For UK tourists staying up to 90 days, the Zambia eVisa cost is USD 0 under Zambia’s visa exemption. Business visits and cross-border trips incur statutory fees of USD 10 to 80, plus a small card payment surcharge. All fees are non-refundable once processing begins.
This is an independent guide, not a government site – for the authoritative pages, see the Zambia Department of Immigration. We don’t collect fees or submit applications for you; we break down every charge so you can budget accurately and check current rates on the portal before you travel.
When UK Passport Holders Pay Nothing
British tourists pay nothing for a standard holiday. Zambia waived visa requirements for nationals of 53 countries in December 2024; check the Nationals Who Do Not Require Visa list for your passport. The 90 days run on a rolling 12-month basis, may be granted in increments, and you can extend free of charge at an immigration office.
Ordinary visitors, business visitors and tourists all get 90 free days in any 12-month period; an older 2019 departmental guide still shows 30 days for business visitors. Members of the diplomatic community with accreditation letters or diplomatic passports pay USD 0 under the Gratis Visa, as do non-accredited diplomats on official business with an invitation letter.
Here’s how the Zambia eVisa cost plays out in four common situations:
- Two-week safari holiday – pay USD 0 at the border under the UK exemption.
- Business meeting – pay the single-entry visa fee (USD 25 on the visitor pages, USD 50 in the fee schedule) via e-Services.
- Day trip into Zambia from the Zimbabwe side of Victoria Falls – pay the USD 10 Day Tripper fee at the border.
- Combined Zambia and Zimbabwe trip – pay USD 50 for the KAZA UNIVISA.
Single and Double-Entry eVisa Fees
A single-entry visa costs USD 25 on the visitor-facing pages but USD 50 through the e-Services billing gateway. Double entry: USD 40 or USD 80. Both are valid 90 days from first issuance.
Why the gap? The visitor information pages still show USD 25 / 40 / 75, while the departmental fee schedule lists USD 50 / 80 / 80. It sets out the statutory fee plus the card administrative fee for each visa type. Budget for the upper bound so you don’t fall short at checkout.
The e-Services portal adds a card payment administrative fee of roughly 1%:
| Visa type | Entries | Validity | Info rate | e-Services billing | Card fee | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Single entry | One | 90 days | USD 25 | USD 50 | USD 0.50 | USD 50.50 |
| Double entry | Two | 90 days | USD 40 | USD 80 | USD 0.80 | USD 80.80 |
Wondering which rate you’ll be charged? The safe assumption is the billing rate – that’s what the gateway takes when you pay by card.
Multiple-Entry, Transit and Day Tripper Fees
A multiple-entry visa costs USD 75 on visitor pages or USD 80 through e-Services, plus USD 0.80 card fee – USD 80.80 total. Standard validity is 90 days from first issuance; US citizens get 3 years on a reciprocal basis.
You can only get a multiple-entry visa through the e-Visa facility at Immigration Headquarters – not at foreign missions or on arrival. So if you need one, apply online well ahead.
| Permit | Statutory fee | Card fee | Total | Key condition |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Multiple entry | USD 80 | USD 0.80 | USD 80.80 | Immigration HQ via e-Visa only |
| Transit visa | USD 25 | USD 0.28 | USD 25.28 | Maximum 7 days overland |
| Day Tripper | USD 10 | USD 0.10 | USD 10.10 | Under 24 hours, same-port exit |
The Day Tripper visa is issued at the border, not online, although the fee schedule lists a card administrative fee for it. It’s restricted to Victoria Falls and Kazungula Border Controls.
Travelling with children? Nobody under 16 can apply for an e-Visa alone; they must be added to an accompanying adult’s application.
KAZA UNIVISA vs Day Tripper
The KAZA UNIVISA costs USD 50, or USD 50.50 with the card fee. It’s valid up to 30 days within a 12-month period and covers travel within Zambia and Zimbabwe, plus day trips to Botswana via Kazungula Border.
You can apply online via e-Services, and it’s tied to four designated Zambian ports of entry: Kenneth Kaunda International Airport (Lusaka), Harry Mwaanga Nkumbula International Airport (Livingstone), Victoria Falls Border Control, and Kazungula Border Control.
Which option saves you money? It depends entirely on your route:
| Route | Best option | Total spend |
|---|---|---|
| Zambia only, under 90 days | UK tourist exemption | USD 0 |
| Zambia and Zimbabwe combined | KAZA UNIVISA | USD 50.50 |
| Day trip from Zimbabwe into Zambia | Day Tripper visa | USD 10.10 |
If you’re only visiting Zambia, don’t buy a KAZA UNIVISA – the exemption already covers you at no cost.
Government Portal vs Agency Fees
The e-Services portal processes applications within 3 or 5 working days depending on visa category, and the fee schedule lists no priority surcharge.
| Channel | Turnaround | Service charge |
|---|---|---|
| e-Services portal | 3 or 5 working days | No surcharge |
The portal itself charges no surcharge for faster handling – only the statutory fee and the 1% card administrative fee.
Apply directly only through .gov.zm domains. Third-party services charge their own service fee on top of the statutory fee; a separate risk is sites impersonating the Department.
Hidden Charges: Card Fees and GBP Conversion
Online checkout adds a 1% gateway fee, and your UK bank may add a non-sterling transaction fee on a USD payment – check your card’s terms. Neither shows up in the headline visa price.
Here’s what a USD 50 single-entry eVisa costs at checkout:
- Statutory fee: USD 50.00
- Card payment administrative fee: USD 0.50
- Checkout total: USD 50.50
Payment is by credit or debit card through the redirect to the bank’s secure payment page; Mobile Money is for local permits only.
Staying beyond the free 90-day tourist allowance? A Visiting Permit costs ZMW 6,667, or ZMW 6,733 with the card administrative fee (ZMW 6,700 by Mobile Money).
Applying and Paying: Step-by-Step
Errors in your passport data or the wrong visa category can lead to a rejection, and eVisa fees are not refunded if an application is refused. So take it slowly.
- Go to eservices.zambiaimmigration.gov.zm and create your application.
- Enter your passport number and personal details exactly as printed in your passport.
- Check your name formatting and birth date order against your passport bio page.
- Upload your documents, then review every field before submitting.
- Pay by credit or debit card through the redirect to the bank’s secure payment page.
- Track progress in your portal folders: Draft, Submitted, then Approved or Rejected.
For a tourist eVisa you’ll need a passport-sized photo (jpeg, tiff or png), a copy of your passport bio-data page, a signed cover letter addressed to the Director General of Immigration, a hotel booking, and a copy of your return air ticket. For a visa on arrival, the passport needs at least six months’ validity from entry and three full blank pages.
Business applicants add a cover letter on company letterhead, a letter of invitation from the host company, and a certified copy of the host’s Certificate of Incorporation.
Questions about a pending application? Call the Contact Centre on +260 211 428800 or email [email protected].
Non-Refundable Policy and Costly Mistakes
Fees are non-refundable once payment or processing begins – including if your application is rejected or refused.
Before you pay, run through this checklist:
- Passport number matches your passport exactly
- Name spelling matches your passport bio page
- Birth date is in the correct order
- Correct visa category selected for your trip
- Passport meets the visa-on-arrival rules (six months’ validity from entry, three full blank pages)
- All documents uploaded in the right format
The most expensive mistakes are avoidable. Buying a tourist eVisa when the UK exemption covers you wastes USD 50. Applying for a KAZA UNIVISA when you’re only visiting Zambia wastes USD 50 – you’d pay nothing instead. And an error in your passport data can mean reapplying, as described above.
Apply well before you travel – stated processing times assume a complete and accurate application.
Comparing Zambia’s Travel Permits
Tourists travelling under the waiver pay nothing, but extending beyond 90 days requires a paid Visiting Permit at ZMW 6,667. Here’s how the options stack up:
| Permit | Cost | Purpose | Validity |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tourist waiver (UK) | USD 0 | Tourism up to 90 days | Rolling 12 months |
| Entry visa (business travel) | USD 25 – 50 single, USD 40 – 80 double | Business travel beyond the free 90 days | 90 days |
| KAZA UNIVISA | USD 50.50 | Zambia plus Zimbabwe travel | 30 days in 12 months |
| Day Tripper | USD 10.10 | Under-24-hour border visit | 24 hours, same port |
| Visiting Permit | ZMW 6,667 (ZMW 6,733 by card) | Stay beyond the free 90 days | Renewal fee ZMW 10,000 |
Pick the cheapest option that matches your actual itinerary – not the one a broker recommends.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
How much does a Zambia eVisa cost for UK citizens?
For tourist stays up to 90 days, the Zambia eVisa cost for British citizens is USD 0 under the visa exemption. Business travel beyond the free 90-day allowance requires a paid entry visa (USD 25 – 50 single entry or USD 40 – 80 double entry, valid for 90 days), and cross-border trips add the KAZA UNIVISA at USD 50.50 total.
Is the Zambia eVisa fee refundable if my application is rejected?
No. Fees are non-refundable once payment or processing begins, including rejection or refusal. Check every field before paying, because an error in your passport data can lead to a refusal.
What is the exact price of a single-entry Zambia eVisa?
The visitor-facing rate is USD 25, but the e-Services billing gateway charges USD 50. Add the USD 0.50 card fee and you’ll pay USD 50.50. Budget for the upper bound, since that’s what the gateway bills.
Are there hidden costs on top of the Zambia eVisa fee?
Yes. Expect a 1% card payment administrative fee at checkout, plus any non-sterling transaction fee your UK bank adds to a USD payment – check your card’s terms.
Can I pay the Zambia eVisa cost in GBP?
No. The portal bills in USD, so your bank converts the amount at its own rate. Payment is by credit or debit card through the bank’s secure payment page.
How much does expedited Zambia visa processing cost?
The public portal processes applications within 3 or 5 working days depending on visa category and lists no priority surcharge in its fee schedule. Private agencies charge their own service fees for faster handling, on top of the statutory fee.
How much does the KAZA UNIVISA cost and what does it cover?
It costs USD 50, or USD 50.50 with the card fee. It covers Zambia and Zimbabwe for up to 30 days within a 12-month period, plus day trips to Botswana via Kazungula Border. Apply online via e-Services at four designated ports.
Where can I apply and pay for a Zambia eVisa online?
Apply at eservices.zambiaimmigration.gov.zm and pay by credit or debit card through the bank’s secure payment page. Applications reach the Department of Immigration directly only through its own e-Services portal.
Sources and Further Reading
- Zambia Department of Immigration – For Visitors: visa categories, exemptions, and free stay rules.
- Zambia Department of Immigration – Fees: the e-Services billing table with card admin charges.
- Zambia Department of Immigration – e-Services: the online application and payment portal.
- Zambia Department of Immigration – KAZA UNIVISA: fee, coverage, and designated ports of entry.
- Zambia Department of Immigration – main site: contact details and general immigration information.
Rules and fees can change, so confirm current rates on the portal before you travel.
