Zambia permanent residence (residence permit)

The residence permit is issued to a foreigner who has held an employment permit for a continuous period exceeding ten years; a dependant aged 21 or below of a residence permit holder or established resident; someone who has held an investor's permit for more than three years; someone who has held a spouse permit for at least five years; a person of any age born to a citizen; a dependant of foreign origin under the care of a citizen; a retiree with proof of sufficient funds; and, where there are justifiable grounds for the delay, the holder of an older entry permit.

Section 20 of the Immigration and Deportation Act adds general conditions: the applicant must not be an illegal immigrant and must have adequate knowledge of English or of a language commonly used in Zambia, which an immigration officer may test. The Minister may also, after consulting the Director General, direct that a residence permit be issued.

Employment permit holders provide a covering letter, their alien registration card, two reference letters, a certified passport copy, a photo, the employment contract and certified qualifications. Investor permit holders add tax clearance or VAT receipts, a current bank statement, an audit report from a ZICA-registered firm and title or lease; immigration inspects after submission. Applicants over 16 applying as dependants provide birth and marriage certificates, two testimonials from people who have known them for at least three years and proof of the host's status.

The private-sector table lists ZMW 20,000 for issuance or a duplicate, ZMW 20,000 for a change of occupation, employer, nationality or name, and ZMW 2,000 for a change of address or passport. The second schedule lists ZMW 11,333 for issuance.

Children are added by variation with a covering letter, a certified birth certificate, a certified passport copy, a photo and the fee. Applicants aged 7 to 15 apply with their parents' status documents and proof of school enrolment.

Dependants above 18 of a permit holder, and the parents of employment or investor permit holders, are covered by the temporary permit rather than the residence permit, and they apply only when directed by the Department. Adding a spouse or child to a residence permit costs ZMW 5,000 in the private-sector table.

The permit ceases to be valid if the holder fails to enter Zambia within six months of issue, is absent for more than six months without written notice of intent to return, or is absent for more than twelve months.

Under section 10 of the Immigration and Deportation Act, an immigration officer who takes a decision that adversely affects you must tell you the reasons and give you at least 48 hours to make representations; the officer then has 14 days to reply. You may appeal to the Minister of Home Affairs within 48 hours of that decision, and the Minister, after consulting the Director General, may reverse or modify it within ten days. A further appeal to a court must be lodged within 48 hours of the Minister's decision; without an appeal the decision is final.