Living in Zambia: A Guide for Chinese Residents on Visas, Business, Safety and Community

Zambia is a landlocked, copper-rich and politically stable country in southern Africa, and one of China’s main investment destinations on the continent: more than 600 Chinese companies operate there, and an estimated 15,000 to 30,000 Chinese people live mainly in Lusaka and the Copperbelt [1]. Chinese ordinary passports are currently visa-exempt, but working or doing business requires a permit issued in advance [2][4].

This page is an overview of our Zambia guides: key facts, where Chinese residents live and work, visas, business, safety, the community, and embassy and emergency contacts.

Key facts

Climate: tropical savanna, cool and dry from May to August, hot and dry from September to November, rainy from December to April [1].

Where Chinese residents live and work

According to MOFCOM, Lusaka, Ndola and Kitwe in the Copperbelt, and Livingstone in Southern Province are Zambia’s main population centres and the main hubs for Chinese residents [1]. Chinese economic activity centres on construction, mining, infrastructure, manufacturing and farming [1]. For the sources behind the population estimate, see Chinese population in Africa.

• Mining and smelting: Zambia is Africa’s second-largest copper producer. China Nonferrous Metal Mining (CNMC) is the largest Chinese investor, with more than US$2.6 billion invested in the Chambishi mine, the Chambishi copper smelter, the Luanshya mine and other assets [1].
• Construction contracting: in 2024 Chinese firms signed US$2.156 billion of new contracts and completed US$1.18 billion of work; 3,291 Chinese contract workers were in Zambia at year-end [1].
• Industrial parks: the Zambia-China Economic and Trade Cooperation Zone (Chambishi and Lusaka parks, 90 companies as of March 2025), the Jiangxi Economic Cooperation Zone and the CNBM industrial park [1].
• Trade: China-Zambia trade reached US$6.68 billion in 2024. China exports machinery, electrical goods, vehicles, footwear and steel, and imports copper, ores and timber [1].
• Farming: projects include the Zhongken farm, the China-Zambia Friendship Farm and China-Africa Cotton [1].

Visas and work permits

Under Statutory Instrument No. 69 of 2022 Zambia waived visas for China and other countries, and China is on the immigration department’s visa-exempt list [2][3]. Air arrivals need a return ticket, and the immigration officer at the border makes the final decision on entry [2][3]. Working requires an Employment Permit applied for by the employer in advance; investors need an Investor’s Permit (personal investment of at least US$250,000 for a new business); business visitors staying more than 30 days need a Temporary Employment Permit [4]. For documents, the official fees in force since 2024 and processing times, see Zambia visa and work permits.

Business and investment

Foreigners can own 100% of a company and most sectors are open. Exceptions include small-scale and artisanal mining rights, which go only to Zambians, and land, which foreigners can only lease (99-year leases) [1]. Companies register with PACRA, investment licences come from the Zambia Development Agency, the standard corporate tax rate is 30% and VAT is 16% [1]. For registration steps, economic zone incentives, bank accounts and labour rules, see registering a company in Zambia.

Safety

Zambia has had no terrorist attacks and is politically stable, but robbery and theft are common [1]. In 2025 the embassy reported several armed robberies of Chinese companies, farms and homes in which Chinese nationals were killed; in the May 2025 Kitwe farm case, the farm’s own guard colluded with the robbers [7]. The embassy advises avoiding large cash transactions and hiring licensed security staff [7]. For cases and precautions see Zambia safety.

Cost of living

Zambia has little manufacturing and imports many consumer goods from South Africa and other neighbours, so prices are relatively high. Food inflation was 18.6% in December 2024 [1]. Selected prices from the Zambia Statistics Agency, December 2024 (kwacha) [1]:

ZDA figures from 2019: shop space in the main cities rents for US$12-40 per square metre per month, housing about US$12 and warehouses US$5-15 [1]. The severe 2024 drought caused widespread power cuts, so factories and shops should have backup power [1]. Credit cards are accepted mainly in large hotels and malls [1].

Utilities and fuel

ZESCO supplies power to most of the country outside the Copperbelt. Because of drought-related shortages, an emergency tariff applied from 1 November 2024: K3.19 per kWh for commercial use above 500 kWh a month and K6.39 per kWh for households above 500 kWh [1]. Fuel prices are set monthly by the Energy Regulation Board; petrol ranged from K28.98 to K35.56 per litre in 2024 [1].

Getting there and around

Zambia has four international airports, chiefly Kenneth Kaunda International in Lusaka, Livingstone and Ndola [1]. Travel from China usually involves a connection; MOFCOM says about 70% of Zambia’s international transfer traffic goes through Johannesburg, and there are daily direct flights to Johannesburg, Harare, Dar es Salaam, Lilongwe, Windhoek and Maputo [1]. Roads are poor and accident rates high, especially in rural areas and the rainy season [1].

Health

Malaria is present almost everywhere and peaks in the rainy season, when cholera outbreaks are also common; MOFCOM recommends a cholera vaccine before coming [1]. Zambia has only about 700 doctors and public healthcare is limited. Chinese-run private hospitals include Zambia International Hospital and Fortune Hospital, and the Chinese medical team works in public hospitals in Lusaka, Ndola and Livingstone [1].

Holidays and working week

Zambia has 16 public holidays a year and a Monday-to-Friday working week. Key holidays include New Year, Easter, Labour Day (1 May), Africa Freedom Day (25 May), Heroes and Unity Days (early July), Independence Day (24 October) and Christmas [1]. English is the official language and the language of business [1].

Chinese community

Key organisations include the China Chamber of Commerce in Zambia (founded 2005, 73 member companies as of April 2024), the Zambia Overseas Chinese General Association, the Zambia Chinese General Chamber of Commerce and many hometown associations [1]. Chinese-run private hospitals include Zambia International Hospital and Fortune Hospital, and Bank of China (Zambia) has branches in Lusaka and Kitwe [1]. Full details are on the Chinese community in Zambia.

Embassy and emergency numbers

For what consular protection covers, see consular protection for Chinese citizens, and for general advice on living in Africa see Africa essentials. For neighbouring countries, see the Southern Africa guide.

References

1. Country Guide for Outbound Investment and Cooperation: Zambia (2025 edition) (MOFCOM, 2025)
2. Nationals Who Do Not Require Visa (Zambia Department of Immigration, 2025)
3. Visa Requirement Waiver for Selected Countries takes effect (Zambia Department of Immigration, 2022)
4. Immigration Permit Types (Zambia Department of Immigration, 2025)
5. Contact details of the Chinese Embassy in Zambia (Chinese Embassy in Zambia, 2024)
6. Consular protection: contact details (Chinese Embassy in Zambia, 2025)
7. Notice on the killing of a Chinese national (Kitwe farm robbery) (Chinese Embassy in Zambia, 2025)