valid return ticket, and those arriving by land or water must have enough funds for their stay and departure. Other nationals obtain a visa online, on arrival or from a Zambian mission, depending on which list their country is on.
All arriving passengers need a passport valid for at least six months from the date of entry with at least three blank pages. Immigration fees were revised from 19 August 2024 under Statutory Instrument No. 25 of 2024: a single-entry visa costs USD 50, a multiple-entry visa USD 80, the KAZA UNIVISA USD 50, and private-sector permits are charged in kwacha, for example ZMW 24,000 for an employment permit.
Which visa do I need?
Holiday or short visit on a visa-exempt passport: no visa; stays beyond 90 days need a visiting permit.
Nationals who need a visa: eVisa on the eServices portal (single entry USD 50).
Touring Zambia and Zimbabwe together: KAZA UNIVISA, USD 50 for up to 30 days.
Crossing Zambia overland on a visa-required passport: transit visa, USD 25 for up to seven days; airside air transit needs nothing.
Business visit longer than 30 days: temporary employment permit (up to six months in 12 months).
Employment for more than six months: employment permit, applied for by the employer.
Starting or investing in a business: investor's permit (USD 250,000 new business, USD 150,000 joining one).
Studying: study permit; spouse of a citizen or resident: spouse permit; retiring or long-term settlement: residence permit.
Seeking protection: asylum seeker's permit, valid 30 days for refugee status determination.
Visa types for Zambia
Visits and short stays
- Tourist visa Visa-free entry and visiting permit for stays over 90 days
Nationals of the 167 countries on the Department of Immigration's exemption list can enter Zambia without a visa; others apply for an eVisa.
Maximum stay: Ordinary visit up to 90 days; visiting permit adds three months at a time, up to nine months in 12 months - Transit visa Transit visa and transit permit
Zambia issues a transit visa to nationals who need a visa and cross the country overland; it costs USD 25 and is valid for up to seven days.
Maximum stay: Up to seven days
Business and self-employment
- Business visa Business visit and temporary employment permit
Business travellers from the 167 visa-exempt countries can enter Zambia without a visa for short meetings and visits; others apply for a business visa.
Maximum stay: Visa-free business visit; over 30 days needs a TEP, maximum six months in 12 months - Investor visa Investor's permit
Zambia's investor's permit is for foreigners over 18 who establish or invest in a business or join an existing company.
Study and training
- Student visa Study permit
Foreigners who study full time or part time at a Zambian educational institution need a study permit, as do children of permit holders who study for more than three months.
Work
- Work visa Employment permit
Foreigners taking up a job in Zambia for more than six months need an employment permit, which can be extended up to a maximum of ten years.
Maximum stay: Extendable up to a total of ten years
Family
- Spouse and partner visa Spouse permit
The spouse permit is for the foreign spouse of a Zambian citizen, an established resident or a residence permit holder.
Residence
- Retirement visa Residence permit for retirees
Zambia grants its residence permit, which confers permanent residence, to foreigners who intend to retire in Zambia and show sufficient funds such as a pension, an irrevocable annuity or a retirement account.
Maximum stay: Permanent residence, subject to absence rules - Permanent residence Residence permit (permanent residence)
Zambia's residence permit confers permanent residence.
Maximum stay: Permanent, subject to absence rules
Online travel permits
- e-Visa Zambia eVisa and KAZA UNIVISA
Anyone, regardless of nationality, can apply online for a Zambian eVisa through the Department of Immigration's eServices portal.
Maximum stay: Transit visa: up to seven days; KAZA UNIVISA: up to 30 days in 12 months
Asylum and international protection
- Asylum and international protection Asylum seeker's permit and refugee status determination
Zambia's Refugees Act 2017 lets anyone in Zambia, whether they entered lawfully or not, apply for recognition as a refugee within seven days of entry to the Commissioner for Refugees or an authorised officer.
Maximum stay: Asylum seeker's permit: 30 days
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a visa for Zambia?
Nationals of the 167 countries on the Department of Immigration's exemption list do not. Everyone else applies for an eVisa, which is open to all nationalities, or uses the visa on arrival or a Zambian mission where their list allows it. Air arrivals need a valid return ticket in every case.
What passport validity does Zambia require?
At least six months from the date of entry and at least three full blank pages.
How much is a Zambian visa?
Under the fees revised on 19 August 2024: USD 50 single entry, USD 80 double or multiple entry, USD 25 transit, USD 10 day tripper and USD 50 KAZA UNIVISA, plus a small card or mobile-money administrative fee.
Can I work in Zambia without a permit?
No. Employment beyond six months needs an employment permit, and business visits longer than 30 days need a temporary employment permit.
Where do I apply for Zambian permits?
Online through the Department of Immigration's eServices portal, with supporting documents and the prescribed fee.
Does Zambia offer permanent residence?
Yes. The residence permit confers permanent residence, for example after ten years on an employment permit, three years on an investor's permit or five years on a spouse permit, and for retirees with sufficient funds.
Embassies and consulates
Last checked 25 October 2026. Each visa page lists the official sources it is based on.