Zimbabwe Entry Requirements

Zimbabwe Entry Requirements comprise all the rules that one who wishes to travel to Zimbabwe must meet to cross the country's borders without any issues.

These requirements, i.a., determine documents that a traveler must prepare or obtain prior to travel, including a passport and visa.

If you are traveling to Zimbabwe, do remember to check your passport validity - it must remain valid for at least 6 months from the date of your intended arrival and have three blank pages.

Whether you need to obtain a visa for Zimbabwe depends on a few factors, including your nationality, travel purpose, as well as duration of stay in Zimbabwe. The Zimbabwe's visa policy specifies which countries' nationals may enter Zimbabwe visa-free and who is permitted to visit the country only when holding an appropriate valid visa.

At the moment, citizens of around 40 different countries are permitted to visit Zimbabwe without a visa as long as their stay will not exceed 90 days. They just need to present a valid passport at a given border entry point to enter Zimbabwe. Most of the visa-exempt travelers hold passports of other Southern and Central African countries and territories.

Additonally, there are over 200 countries in the world, whose citizens need to obtain a visa for Zimbabwe regardless of their intended travel purpose or planned duration of stay.

Zimbabwe also facilitates the visa application for travelers from nearly 170 different countries who are eligible for an e-Visa application. These applicant simply need to submit a short online form, pay the processing fee and receive the approved visa via email. The Zimbabwe electronic visa covers tourism, transit and business purposes. Depending on the selected type of a visa, you will be allowed to stay in Zimbabwe for different periods of time.

For any other long-term purposes, including studying or working, all travelers, including those eligible for e-Visa, will need to apply for a relevant visa or permit from the nearest Zimbabwean Embassy.

Currently, the Government of Zimbabwe does not ban any foreign nationals from entering the country.

There is also KAZA UNIVISA for Zimbabwe and Zambia issued on arrival at certain border entry points to particular travelers.

Amid the still-ongoing Covid-19 pandemic, the Zimbabwean authorities are still maintaining some covid-related restrictions. As for now, all passengers visiting Zimbabwe need to submit one of the following;

• proof of vaccination against Covid-19;
• negative PCR test report issued within 48 hours prior to departure flight. 

There are no separate rules for those who recovered from coronavirus recently. They are subject to the same entry protocol according to their vaccination status. All travelers are also required to complete track and trace information upon arriving in the country.

Important note: If you consider traveling abroad, you must remember that Covid-19 restrictions may change at short notice. Some additional safety measures may be implemented by the country of your destination, even during your stay.

Who can enter Zimbabwe?

Zimbabwe welcomes travelers of all nationalities - vaccinated as well as non-vaccinated against Covid-19.

Documents check-list for entering Zimbabwe

• Zimbabwe visa
• negative PCR test result
• Covid-19 vaccination proof
• third-party liability insurance (mandatory)
• travel insurance (optional)

Testing, vaccination, and quarantine requirements

Testing Requirements

Non-vaccinated travelers must provide a negative test result performed no earlier than 48 hours before the intended trip to Zimbabwe. Fully vaccinated travelers can either present a negative test taken 48 hours prior to departure time or a valid vaccination certificate.

Vaccination Requirements

Zimbabwe recognizes all Covid-19 vaccine manufactures approved by the World Health Organization. It must have elapsed at least 14 days from receiving the last vaccination dose to be considered as fully vaccinated.

Quarantine Requirements

Currently, there is no quarantine requirement for arrivals to Zimbabwe. Nevertheless, returning residents who will not present a valid vaccination certificate or negative test result may be subject to on-arrival testing and a 10-day quarantine at their own expense.

Traveling from Zimbabwe

In order to depart Zimbabwe, you may need to provide a valid negative Covid-19 PCR test issued by an approved laboratory. Contact your airline or travel provider for more precise information on requirements that you need to meet to exit Zimbabwe.

Traveling to Zimbabwe

Before traveling to Zimbabwe, make sure to check carefully the guidelines of your airline. Sometimes it may be necessary to show a negative coronavirus test evidence to board the flight to Zimbabwe even if you are fully vaccinated and hold the vaccination proof.

Moreover, please be aware that airlines may change or even cancel flights at short notice. It is possible to book charter flights operating to Zimbabwe through a private company.

Monitor all the changes in international travel requirements and follow travel advice to ensure smooth access to the country.

Entry Rules for Children

Children below 5 years of age

Children younger than 5 do not need to provide either a vaccination certificate or a negative Covid-19 test result.

Children between 5 and 17

Children in this age range must follow the same rules which are applicable to fully vaccinated travelers entering Zimbabwe.

Transit through Zimbabwe

Covid documents

To transit through Zimbabwe, travelers must possess either a vaccination certificate confirming that they have received two doses of one or more the WHO-approved Covid-19 vaccinations or a valid negative result of a PCR test issued no earlier than 48 hours before departure time.

Please also remember to check directly with your airline whether they have implemented their additional transit requirements.

Transit visa

Most countries' citizens are also permitted to transit Zimbabwe visa-free if they do not leave an International Airport and they transit stop will not exceed 6 hours on the same calendar day. Bangladeshi and Pakistani passport holders, however, must obtain a transit visa for Zimbabwe no matter the planned duration of their tranist stop.

Zimbabwe visa requirements

Electronic Visa

The Zimbabwe e-Visa system was introduced to speed up the process of getting a necessary visa for short-term stays. The system removed the necessity to spend long hours in embassy lines or at immigration offices on arrival in the country.

An electronic visa for Zimbabwe is issued either as a single-entry or double-entry visa. Additionally, there is KAZA UNIVISA allowing entry not only to Zimbabwe but also Zambia. A holder of Zimbabwe e-Visa may visit the country for tourism, tranist, or business purposes. Depending on the selected visa type, the permitted duration of their stay may vary.

The application for a Zimbabwean online visa will take only a couple of minutes, and you will receive the approved visa delivered to your email inbox. Check if your nationality is listed among Zimbabwe e-Visa eligible countries and obtain your visa in 3 business days before the planned journey.

Regular Visa

There are around 45 different countries whose nationals must get a visa from a Zimbabwean embassy or consulate regardless of their travel reason or desired duration of stay in Zimbabwe. A regular visa for Zimbabwe is issued for various periods depending on the traveler's nationality and their traveling motives.

Individuals must remember to apply for an embassy or consular visa well in advance since the application process can take even several weeks. Moreover, in most cases it will be necessary to provide some supporting documents. These documents vary according to the particular visa type you are applying for. Contact the nearest embassy for more information on how to obtain a visa covering your travel plans.

The following countries must obtain a regular visa for Zimbabwe:

• Aland Islands
• American Samoa
• Anguilla
• Antarctica
• Aruba
• Bermuda
• Bonaire
• British Indian Ocean Territory
• British Virgin Islands
• Cayman Islands
• Christmas Island
• Cocos Islands
• Cook Islands
• Curacao
• Falkland Islands
• Faroe Islands
• French Guiana
• French Polynesia
• Gibraltar
• Greenland
• Guadeloupe
• Guam
• Guernsey
• Isle of Man
• Jersey
• Lebanon
• Martinique
• Mayotte
• Montserrat
• New Caledonia
• Niue
• Norfolk Island
• Northern Mariana Islands
• Pitcairn Islands
• Puerto Rico
• Reunion
• Saint Barthelemy
• Saint Helena
• Saint Martin
• Saint Pierre and Miquelon
• Sint Maarten
• South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands
• Svalbard and Jan Mayen
• Tokelau
• Turks and Caicos Islands
• United States Virgin Islands
• Wallis and Futuna

Visa on Arrival

Zimbabwe offers on arrival visa facility at certain border checkpoints across the country. Visa on arrival is issued for short stays covering tourism or business purposes. Its holder is allowed to stay in the country up to 3 months with a tourist visa, and up to 30 days with a business visitor permit.

To obtain a VoA, eligible travelers need to go directly to an immigration checkpoint in Zimbabwe and complete the visa application procedures, including providing passport data, personal details, as well as travel information. It may also be necessary to provide some supporting documents. Moreover, every traveler must cover a visa on arrival fee to successfully complete the application process.

Nationals of the countries eligible for e-Visa, are highly recommended to obtain a visa online in advance as it will help them save plenty of time that they would have to spend awaiting at the Zimbabwean border.

The following countries are eligible for Zimbabwe Visa on Arrival:

• Albania
• Algeria
• Andorra
• Argentina
• Armenia
• Australia
• Austria
• Azerbaijan
• Bahrain
• Belarus
• Belgium
• Bhutan
• Bosnia and Herzegovina
• Brazil
• Brunei Darussalam
• Bulgaria
• Burundi
• Canada
• Cape Verde
• Chile
• Comoros
• Costa Rica
• Croatia
• Cuba
• Czech Republic
• Denmark
• Dominican Republic
• Ecuador
• Egypt
• El Salvador
• Equatorial Guinea
• Estonia
• Ethiopia
• Federated States of Micronesia
• Finland
• France
• Georgia
• Germany
• Greece
• Guatemala
• Guyana
• Haiti
• Honduras
• Hungary
• Iceland
• India
• Indonesia
• Iran
• Ireland
• Israel
• Italy
• Japan
• Kazakhstan
• Kuwait
• Kyrgyzstan
• Latvia
• Liechtenstein
• Lithuania
• Luxembourg
• Macau
• Macedonia
• Marshall Islands
• Moldova
• Monaco
• Netherlands
• New Zealand
• Nicaragua
• Norway
• Palau
• Palestinian Territory
• Panama
• Papua New Guinea
• Paraguay
• Peru
• Poland
• Portugal
• Romania
• Russian Federation
• Rwanda
• San Marino
• Sao Tome and Principe
• Senegal
• Serbia
• Slovakia
• Slovenia
• South Korea
• Spain
• Suriname
• Sweden
• Switzerland
• Tajikistan
• Turkey
• Turkmenistan
• Ukraine
• United Arab Emirates
• United States
• Uruguay
• Uzbekistan
• Vatican City
• Venezuela

Visa-exemption

Currently, there are approximately 40 different countries whose nationals are exempt from the requirement to hold a visa for Zimbabwe for stays lasting maximally 90 days. The purpose of their visit must be tourism or business-related.

Most of these visa-exempt travelers are citizens of other South and Central Africa countries. Moreover, some Southeast Asian nations, as well as Caribbean islands, are also allowed to visit Zimbabwe visa-free. These travelers just need to hold a valid passport to enter Zimbabwe without a visa.

The full list of visa-exempt countries comprises the following:

• Angola
• Antigua and Barbuda
• Bahamas
• Barbados
• Belize
• Botswana
• Democratic Republic of the Congo
• Fiji
• Ghana
• Grenada
• Hong Kong
• Jamaica
• Kenya
• Kiribati
• Lesotho
• Madagascar
• Malawi
• Malaysia
• Maldives
• Malta
• Mauritius
• Mozambique
• Namibia
• Nauru
• Republic of Cyprus
• Saint Kitts and Nevis
• Saint Lucia
• Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
• Samoa
• Seychelles
• Singapore
• Solomon Islands
• South Africa
• Swaziland
• Tanzania
• Tonga
• Trinidad and Tobago
• Tuvalu
• Uganda
• United Kingdom
• Vanuatu
• Zambia

Passenger Locator Form

The Government of Zimbabwe did not introduce the requirement to complete the health declaration before arrival in the country. However, all travelers need to submit track and trace information on arrival in Zimbabwe.

Travel Insurance

It is recommended to purchase personal insurance from reputable international companies. Third-party liability insurance is obligatory. A short-term policy can be purchased at the border.

Since there are outbreaks of cholera across the country, malaria in lower-lying areas (Kariba, Victoria Falls), and the incidence of AIDS is very high, all travelers should obtain comprehensive travel insurance policy covering overseas medical costs including Covid-19 treatment.