Entry rules in response to coronavirus (COVID-19)

Entry to Zambia

Zambia’s borders are open, but under health screening.

Tourist and business visit visas are available in advance and on arrival in Zambia.

All travellers to Zambia must produce evidence of a PCR COVID-19 negative test taken in the 72 hours prior to departure from the country of origin. Travellers to Zambia are encouraged to be fully vaccinated but this is not mandatory.

You should not use the NHS testing service to get a test in order to facilitate your travel to another country. You should arrange to take a private test.

All airports are open to flights, though availability of international flights remains limited. Please check before booking.

Testing/screening on arrival

The following screening measures are now in place at Zambian Points of Entry (PoE).

• Port Health officers will conduct general observations of passengers to detect those with signs of illness.
• Port Health officers to collect and review health declaration forms, noting country of origin.
• Port Health officers to review the SARS-CoV-2 PCR negative certificates being presented by travellers to determine authenticity and validity.
• All passengers to undergo thermo-scanning and temperature to be recorded on the health declaration forms.

Anyone entering Zambia with a body temperature equal to, or above 38.0 C will be tested for COVID-19 on arrival, as will anyone with COVID-19 related symptoms. Any other arrivals may be randomly selected for testing. These tests are in addition to the requirement for visitors to show proof that they have tested negative for COVID-19 in the 72 hours prior to departure from the country of origin.

Data collection

Traveller Health Questionnaires are provided on incoming flights for passengers to complete before disembarkation. These should be completed in English and handed in on arrival.

Quarantine requirements

If your body temperature is equal to, or above 38.0, or you have a COVID-19 related symptom (a cough, shortness of breath, a headache, loss of taste or smell, or a sore throat), you will be tested and taken to either your home or a government facility for treatment and quarantine until your tests results are known.

Exit requirements

From 1 December 2021, travellers leaving Zambia will be required to use a certified Ministry of Health COVID-19 testing laboratory and present a Ministry of Health approved negative COVID-19 PCR travel certificate. All passengers arriving in, departing from or transiting Zambia should validate their COVID-19 RT PCR test via the African Union Trusted Travel or UNDP Global Haven systems (you will need to register an account on one of these sites). These systems will generate a digital Trusted Travel reference code for your test, which should be presented upon request.

Most testing centres will provide a travel certificate if requested or travellers must take their negative test result to UTH Hospital, the Zambia National Health Public Institute, the District Health Office or the Public Health Office and pay a 200 Kwacha fee. COVID-19 tests must have been taken in Zambia.

Holders of tests taken outside Zambia are not exempt from this requirement, even if the test was taken within the previous 14 days.

There are no direct flights between Zambia and the UK.

Check FCDO travel advice for the latest guidance on transiting through third countries.