Choose the visa that fits your trip. Fully online process, real-time tracking.
Zambia has significantly simplified access to its territory in recent years. Since 1 January 2025, some 167 nationalities — including France and most European countries, but also the United States, Canada, Australia, Japan and China — are exempt from visa requirements for tourist stays of up to 90 days within any rolling 12-month period; this list, opened on 1 November 2022, was expanded by 53 countries in late 2024. For those who do not benefit from this exemption, or for travellers wishing to combine Zambia and Zimbabwe on a single document, the Zambian e-Visa is applied for entirely online in a few steps. Its most remarkable feature: the KAZA UniVisa, a unique arrangement allowing free movement between Zambia and Zimbabwe, with the option of day trips to Botswana (via the Kazungula border).
01 · The essentials
The e-Visa application is completed entirely online, with no visit to an embassy or consulate required.
Zambia offers three options: single-entry e-Visa, multiple-entry e-Visa and the KAZA UniVisa (Zambia + Zimbabwe).
Regardless of your status (exempt or e-Visa holder), your passport must be valid for at least 6 months beyond your planned return date and have 2 blank pages.
The Zambian e-Visa is a genuine electronic visa — not to be confused with a travel authorisation or an ETA. It is required of nationals who do not benefit from a visa exemption granted by the Zambian authorities. The application is made exclusively online, before departure; there is no need to visit an embassy in person.
Once approved, the e-Visa is sent by email in digital format. It should be kept — preferably as a printed copy and as a digital copy on a mobile device — to be presented to the immigration officer upon arrival. All entry points are eligible: international airports, ports and land borders.
The visa is valid for 3 months from the date of issue. This is the window within which the holder must make their first entry into Zambia. Once in the country, the authorised stay is 3 months from the date of entry — except for the KAZA UniVisa, which limits the stay to 30 days.
02 · Visa exemption
Since 1 November 2022, Zambia has considerably expanded the list of nationalities exempt from visa requirements. Nationals of the vast majority of Western European, North American, Oceanian and some Asian countries are now permitted to stay for up to 90 days within any rolling 12-month period without a visa, simply by presenting a valid passport.
Exempt nationalities include in particular: France, Belgium, Switzerland, Germany, Italy, Spain, Portugal, the Netherlands, Austria, Luxembourg, Denmark, Sweden, Norway, Finland, Ireland, the United Kingdom, the United States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, China, Singapore, South Korea, the United Arab Emirates, as well as many African countries and Pacific and Caribbean island nations.
This exemption was further extended in December 2024, with the addition of 53 new nationalities. Zambia is now among the most accessible African destinations for international travellers.
Zambia operates not two but three entry regimes, depending on the nationality of the passport presented. Confusing them is the single most common mistake on this destination: an exempt traveller has nothing to do, a "visa on arrival" traveller should not pay for an unnecessary e-Visa, and a traveller needing prior clearance cannot count on a 72-hour turnaround.
Good news for business travel: the official text specifies that "all ordinary Visitors, Business Visitors and Tourists" are entitled to the free 90-day visit in any 12-month period from the day of first entry. The allowance for business visitors (meetings, negotiations, trade fairs) rose from 30 to 90 days in 2026, bringing it into line with tourists. Note that this does not cover paid work in Zambia, which requires a separate permit.
| Regime | What it means for you |
|---|---|
| Visa-exempt (167 nationalities) | Entry on a passport alone. No prior formality. Covers almost all of Europe, North America, Oceania and much of Asia and Africa. |
| Visa on arrival (34 nationalities) | Visa issued and paid for on arrival, at any port of entry, or at selected Zambian missions abroad. Includes Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Cuba, DR Congo, Ecuador, Georgia, Ghana, Kazakhstan, Mexico, Mongolia, Peru, Russia, Rwanda, Thailand, Uruguay and Venezuela. |
| Visa required prior to travel (51 nationalities) | The visa requires advance clearance by the Zambian authorities: no visa on arrival and no immediate issue. Includes Afghanistan, Algeria, Bangladesh, Cameroon, Côte d'Ivoire, Egypt, Ethiopia, India, Indonesia, Nigeria, Pakistan, the Philippines, Senegal, Sri Lanka, Tunisia and Vietnam. |
Official classification used by the Zambia Department of Immigration. Indicative lists — check your own nationality on zambiaimmigration.gov.zm before booking anything.
If your nationality falls into the "visa prior to travel" category, the indicative 72-hour turnaround does not apply to you: your application must first obtain clearance from the Zambian authorities in Lusaka before a visa can be issued. Allow several weeks and apply as early as you can. This applies in particular to Indian, Nigerian, Pakistani, Filipino, Vietnamese, Indonesian, Egyptian, Ethiopian, Cameroonian, Senegalese and Sri Lankan nationals.
Even if you are exempt from visa requirements, the Zambian immigration officer will initially grant only 30 days of stay upon arrival. To reach the permitted 90 days, it is necessary to visit the Department of Immigration in Zambia before the expiry date stamped in your passport and request an extension. This extension is free of charge up to a cumulative 90 days; it becomes subject to a fee beyond 3 months. Overstaying without an extension is treated by the Zambian authorities as illegal entry: it exposes you to a fine of ZMW 18,000 and to detention. Always check the duration written on your entry stamp on arrival: that is what counts, not the theoretical 90-day allowance.
Zambia exempts nationals of 167 nationalities from visa requirements for tourist stays of less than 90 days within any rolling 12-month period.
The immigration officer initially grants 30 days. An extension must be requested in person before expiry to reach the maximum of 90 days.
Regardless of your situation (exempt or e-Visa holder), your passport must remain valid for at least 6 months after the planned end of your stay.
The exemption list was further expanded in December 2024, now covering a total of 167 nationalities.
The Zambian Department of Immigration points out that, whether visa-exempt or not, every visitor arriving by air must hold a valid return or onward ticket. Travellers arriving by land or water must show sufficient funds to cover their stay in and departure from Zambia. Both conditions can be checked at boarding and at the border post, and failing them may be enough to justify a refusal of entry — even on a passport from one of the 167 exempt nationalities.
So, alongside your passport, plan for: your return or onward ticket, proof of accommodation, and evidence of your resources (bank statements, an international bank card, cash).
The visa exemption is not limited to tourism. Visa-exempt nationals travelling to Zambia on business historically had only 30 days, against 90 for tourism. That limit has been aligned: the permitted length of stay for eligible business activities is raised to 90 days within a rolling 12-month period starting at first entry, as for tourism.
One caveat: this framework covers eligible business activities (meetings, negotiations, site visits, conferences) and not paid employment in Zambia, which requires a work permit. If you are unsure about the nature of your assignment, have your situation validated before departure.
03 · The KAZA UniVisa
The KAZA UniVisa is a unique visa arrangement in southern Africa. It was designed to facilitate cross-border tourism in the KAZA zone (Kavango-Zambezi Transfrontier Conservation Area), a vast region straddling Angola, Botswana, Namibia, Zambia and Zimbabwe.
In practice, this visa allows travel between Zambia and Zimbabwe, as well as excursions to the cross-border parks of Botswana (via the Kazungula border). It permits multiple entries between Zambia and Zimbabwe throughout its period of validity.
Its authorised stay is 30 days from the date of first entry. During this period, the traveller may cross between the two countries as many times as they wish without paying additional fees. It is the ideal solution to visit Victoria Falls from both the Zambian and Zimbabwean sides in a single trip, and then head to the Okavango Delta or the parks in the region.
The KAZA UniVisa is attractive, but it comes with strict rules that travellers often discover too late:
If your itinerary leaves the Zambia–Zimbabwe axis, or if you enter through another border post, a standard e-Visa (or visa exemption, if you qualify) is the safer choice.
04 · The procedure
The Zambia e-Visa application is entirely paperless. It is submitted online, before departure, and requires no visit to an embassy or consulate. Once the application has been submitted, processing takes 72 hours for urgent requests, but it is recommended to submit at least one week before departure to allow a comfortable margin in case additional documents are requested.
Prepare the required items: a copy of your valid passport (valid for at least 6 months beyond your return date, with 2 blank pages), a colour identity photograph, your return air tickets and a letter of explanation for your stay, written in English, signed and addressed to the Director General of Zambian Immigration. For minors, additional parental documents are required.
Fill in the e-Visa application form on the official portal of the Zambia Department of Immigration or through your provider. Check every piece of information carefully: once the application has been submitted, no changes are possible. In the event of an error, you will need to submit a new application.
Payment is made online at the time of submission. Amounts vary according to the option chosen (single entry, multiple entry, KAZA UniVisa). Keep your proof of payment.
Processing takes up to 72 hours for urgent applications. For a standard application, allow at least one week. If your application is approved, you will receive your e-Visa by email. If it is rejected, the Zambian authorities are not obliged to give reasons for their decision.
Print your e-Visa or save it on your mobile device. You will need to present it at check-in and upon arrival in Zambia. Although there is no legal obligation to print it, a paper copy is strongly recommended.
Present your passport and e-Visa to the Zambian immigration officer. Your e-Visa must be valid (meaning you must enter the country within 3 months of the date of issue). The officer will stamp your entry and specify the length of stay granted.
The Zambian authorities are not obliged to give reasons for an e-Visa refusal. In the event of rejection, it is however possible to submit a new application. If the refusal is related to a misunderstanding of the submission process or a non-compliant document, professional assistance can help correct the errors before the new submission.
05 · Required documents
Minors: each child, regardless of age, must have their own separate and complete e-Visa application. Additional documents are required depending on the situation:
Minimum recommended lead time before departure. Express processing is 72 h for urgent departures.
06 · Before you travel
Zambia is a premier safari destination: Kafue, South Luangwa and Lower Zambezi national parks are among the most renowned in southern Africa. Whether you are travelling with an e-Visa or under a visa exemption, a few practical precautions are essential to avoid unpleasant surprises at the border or while in the country.
Enhanced health screening at the borders. Following the declaration of a public health emergency over an Ebola virus disease outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Uganda, the Zambian authorities have put screening in place at all border crossing points: health questionnaire, temperature checks and infection-control procedures. Allow extra time at the border, particularly at the land crossings in the north of the country. No case has been reported in Zambia to date.
Political context. Zambia held general elections on 13 August 2026. As after any election, gatherings and crowd movements remain possible. Avoid demonstrations, follow the instructions of the local authorities and check your own country's travel advice in the days before departure.
Overstaying. The Zambian authorities treat an overstay as illegal residence, punishable by a fine (in the region of ZMW 18,000) and imprisonment. Always check the length of stay written on your entry stamp on arrival: it takes precedence over what you believed you had been granted.
Zambia is today one of the most accessible destinations in sub-Saharan Africa. Nationals of 167 nationalities — including virtually all Western European countries — are exempt from visa requirements for tourist stays of up to 90 days. For others, the e-Visa is applied for entirely online, without visiting an embassy, with a processing time of 72 hours in the express version.
The KAZA UniVisa is the most attractive option for travellers wishing to combine Zambia and Zimbabwe (Victoria Falls, cross-border national parks) in a single trip: one visa for two countries, with multiple entries over 30 days. This is a rare tourist innovation on the African continent — provided you are eligible: only 65 nationalities and territories qualify, and the Zambian visa exemption is not enough to obtain it.
Whatever your situation, bear in mind that overstaying is sanctioned by the Zambian authorities (fine and possible imprisonment). Plan your extension procedures in advance if necessary, and always check the date of your entry stamp upon arrival.
Safety
The vigilance level recommended by five foreign ministries, on a shared scale.
Average level
Entry checks for travellers arriving from Ebola-affected areas; one area of the country is advised against.
US Department of StateAdvice dated July 31, 2023
Normal precautions · Zambia - Level 1: Exercise Normal Precautions
Global Affairs CanadaAdvice dated September 9, 2026
Normal precautions · Zambia — Exercise normal security precautions (with regional advisories)
German Federal Foreign OfficeAdvice dated August 27, 2026
Normal precautions · Zambia: Travel and Security Advice
UK Foreign Office (FCDO)Advice dated June 1, 2026
Normal precautions · Zambia travel advice
France DiplomatieAdvice dated September 15, 2026
Increased caution · Zambia: Travel advice
Levels published by the ministries cited, reproduced unchanged. Visamundi is a private agency with no ties to these administrations.
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