Do Chinese citizens need a visa for Zambia? Not at present. According to the list of visa-exempt nationalities published by Zambia’s Department of Immigration, Chinese citizens can enter Zambia without applying for a visa or paying a visa fee. The legal basis is Statutory Instrument No. 69 of 2022, issued in November 2022, which added China to the list of countries exempt from visa application requirements and visa fees. For anyone wanting to scout the country first, that is a rare convenience in Africa.
Visa-free entry does not mean you can live or work in Zambia, though. Visa-free stays are capped, and work, study, investment and accompanying family all need separate permits, whose fees are on the high side for Africa. This guide covers Zambia’s entry rules and the requirements, documents, fees and procedures for each permit, from the point of view of a PRC citizen. Policies can change at any time, so check the latest information from Zambia’s Department of Immigration and the Chinese Embassy in Zambia before you travel.
Do Chinese citizens need a visa for Zambia?
No. China appears on the Department of Immigration’s list of nationalities that do not require a visa, and in the Fifth Schedule of Statutory Instrument No. 69 of 2022; a reminder issued by the Chinese Embassy in Zambia on 13 October 2026 also refers to “Zambia’s current visa-free policy for China”. The visa-exempt list itself requires a valid return ticket for air arrivals and enough funds for overland or water arrivals. The Department’s visa-on-arrival guidance adds passport, blank-page and host requirements, and visa-exempt travellers are best advised to meet them too:
- Your passport must be valid for at least six months from the date of entry and have at least three blank pages.
- Air arrivals need a valid return ticket; overland or water arrivals need enough funds for their stay and departure.
- You should be able to give details of your host and a physical address in Zambia.
- Ordinary visitors, business visitors and tourists get up to 90 days free of charge in any 12-month period, but the officer may not grant them all at once; you can apply free of charge at the nearest immigration office to extend.
Changes since 2025: from 1 January 2025 Zambia waived visas for 53 more countries and territories. China was already exempt and is not affected. Note too that the waiver covers Zambia only: if you plan to cross to the Zimbabwean side of Victoria Falls, check Zimbabwe’s visa rules separately.
Visa and permit types at a glance
| Type | For | Duration | Fee | Where to apply |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Visa-free entry | Tourism, business visits, visiting family and friends | Up to 90 days in 12 months | Free | At the border |
| Visiting permit | Ordinary visitors staying more than 90 days | 3 months at a time, max. 9 months in 12 | K6,667 | Immigration office |
| Temporary employment permit | Business visitors staying more than 30 days | Max. 6 months in 12 | K18,000 | Immigration office |
| Employment permit | Employment of more than 6 months | Extendable, up to 10 years | K24,000 | e-services platform |
| Investor’s permit | People over 18 investing in or joining a business | As approved | K16,000 | e-services platform |
| Study permit | Students at Zambian institutions | Length of course | K9,000 | e-services platform |
| Residence permit (permanent) | Those meeting residence conditions, or retirees | Permanent | K20,000 | e-services platform |
These are the statutory private-sector fees published by the Department of Immigration; card payments carry an extra charge of about 1%. Lower fees apply to staff of government bodies, NGOs and non-profits, such as K10,667 for an employment permit and K4,667 for a study permit. For reference, nationals who do need a visa pay US$50 for a single-entry visa, US$80 for double or multiple entry and US$25 for transit.
How visa-free entry works
- Check your passportAt least six months’ validity and three blank pages; renew it in China first if needed.
- Book return flightsAir arrivals must hold a return or onward ticket.
- Prepare host detailsHotel booking or your host’s name, phone number and address; bring an invitation for business visits.
- Get your entry stampThe officer decides how many days you are granted; check the date in your passport before leaving the counter.
- Leave on time or extendTo stay longer, apply at the nearest immigration office before your stay ends; beyond 90 days you need a visiting permit.
If your passport is about to expire or is short of blank pages, renew it in China first – see our guide to getting and renewing a Chinese passport (read it here).
Document checklist
| Situation | Main documents |
|---|---|
| Visa-free tourism | Passport; return ticket; hotel booking; proof of funds for your stay |
| Visa-free business visit | Passport; return ticket; invitation from the Zambian company; letter from your Chinese company; copy of the Zambian company’s certificate of incorporation |
| Employment permit | Application form; passport valid for 6+ months with at least 3 blank pages; two recent photos; police clearance from your country of residence; certified academic and professional certificates; job offer and cover letter from the Zambian employer |
| Study permit | Passport, photos, cover letter and acceptance letter from the school, identity documents of the host, parent or guardian |
Employment permits and similar applications usually require a police clearance certificate issued by Chinese public security authorities; see our guide to getting one (read it here). Files uploaded online must be in JPEG, PNG or TIFF format.
Fees and processing times
- Visa-free entry: free, and extensions are free too.
- Permit issue fees: employment permit K24,000, temporary employment permit K18,000, investor’s permit K16,000, residence permit K20,000, study permit K9,000, visiting permit K6,667, spouse permit K3,000 (Department of Immigration fees page, checked October 2026).
- Payment: by card online through the e-services platform, or by mobile money where offered.
- Processing time: the Department of Immigration does not publish a standard timeframe. G-P (an employer-services firm) says employment permits usually take four to six weeks and short-term work permits one to two weeks; treat this as a rough guide.
Zambia regulates immigration consultants through a registration scheme listed on the Department of Immigration website. If you use an agent, check that they are registered, never hand your original passport to an unknown middleman, and ignore claims that you can “work on a visa waiver” or “come first and sort out the permit later”.
Work and long-term residence
Working in Zambia for more than six months requires an employment permit, which can be extended up to a maximum of 10 years. According to G-P, it should be applied for before you travel, and you can start work only once it is issued. Business visitors on shorter trips who stay longer than 30 days apply for a temporary employment permit, valid for up to six months in any 12.
The employer normally has to explain why the job needs a foreign national. Academic and professional certificates must be certified, and Chinese documents usually need notarisation followed by an apostille or legalisation – see our guide to apostilles and legalisation (read it here). For contracts, social security and income tax when working in Zambia, see our guide to working in Zambia (read it here).
You cannot work during a visa-free stay. On 13 October 2026 the Chinese Embassy in Zambia specifically warned that Zambia’s visa-free policy for China does not cover work, that claims of a “three-month visa-free trial” or “switching a tourist visa to a work visa” are false, and that employers must obtain work permits in advance. People who enter as “business visitors” and then go straight to work on a site or in a shop risk fines, detention and deportation, as well as problems re-entering later.
Student visas
Studying full or part time at a Zambian institution requires a study permit, with a standard private-sector issue fee of K9,000. Applications generally need a cover letter and acceptance letter from the school and identity documents for the host, parent or guardian. For minors, guardianship arrangements also need to be planned.
Family reunification
Spouses and children of employment or investor’s permit holders can accompany them as dependants; Immigration issues each dependant an individual digital permit card (a Dependant’s Permit). Spouses of Zambian citizens, established residents with a certificate of status or residence permit holders can apply for a spouse permit, and after five years on it can apply for a residence permit. Chinese marriage and birth certificates need notarisation and legalisation.
Investment, digital nomad or retirement visas
Zambia has no “golden visa” or digital nomad visa for foreigners, but there are two related routes:
- Investor’s permit: for foreigners over 18 who intend to invest in or set up a business in Zambia, have already done so, or are joining an existing company. After three years you can apply for a residence permit. The Department of Immigration’s website does not publish a minimum investment, so confirm with official bodies such as the Zambia Development Agency before investing.
- Retirement: foreigners who intend to retire in Zambia and can prove sufficient funds (a pension, irrevocable annuity or retirement account) can apply directly for a residence permit.
Where to apply in China
Because Chinese citizens can visit visa-free, tourists and business visitors do not need a visa from China. Work, study and investment permits are applied for online through the e-services platform linked from the Department of Immigration’s official website (zambiaimmigration.gov.zm): register an account, fill in the form, upload documents, pay by card, then track progress and download the approval letter from your account. Zambia also has an embassy in Beijing, which can advise on document legalisation.
Common reasons for refused entry or permits
- No return ticket, or no clear address and host in Zambia.
- The 90-day visa-free allowance for the past 12 months has already been used.
- A record of overstaying or working without a permit.
- Incomplete permit applications: missing police clearance, uncertified degrees, incomplete employer documents.
- Applying for the wrong permit, such as an investor’s permit when you are actually employed by someone else.
From visa to permanent residence and citizenship
In Zambia, permanent residence comes through the residence permit. Under the Department of Immigration’s rules you can apply after 10 years on a continuous employment permit, 3 years on an investor’s permit or 5 years on a spouse permit; dependants aged 21 or under of residence permit holders and retirees with secure income also qualify. For renewals, dependants and permanent residence, see our guide to Zambian residence permits (read it here).
If you are thinking of naturalising after settling long term, first understand China’s rules: China does not recognise dual nationality, and acquiring a foreign nationality means automatically losing Chinese nationality. See our guide to dual nationality and China’s Nationality Law (read it here). For life, health care and the Chinese community in Zambia, see our complete Zambia guide (read it here).
FAQ
Do Chinese citizens need a visa for Zambia?
Not at present. China is on Zambia’s visa-exempt list, allowing up to 90 days free of charge in any 12 months. You need a return ticket and a passport valid for at least six months.
How long can I stay visa-free, and can I extend?
Up to 90 days in any 12 months, though the officer may grant only part of that on entry. You can apply free of charge at the nearest immigration office to extend; beyond 90 days you need a visiting permit.
How do I get a Zambian work permit?
With your employer’s support, apply for an employment permit through the Department of Immigration’s e-services platform. The issue fee is K24,000, and you need a police clearance certificate, certified degree certificates and employment documents. You cannot start work until it is approved.
What do I need for a trip to Zambia?
A passport valid for six months or more, a return ticket, hotel bookings and enough money for your stay. If you plan to cross into Zimbabwe or Botswana, check their visa rules separately.
Sources
- Nationals Who Do Not Require Visa, Zambia Department of Immigration (accessed October 2026)
- Immigration and Deportation (General) (Amendment) (No. 2) Regulations, 2022 (SI No. 69 of 2022) (accessed October 2026)
- For Visitors, Zambia Department of Immigration (accessed October 2026)
- Visa Requirements by Purpose of Visit, Zambia Department of Immigration (accessed October 2026)
- For Residents (permit types), Zambia Department of Immigration (accessed October 2026)
- Fees, Zambia Department of Immigration (accessed October 2026)
- Zambia waives visa requirements for nationals of 53 countries to boost tourism, Zambia Department of Immigration (25 Dec 2024) (accessed October 2026)
- Zambia: Visas & Permits, G-P Globalpedia (employer-of-record firm; backup source) (accessed October 2026)
- 驻赞比亚使馆提醒赴赞中国公民切勿非法务工，中国驻赞比亚大使馆（2026年10月13日） (accessed October 2026)
