Zambia introduced new visa fees: What travellers need to know!

last updated: 12 January 2026

According to  Zambia Tourism, the Zambian Department of Immigration has implemented revised visa fees, effective 01 January 2026 until further notice. The new fee structure primarily affects travellers from visa-requiring countries, with single-entry and double-entry visa costs doubling compared to previous rates.
The adjustment is part of Zambia’s ongoing immigration and border management framework and applies across standard tourist visa categories.

Overview of Zambia’s updated visa fees (effective 01 January 2026)

Single-Entry Visa

• New fee: USD 50 (previously USD 25)
• Validity: Up to 90 days
• Description: Allows the holder to enter Zambia once during the visa’s validity period.

Double-Entry Visa

• New fee: USD 80 (previously USD 40)
• Validity: Up to 90 days
• Description: Permits two separate entries into Zambia within the validity period.

Multiple-Entry Visa

• New fee: USD 80 (previously USD 75)
• Validity: Up to 90 days
• Description: Allows multiple entries into Zambia during the visa’s validity.
• Important note: Multiple-entry visas are only issued by Immigration Headquarters and must be applied for via the official e-visa platform.

Visa categories with unchanged fees

KAZA Univisa

• Fee: USD 50 (unchanged)
• Validity: Up to 30 days

The KAZA Univisa allows tourists to travel freely between Zambia and Zimbabwe on a single visa. It also covers day trips to Botswana via the Kazungula Border, provided travellers re-enter Zambia or Zimbabwe.
The KAZA Univisa is not available online and can currently only be obtained at the following ports of entry:

• Kenneth Kaunda International Airport (LUN) – Lusaka
• Harry Mwanga Nkumbula International Airport (LVI) – Livingstone
• Victoria Falls International Airport (VFA) – Zimbabwe
• Robert Gabriel Mugabe International Airport (HRE) – Harare
• Victoria Falls Border Post
• Kazungula Border Post

Day-Tripper Visa

• Fee: USD 10 (unchanged)
• Validity: Less than 24 hours

A Day-Tripper Visa is issued at select ports of entry to tourists visiting Zambia for less than 24 hours, provided they exit through the same border post. It also applies to travellers briefly entering a neighbouring country and returning to Zambia within 24 hours.
Currently available only at:

• Victoria Falls Border
• Kazungula Border Control

Visa validity rules

• Single-entry, double-entry and multiple-entry visas are valid for 90 days from the date of first entry.
• Exception: Nationals of the United States of America may receive multiple-entry visas valid for up to three years, based on a reciprocal agreement between Zambia and the USA.

Zambia’s liberal visa policy remains largely intact

Despite the increase in visa fees for certain travellers, Zambia continues to maintain one of Africa’s most liberal visa regimes. As of 2025, citizens of 167 countries are visa-exempt when travelling to Zambia.
For most international visitors, Zambia remains an accessible and traveller-friendly destination, particularly for those exploring the wider KAZA Transfrontier Conservation Area, including Victoria Falls, Chobe National Park, and Hwange National Park.

Travellers are advised to confirm visa requirements and applicable fees before departure, as immigration regulations may change without prior notice. 

 

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Malawi to waive visa fees for travellers from 16 "priority markets"! [update]

update (13 February 2023): According to Malawi Tourism, administrative processes are still being worked on by the Malawi Ministry of Finance who are responsible for all financial issues and taxation. We'll keep you posted!

The Malawian Minister of Tourism, Culture and Wildlife, Dr. Michael Usi, has announced that Malawi is planning to waive visa fees for travellers from selected countries in a bid to boost its tourism industry. The visa fee waiver will apply to tourists coming to Malawi from 16 priority markets including the United Kingdom, the United States of America, the Netherlands, Germany, Australia, Belgium, Italy, France, Poland, Norway, Finland, Denmark, Sweden, China, Russia, Canada as well as future markets based on arrival figures by purpose of visit. The Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Wildlife and the Malawian Ministry of Home Affairs are working together to implement the visa fee waiver, which is expected to become effective in January 2023. We'll keep you posted!

Zambia to cut visa fees!

Zambia is set to reduce its visa fees. The country's Minister of Finance and National Planning, Dr Situmbeko Musokotwane, announced in the 2022 Budget Address that visa fees will be cut by 50% from 01 January 2022. "[...] Madam, Zambia remains a destination of choice for tourism. To improve our competitiveness, I propose to reduce visa fees of all categories by 50 percent.[...]."
Currently, single entry visa cost USD50, double entry visa USD80, the KAZA UNIVISA USD50, multiple entry visa USD150 and day tripper visa USD20. Single, double and multiple entry visas are valid for 90 days from the date of first issuance, with the exception of nationals from the United States of America, whose multiple entry visas have a validity of three years, on mutually agreed reciprocal basis. Multiple entry visas are only issued through Zambia's e-visa facility. The day tripper visa only applies at Victoria Falls and Kazungula Border Controls.

“The 2022 Budget has illustrated that the promises of economic transformation, an enabling environment for macroeconomic stability and job creation, and taking resources and development closer to the people are now realities.” - 2022 BUDGET SPEECH: https://t.co/aLW6CYLJ8Z

— Ministry of Finance & National Planning (@mofnpzambia) November 9, 2021

Rwanda introduces a new visa regime!

Rwanda's Directorate of Immigration and Emigration has updated the country's existing visa regime. As of today, citizens of countries members to the African Union, the Commonwealth and La Francophonie get visa upon arrival and are waived visa fees for a stay of 30 days.
Citizens of the East African Community (EAC) member states - Burundi, Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania and South Sudan - get a pass/entry visa to stay for a period of six month in Rwanda. 
Citizens of Angola, Benin, Central African Republic, Chad, Cote d'Ivoire, DR Congo, The Federation of Saint Christopher and Nevis, Ghana, Guinea, Indonesia, Haiti, Mauritius, Philippines, Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Sao Tome and Principe, Singapore and Qatar are granted 90 day visa free of charge. 
For more information regarding the new visa regime in Rwanda, see the document below or click here.

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Rwanda to suspend visa fees for citizens of member states of the Commonwealth, the Francophonie & the African Union!

The President of Rwanda, Paul Kagame, announced in a speech about Rwanda's transformation over the past 25 years at the International School for Government at King’s College in London, that the East African country is "soon considering exempting citizens of the Commonwealth, as well as the African Union and the Francophonie, from paying visa fees when entering Rwanda" [src.]. Rwanda is a member of the Commonwealth of Nations (53 member states) since 2009 and a member of the Organisation internationale de la Francophonie (54 full member states) since 1970. As a member of the United Nations since 1962, Rwanda is also a member of the African Union (55 member states) since it was founded in 2002. We'll keep you posted!

Botswana has adjusted visa fees!

Botswana's Ministry of Nationality, Immigration and Gender Affairs (MNIG) has announced the implementation of reviewed visa fees in certain visa categories (tourist, visitor, transit, business, employment, investment, study and transit) as well as introduction of payment for visa in convertible foreign currency (US$, GBP, ZAR). Effective since 25 November 2019, revised fees are as follows:

Tourist visa:

• P300.00 (US$30) single entry for a period up to 1 month
• P500.00 (US$50) multiple entry for a period up to 3 months

Visitor's visa:

• P300.00 (US$30) single entry for a period up to 3 months
• P500.00 (US$50) multiple entry for a period up to 3 months
• P1500 (US$150) multiple entry for a period over 3 months up to 2 years for dependants of residents

Transit visa:

• P300.00 (US$30) single entry for up to 1 week
• P500.00 (US$50) multiple entry for a period up to 3 months
• P1500 (US$150) multiple entry for a period of up to 3 years for tour operators and transporters

Business visa:

• P500.00 (US$50) single entry – for a period up to 3 months
• P1000.00 (US$100) multiple entry – for a period up to 3 months
• P1500.00 (US$150) multiple entry for a period up to 6 months to 1 year

Employment visa:

• gratis

Investment visa:

• P1000.00 (US$100) multiple entry for a period up to 6 months
• P2500.00 (US$250) multiple entry – for a period up to 5 years

Study visa:

• gratis

Malawi to introduce online visa in November 2019!

The Government of Malawi is set to introduce an online visa application process. Effective 01 November 2019 travellers to Malawi will be able to apply and process visa online. The e-visa portal will allow applicants to fill and submit an application, upload required documents including photos and pay for visa fees. The e-visa applications will be processed within three working days. Once approved, the e-visa approval letter will be accesible through the applicants e-visa account. Additionally, an access link will also be provided through an instant email notification sent to the applicant’s email address. The e-visa applications must be paid in US$.

• Transit Visa US$50
• Single entry US$75 (90 days)
• Multiple entry for 6 months US$150
• Multiple entry for 12 months US$250

Mozambique increases visa fees!

The Government of Mozambique has increased the cost of entry visa with immediate effect. All single-entry visas applied for in foreign travellers' countries of origin will be affected by the fee increases. The cost of a single-entry visa valid for 30 days jumps to US$100 from US$50*, while a visa valid for between 31 days and 60 days now costs US$200*, up from $43. Visas valid for between 61 days and 90 days have been increased from US$60 to US$300*. Visas obtained at Mozambique's border posts (land, sea or air), which allow dual entry within a 30-day period, remain unaffected. Mozambique has signed visa waiver agreements with most Southern African Development Community (SADC) member states whose citizens do not need visas for stays of up to 30 days.
*depending on exchange rate!

Malawi to introduce online visa in November 2018! [update]

update (17 June 2019): According to the Nyasa Times, Malawi will lauch e-payment for visas as soon as the country's new minister of home affairs is appointed and is in office. We'll keep you posted!

According to the Nyasa Times, a privately owned online newspaper from Malawi, the Government of Malawi is set to introduce an online visa application process. As of now, the new facility will be implemented at the end of November 2018. Travellers planning to visit the county will then be able to apply for visas online, pay the visa fees online and collect their visa digitally. Malawi's Ministry of Tourism is currenly also planning to cut visa costs due to complains from travellers that visas for Malawi are more expensive than for other countries in the region. We'll keep you posted!

Zimbabwe has reviewed visa fees for American travellers!

Zimbabwe's Department of Immigration has reviewed visa fees for citizens of the United States of America. American tourists visiting Zimbabwe now have to pay US$160 for a a one year multiple entry visa. The Department of Immigration previously charged US$30 for a single entry visa issued on arrival, US$45 for a double entry visa and US$55 for a multiple entry visa.
According to the online edition of the Daily News, an independant Zimbabwean newspaper, the new fees come after Zimbabwe and the US resolved to amend the visa regime between the two countries "to create uniformity".

• American government officials assigned to Zimbabwe will be accorded accreditation status of one year on assumption of duty
• American tourists will now be issued with multiple entry visas on arrival valid for twelve (12) months at a fee of US$160
• American students enrolled at institutions of higher and tertiary education now pay US$160 from the current US$200 for a student permit
• Those enrolled in primary and secondary schools now pay US$160 from the current US$100 for a scholar's permit

Rwanda introduced new visa fees!

Rwanda's Directorate of Immigration and Emigration has announced new visa fees for travellers coming to visit the East African country. As of today (01 August 2016), the new transit and entry visa costs 20 UK Pounds, 27 Euros or 30 US Dollars, while the new tourist and family visa costs 35 UK Pounds, 45 Euros or 50 US Dollar. Rwanda's new visa fees will remain applicable for (at least) the next 12 months.

Uganda reduces fee for a single entry visa by half! >>

Uganda has doubled visa fees!

According to Wolfgang H. Thome, one of the best informed East Africa specialists, Uganda has doubled its visa fees from USD50 per person to USD100 per person on 01 July 2015. Most offical Ugandan websites, including those of embassies and consulates, are still unaware of the change and are showing the (old) fee of USD50 per person, but tourist on arrival at Uganda's borders are told to pay USD100 for their visa.

Tourists shocked by doubled Visa fees in Uganda

East African Single Tourist Visa info roundup! >>

Kenya visa to return to $50/person from 01 July 2011

Kenya decreased visa costs for tourist from $50/person to $25/person back in in April 2009 as an incentive for more tourists to visit the country. It was originally planned to revert to charging visitors $50 by January 2011. The Kenyan government changed plans again in February 2011 and kept the fees for a tourist visa at US$25 per person.
Kenya will now finally return to the $50/person visa fee effective 01st July 2011.

Kenya is set to keep the fees for a tourist visa at US$25 per person

Kenya's Tourism Minister Najib Balala told the media back in September 2010 that the country will revert to charging visitors US$50 (about Sh4,000) for visas up from the reduced rate of US$25 beginning January 2011. Now, according to eturbonews.com, the Kenyan government is changing plans again and is set to keep the fees for a tourist visa at US$25 per person, and will only review this by July 2011.
Other East African countries except for Rwanda, where notably many nationalities are exempt from paying for a visa,  continue to charge US$50 for tourist visa.

online flight booking on TravelComments.com >>

Click here for holidays in Kenya >>

Mozambique: Massive entry visa increase at Vilanculos Airport

Benguerra Lodge, situated on Benguerra, the second largest island in the Bazaruto Archipelago, is reporting that visa fees at the Vilanculos Airport have increased to US$95/person (previously US$30/person) with immediate effect. Visa fees must be paid in cash. It is therefore advised to get the entry visa in advance to avoid delays at the airport.


View Mozambique: Massive entry visa increase at Vilanculos Airport in a larger map

Mozambique country guide, tour & accommodation booking >>

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Kenya: Visa fee back to $50 per person from January 2011

Kenya's Tourism Minister Najib Balala told the media that Kenya will revert to charging visitors $50 (about Sh4,000) for visas up from the reduced rate of $25 beginning January next year. The country halved the fees for visitors and scrapped the same for children under the age of 16 in April last year, as an incentive for more tourists to visit the country. [src.]

online flight booking on TravelComments.com >>

Click here for holidays in Kenya