Zambia Visa Types Explained, From Single, Double, Multiple, Transit and KAZA Visas
Zambia Visa Types and Immigration eServices Explained: If you are applying for a Zambia visa online, one of the first decisions you will need to make is choosing the correct type of visa.
The Zambia Department of Immigration separates Visa Applications from Permit Applications on its eServices platform.
When starting a new visa application online, applicants are currently presented with five visa options:
- Single Entry Visa
- Double Entry Visa
- Multiple Entry Visa
- Transit Entry Visa
- KAZA Entry Visa
These visas should not be confused with immigration permits such as Employment Permits, Study Permits, Investor’s Permits or Residence Permits.
A visa mainly deals with entering Zambia, while a permit normally regulates activities such as working, studying, investing or residing in Zambia.
Here is what each of the five Zambia visa options means.
1. Single Entry Visa
What is a Single Entry Visa?
A Single Entry Visa allows an eligible foreign traveller to enter Zambia once.
Once the traveller has entered Zambia using that visa, the permitted entry has effectively been used.
This means that if you subsequently leave Zambia and want to return, you may need another visa unless you qualify for another entry arrangement.
Who needs it?
The Single Entry Visa is generally suitable for a traveller who:
- Requires a visa to enter Zambia
- Plans to enter Zambia only once
- Does not intend to leave and return during the same trip
For example, a tourist flying into Lusaka, spending two weeks in Zambia and then flying home would generally only require one entry.
How many times can you enter Zambia?
One entry.
This is the key difference between Single, Double and Multiple Entry Visas.
Key documents
The exact documents depend on the purpose of your visit.
For a tourism application, Zambia Immigration currently lists documents including:
- Passport-size photograph
- Copy of passport
- Signed covering letter addressed to the Director General of Immigration
- Hotel booking
- Copy of return air ticket
For an ordinary visitor staying with someone in Zambia, Immigration may instead require information and documentation relating to the host.
Current fee
US$50
The online Immigration application system currently lists the Single Entry Visa at US$50.
2. Double Entry Visa
What is a Double Entry Visa?
A Double Entry Visa allows the holder to enter Zambia twice during the permitted visa period.
This makes it useful where you already know that your journey will involve leaving Zambia once and then returning.
Who needs it?
It may suit a traveller who plans something like:
Home country → Zambia → neighbouring country → Zambia → home
For example, you could arrive in Zambia, travel to another Southern African country for several days and then return to Zambia before flying home.
A Single Entry Visa would normally only cover the first entry.
How many times can you enter Zambia?
Two entries.
After the second entry has been used, the Double Entry Visa cannot provide a third entry.
If your itinerary involves more than two entries into Zambia, consider whether a Multiple Entry Visa is more appropriate.
Key documents
Depending on the purpose of the visit, requirements can include:
- Passport-size photograph
- Passport copy
- Covering letter
- Hotel booking
- Return or onward travel ticket
- Host details where applicable
The Immigration Department may request additional supporting documents depending on whether you are travelling for tourism, business, an ordinary visit or another permitted purpose.
Current fee
US$80
The Zambia Immigration eServices application system currently lists the Double Entry Visa at US$80.
3. Multiple Entry Visa
What is a Multiple Entry Visa?
A Multiple Entry Visa allows the holder to enter and re-enter Zambia multiple times during the validity of the visa.
Unlike the Single or Double Entry Visa, it does not restrict the traveller to only one or two entries.
Who needs it?
It is particularly useful for people who expect to travel in and out of Zambia repeatedly.
This could include:
- Business travellers
- Regional consultants
- Frequent visitors
- Travellers moving between several Southern African countries
For example, someone could enter Zambia, travel to the Democratic Republic of Congo, return to Zambia, later travel to Zimbabwe and then return to Zambia again.
A Single or Double Entry Visa would quickly become unsuitable for that type of itinerary.
How many times can you enter Zambia?
Multiple entries, subject to the validity and immigration conditions of the visa.
Immigration states that Multiple Entry Visas are issued through the appropriate Immigration authority/e-Visa process.
Key documents
Requirements depend on the purpose of the visit.
They can include:
- Passport-size photograph
- Copy of valid passport
- Covering letter
- Return or onward ticket
- Hotel booking
- Invitation or host documentation
- Business documentation where applicable
Applicants should be able to explain why multiple entries are required.
Current fee
US$80
Interestingly, the current Immigration eServices system lists the Multiple Entry Visa at the same US$80 fee as the Double Entry Visa.
This means that applicants who genuinely expect to enter Zambia more than twice should carefully consider whether the Multiple Entry option makes more sense for their travel plans.
4. Transit Entry Visa
What is a Transit Entry Visa?
A Transit Entry Visa is intended for a visa-requiring foreign national who is passing through Zambia on the way to another country.
The important point here is that Zambia is not the traveller’s final destination.
Who needs it?
Immigration states that the Transit Visa applies to visa-requiring travellers transiting Zambia using land transport.
It can therefore be relevant to travellers crossing Zambia as part of an international road journey.
The Transit Visa is valid for a maximum of seven days.
Transit Visa vs Transit Permit
These should not be confused.
A Transit Entry Visa is a visa for an eligible traveller passing through Zambia.
A Transit Permit is a completely different immigration service associated with qualifying commercial truck drivers and their crew.
Similar name, very different paperwork.
Key documents
Requirements can include:
- Passport-size photograph
- Valid passport copy
- Signed covering letter addressed to the Director General
- Evidence of onward travel
- Information about the traveller’s destination
Applicants should also ensure they meet the entry requirements of the country they are travelling to after Zambia.
Current fee
US$25
The Immigration eServices application system currently lists the Transit Entry Visa at US$25.
5. KAZA Entry Visa
What is the KAZA Entry Visa?
The KAZA UNIVISA is a special tourism visa designed to make travel between Zambia and Zimbabwe easier.
Instead of obtaining separate visas each time you cross between the two countries, an eligible tourist can use the KAZA UNIVISA for multiple movements within the participating area.
Who needs it?
It is particularly useful for international tourists visiting attractions on both the Zambian and Zimbabwean sides of the region.
Victoria Falls is the obvious example.
A tourist may stay in Livingstone, cross into Victoria Falls town in Zimbabwe, return to Zambia and make other qualifying movements without needing separate ordinary visas for each crossing.
The KAZA UNIVISA also accommodates qualifying day trips into Botswana through Kazungula while the holder remains within the conditions of the visa.
The visa is valid for up to 30 days within Zambia and Zimbabwe.
Where can it be used?
On the Zambian side, participating entry points include major tourism gateways such as:
- Kenneth Kaunda International Airport
- Harry Mwanga Nkumbula International Airport
- Victoria Falls Border
- Kazungula Border
Travellers should confirm participating ports before arranging their journey because KAZA conditions are more specific than an ordinary Zambia Entry Visa.
Key documents
For a KAZA application, Immigration currently lists documents including:
- Passport-size photograph
- Passport copy
- Signed covering letter addressed to the Director General
- Hotel booking
- Return air ticket
These are similar to the requirements for a tourism visa.
Current fee
US$50
The Zambia Immigration online application system currently lists the KAZA Entry Visa at US$50.
Zambia Visa Fees at a Glance
| Visa Type | Current Fee |
|---|---|
| Single Entry Visa | US$50 |
| Double Entry Visa | US$80 |
| Multiple Entry Visa | US$80 |
| Transit Entry Visa | US$25 |
| KAZA Entry Visa | US$50 |
Fees shown are those currently displayed in the Zambia Immigration online Visa Application system. Immigration fees can change, so applicants should confirm the amount shown by eServices when applying.
Single, Double or Multiple Entry Visa: Which Should You Choose?
The easiest way to choose is to look at your itinerary and count how many times you intend to cross into Zambia.
Entering Zambia once: Single Entry Visa.
Entering Zambia twice: Double Entry Visa.
Entering Zambia more than twice: Multiple Entry Visa.
The difference is about the number of entries, not simply the number of days you intend to spend in Zambia.
For example:
If you fly from London to Lusaka and remain in Zambia until you fly home, that is one entry.
If you enter Zambia, travel to Zimbabwe and later return to Zambia, that is two entries.
If you subsequently travel to Botswana and again return to Zambia, you have now entered Zambia three times.
This is why planning your itinerary before choosing the visa can save you from applying for the wrong option.
KAZA Visa or Zambia Multiple Entry Visa?
This decision depends on where you intend to travel.
The KAZA UNIVISA is designed specifically around tourism between Zambia and Zimbabwe, together with qualifying Botswana day trips through Kazungula.
A Zambia Multiple Entry Visa allows repeated entries into Zambia but is not a joint visa for Zimbabwe.
If your trip is mainly centred around Livingstone, Victoria Falls and the neighbouring tourism region, the KAZA UNIVISA may be the more practical option.
If your repeated journeys into Zambia are for business or involve a wider range of countries and purposes, the ordinary Multiple Entry Visa may make more sense.
Zambia Visa Does Not Mean Permit (check this article for more details about Immigration services)
This distinction causes a lot of confusion.
Obtaining a Zambia Entry Visa does not automatically give you permission to work, study, invest or permanently reside in Zambia.
Those activities are dealt with through Zambia’s Immigration Permit system. (But if your visit is short and you may do some kind of business like consultation, business meetings then your application will be classfied into Business Visa)
For example:
A foreign employee may require an Employment Permit.
A student may require a Study Permit.
A foreign investor may require an Investor’s Permit.
Someone settling permanently may require a Residence Permit.
The visa gets the appropriate traveller through the immigration entry process; the permit regulates the longer-term activity or immigration status.
We cover Zambia Immigration Permits separately in Part 2 of this guide.
Do You Actually Need a Zambia Visa?
Before applying, check whether your nationality requires a visa to enter Zambia.
Zambia has expanded visa-free travel considerably in recent years, including another waiver for nationals of 53 countries that took effect from 1 January 2025.
The Department of Immigration divides travellers into categories including:
- Nationals who do not require a visa
- Nationals who may obtain visas on arrival or at Zambian missions
- Nationals who require a visa before travelling
Being visa-exempt does not remove the other normal immigration requirements for entry.
Travellers should still carry a valid passport and meet Immigration’s requirements concerning onward or return travel and the purpose of their visit.
How to Apply for a Zambia Visa Online
Visa applications can be started through the official Zambia Department of Immigration eServices portal.
The system separates a new Visa Application from Immigration Permit applications.
After selecting Visa Application, applicants choose the appropriate visa type, complete the required information, upload supporting documents and proceed through the online application process.
The five visa options currently presented are Single Entry, Double Entry, Multiple Entry, Transit Entry and KAZA Entry Visa.
Final Word
Choosing a Zambia visa becomes much easier once you stop looking at the names and instead ask one simple question:
How am I travelling into and around Zambia? That will steer you to what type of Zambia Visa you will apply for.
If you’re entering once, consider Single Entry. If your journey requires leaving and returning once, Double Entry may be appropriate. Frequent entries point toward Multiple Entry, while travellers merely passing through Zambia may need Transit Entry.
And for tourists moving mainly between Zambia and Zimbabwe around Victoria Falls, the KAZA UNIVISA deserves particular attention.
Always check your nationality, travel purpose, visa eligibility and the latest Immigration requirements before paying for an application.