Zambia employment permit

The employment permit is for foreigners entering Zambia to take up employment for more than six months: with the government or a statutory body, the private sector, NGOs (including volunteers) or religious organisations. Spouses and children over 21 of a foreigner may also receive employment permits to work in the family business.

The employer's covering letter to the Director General of Immigration, the employment contract or offer letter, a police clearance from the country of residence, a CV, registration with the relevant Zambian professional body where required, certified qualifications, marriage and birth certificates where available, a certified passport copy, the certified certificate of share capital and list of directors, the certificate of incorporation, and a photo.

Two requirements stand out: a succession plan with an understudy training programme to transfer skills to a Zambian worker, and original A5 press advertisements of the post from two leading newspapers with the outcome of the selection. Project-based roles in construction, mining, ICT or engineering also need the letter of award with the project value and completion date.

Only the employer, a practising lawyer or an immigration consultant may apply on behalf of the prospective expatriate; the individual cannot apply alone. All applicants must remain outside Zambia until the permit is approved. If your nationality needs a visa to enter Zambia, you still need one to travel in and collect the permit.

Section 28 of the Immigration and Deportation Act requires the Director General to consult the ministry responsible for labour before issuing an employment permit, and the 2016 amendment raised the maximum total validity, including extensions, from five to ten years.

Renewal needs the employer's letter, the extended contract, a certified passport copy and the fee (ZMW 28,000 in the private-sector schedule). Adding a spouse or children, changing occupation or changing employer is done by variation, each with its own documents such as a release letter from the previous employer.

Government, quasi-government, NGO and non-profit employers pay the second schedule: ZMW 10,667 to issue and ZMW 12,000 to renew an employment permit.

Holders must keep to the conditions on the permit, including the area and nature of work, and may not engage for gain in any other activity. They cannot buy land or study at a Zambian institution. Employers must surrender the permit within one month after the employment ends and are responsible for repatriation costs if the former employee does not leave.

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.