Chinese ordinary passport holders do not currently need a visa for short visits to Zambia. Zambia waived visas for China and several other countries from November 2022, and the Department of Immigration’s list of visa-exempt nationalities includes China [1][2]. The waiver covers visits only. Working in Zambia requires an Employment Permit issued in advance; foreigners who invest or run a business need an Investor’s Permit; and business visitors staying more than 30 days need a Temporary Employment Permit [3].
This page covers entry rules, the main permit types, documents, official fees (in force since August 2024), processing times and common problems. Rules change often, so check the Department of Immigration website and its eServices portal before you apply.
Entry: visa-free for Chinese passports
On 2 November 2022 Zambia’s Minister of Home Affairs and Internal Security announced a visa waiver for the United Kingdom, the United States, Canada, Norway, Australia, New Zealand, China, Japan, South Korea, the Gulf states and the European Union, under Statutory Instrument No. 69 of 2022 [2]. As of 2025, China is still on the immigration department’s list of nationals who do not require a visa [1]. A further waiver for 53 other countries took effect on 1 January 2025; it does not concern China [1].
Visa-free does not mean guaranteed entry. The minister stated that the final decision rests with the immigration officer at the port of entry [2]. Visa-exempt travellers must:
- hold a valid return air ticket if arriving by air;
- have enough funds for their stay and departure if arriving by land or water [1].
Travellers transiting by air who stay inside the airport do not need a transit visa [5]. The length of stay you get is the period endorsed in your passport at the border, so check the stamp on arrival.
What a visa-free visit allows
Visa-free entry suits market research, short business meetings, family visits and tourism. You may not work, run a shop or draw a salary on visitor status. The immigration department issues separate permits for longer stays [3]:
| Situation | Permit needed | Validity rule |
|---|---|---|
| Business visitor staying more than 30 days | Temporary Employment Permit | Up to 6 months in any 12 months |
| Ordinary visitor staying more than 90 days | Visiting Permit | 3 months at a time, up to 9 months in 12 months |
| Employment for more than 6 months | Employment Permit | Extendable up to 10 years |
| Setting up or investing in a business | Investor’s Permit | As approved |
Employment Permit (work permit)
The Employment Permit is issued to foreigners who come to Zambia to work for more than six months. It can be extended up to a maximum of 10 years [3]. It is the standard permit for staff posted by Chinese companies.
Key rules
- You cannot apply yourself. Only an employer, a practising lawyer or a registered immigration consultant can apply on your behalf [3].
- Applicants should stay outside Zambia until the permit is approved [3]. The MOFCOM guide also says the work permit should be obtained before entry [6].
- Holders may not do anything for gain beyond what the permit states, may not buy land and may not study at a Zambian institution [3].
- Under the Employment Code Act, employers may hire foreigners only for posts on the Critical Skills list. They must show no suitably qualified Zambian is available, and should assign a Zambian understudy with a training and succession plan [6].
Documents for a new application
- Covering letter from the employer to the Director General of Immigration;
- Employment contract or letter of offer;
- Police clearance from the country of residence;
- CV;
- Registration certificate from the relevant Zambian professional body, where required;
- Certified copies of academic and professional qualifications;
- Copies of marriage and birth certificates, where available;
- Certified copy of a valid passport (bio page and last Zambian endorsement);
- Certified share capital certificate, list of directors and copy of the certificate of incorporation;
- Succession plan showing how the expatriate will transfer skills to a Zambian worker;
- For construction, mining, ICT, engineering and other project posts: a letter naming the project and a copy of the award letter showing completion date and contract value;
- Original A5 job adverts from two leading newspapers (name and date visible) and the outcome of the recruitment;
- One recent passport photo;
- Proof of payment [3].
Police clearance and degree certificates usually have to be obtained and authenticated in China in advance. Confirm the authentication requirements with the immigration department or your lawyer. For labour rules on hiring foreigners, see the labour section of our Zambia business guide.
Investor’s Permit
The Investor’s Permit is issued to foreigners aged over 18 who intend to set up or invest in a business in Zambia, or join an existing company [3]. The immigration department requires proof of personal investment of at least US$250,000 for a new business or US$150,000 when joining an existing company, shown by bank statement, money transfer or ZRA Form CE20 listing goods and equipment [3]. The MOFCOM guide adds that an investor of at least US$250,000 is entitled to an investor permit plus work permits for up to five expatriate staff, and that investors above US$10 million can negotiate the number of expatriates with the government [6].
A new application needs a covering letter to the Director General, certificate of incorporation, certificate of share capital (where required), certificate of minimum capital, ZDA investment licence (where available), list of directors, proof of personal investment, proof of ownership or lease of premises in Zambia, a certified passport copy, two recent photos and proof of payment [3]. Renewal also needs tax receipts or a valid tax clearance certificate, an audit report from a firm registered with the Zambia Institute of Chartered Accountants (ZICA) and a current bank statement, and immigration will carry out an inspection after you apply [3]. For company registration and the investment licence, see registering a company in Zambia.
Temporary Employment Permit (short business stays)
This permit is issued to business visitors staying longer than 30 days, for no more than six months in any 12-month period [3]. It is common for equipment installation, technical support and project visits. The paperwork is short: a covering letter from the institution doing business with the applicant, application Form 25, a certified passport copy, a recent photo and proof of payment [3].
Family members
- Holders of an Employment or Investor’s Permit can apply for a variation to add a spouse and children to their permit [3].
- Parents of Employment or Investor’s Permit holders, and dependants over 18, may get a Temporary Permit, but only when directed by the immigration department [3].
- A Spouse Permit is only for spouses of Zambian citizens, established residents and Residence Permit holders [3].
- Children studying in Zambia for more than three months need a Study Permit [3].
For hospitals, associations and other family matters, see the Chinese community in Zambia.
Official fees (from 19 August 2024)
According to the immigration department’s 2024 public notice, Statutory Instrument No. 25 of 2024 raised the fee unit from 30 to 40 ngwee, and the new fees apply from 19 August 2024 [4]. Main private-sector fees (in kwacha):
| Permit | Issuance | Renewal |
|---|---|---|
| Employment Permit | 24,000 | 28,000 |
| Investor’s Permit | 16,000 | 20,000 |
| Temporary Employment Permit | 18,000 | 21,000 |
| Residence Permit | 20,000 | — |
| Spouse Permit | 3,000 | 6,000 |
| Study Permit | 9,000 | 12,000 |
| Visiting Permit | 6,667 | 10,000 |
Other common items: adding a spouse or child to an Employment Permit costs 4,000 and a change of employer 12,000; adding a spouse or child to an Investor’s Permit costs 8,000; a change of passport costs 2,000 [4]. Government bodies and non-profits pay a lower schedule [4]. The fee table in the 2025 MOFCOM guide shows lower figures, which appear to predate the 2024 increase; follow the immigration notice [4][6].
The MOFCOM guide says the immigration department does not take cash or cheques from non-commercial banks. You pay at a bank with a payment slip or by mobile money, and Bank of China (Zambia) can process payments [6].
How to apply
- Register an account on the immigration eServices portal (an agent can do this) and choose the permit [6].
- Fill in the form, upload documents (png, jpg or tiff) and pay online [6].
- Track progress and receive notices from the department [6].
- Once approved, collect the permit in person and sign for it. First-time applicants who need a visa must enter on a visa to collect it (Chinese passports are currently visa-exempt) [3][6].
Processing time: the MOFCOM guide says the department should reply within two weeks, but in practice it usually takes two to six months and sometimes more than a year [6]. Work permits are usually valid for two or three years and can be renewed for the same period. Since February 2020 permits are issued as digital cards [6].
Long-term residence
A Residence Permit gives permanent residence. Qualifying routes include holding an Employment Permit continuously for more than 10 years, an Investor’s Permit for more than three years, a Spouse Permit for at least five years, or retiring in Zambia with sufficient pension funds [3]. The permit lapses if the holder is away for more than six months without notifying the department in writing, or for more than 12 months [3]. For general advice on living in Africa, see Africa essentials.
Common problems
Working or trading on a visit
Working or running a business on visitor status breaks immigration law. If an illegal immigrant is found on business premises, the person in control of the premises is presumed to employ them unless there is evidence to the contrary [3]. Shop owners are responsible for checking their foreign staff’s status.
When a foreign employee leaves
When a foreign employee resigns or is dismissed, the employer must return the Employment Permit to the department within one month and pay for repatriation. Failing to do so is an offence with a fine of up to 200,000 penalty units. Employers must also keep records of foreign employees for two years [3].
Police clearance
New Employment Permit applications need a police clearance from the country of residence [3]. Getting and authenticating one in China takes time, so start early. For passport renewal abroad, see renewing a Chinese passport in Africa.
Where to apply and ask
The Department of Immigration sits under the Ministry of Home Affairs, with headquarters in Lusaka and offices in all 10 provinces [6]. Online applications go through the immigration eServices portal. The consular section of the Chinese Embassy in Zambia handles Chinese passports, travel documents and notarisation, not Zambian visas or permits; tel. 00260-211-256028 during office hours [7]. For living in Zambia see the Zambia guide for Chinese residents, and for crime and security see Zambia safety.
References
- Nationals Who Do Not Require Visa (Zambia Department of Immigration, 2025)
- Visa Requirement Waiver for Selected Countries takes effect (Zambia Department of Immigration, 2022)
- Immigration Permit Types (Zambia Department of Immigration, 2025)
- Public Notice: Revised Fees for Immigration Services (Zambia Department of Immigration, 2024)
- Visa Requirements by Purpose of Visit (Zambia Department of Immigration, 2025)
- Country Guide for Outbound Investment and Cooperation: Zambia (2025 edition) (MOFCOM, 2025)
- Contact details of the Chinese Embassy in Zambia (Chinese Embassy in Zambia, 2024)