Zambia visa for US citizens: How to apply and requirements

Zambia is a country in Africa whose tourism industry keeps growing and growing. The things to do in Zambia include some of the most popular attractions throughout the continent, like the renowned Victoria Falls. 

Is it necessary to get a Zambia visa for US citizens before traveling? What are the steps to apply? Are there other Zambia entry requirements for US citizens to keep in mind? Find out here. 

Do US citizens need a visa for Zambia?

Yes, it’s mandatory to get a Zambia visa for US citizens. Thankfully, it’s now possible to apply online for the Zambia visa for US citizens on specialized sites like Visagov.

There is more than one type available of the Zambia visa for US citizens:

• Tourist visa. Available as a single, double and multiple entries visa. All have a validity of 90 days.
• Business visa. Available as a single, double and multiple entries visa; with a validity of 30 days.
• Transit visa. It’s valid for 7 days.
• KAZA visa. It’s a multiple entry visa with a 90-day validity, that allows the holder to also visit Zimbabwe.

Zambia travel requirements for US citizens

The Zambia travel requirements for US citizens are:

• Having a valid passport. It must have a remaining validity of at least 6 months from the date of entry into Zambia.
• Having an approved visa
• A yellow fever vaccination certificate if you’ve traveled to, or had a layover of more than 12 hours, in an endemic country.

Zambia visa requirements for US citizens

The Zambia visa requirements for US citizens to meet are:

• Providing a recent personal photograph.
• Writing a letter of introduction to the Director General of Immigration explaining your reason for visiting Zambia.
• Showing proof of your plane tickets to and from Zambia
• Providing proof of the accommodation reservation
• Providing a current email address to receive the approved visa
• Having a bank card to pay for the visa fees

If you have to apply for the business visa, you will also need to provide a letter of invitation from a company in Zambia, and a certified copy of the company's constitution

What is the cost of the Zambia visa for US citizens?

Each type of Zambia visa for US citizens has its own cost:

• Tourist visa for Zambia. It can cost 24, 30 or 70 EUR.
• Business visa. The cost is 24, 37 or 70 EUR according to the visa type.
• Transit visa. It costs 24 EUR.
• KAZA visa. It has a cost of 47 EUR.

How long does it take to get a Zambia visa for US citizens?

To avoid running out of time if there are any errors or additional information requests, it’s safer to apply for the Zambia visa for US citizens at least 30 days before traveling. However, it usually takes around 5 days to be processed.

Where is the Embassy of Zambia in the US?

The Embassy of the Republic of Zambia is located in Washington, D.C.

Address: 2200 R Street, NW Washington, DC 20008 

Telephone: (202) 234-4009 / (202) 234-4111

Website: https://www.zambiaembassy.org/ 

Where is the Embassy of the US in Zambia?

The US Embassy in Zambia is located in Lusaka.

Address: Eastern end of Kabulonga Road Ibex Hill P.O. Box 320065 Lusaka, Zambia 

Telephone: +260-211-357-000

Website: https://zm.usembassy.gov/ 

What are the vaccine requirements for Zambia for US citizens?

Yes, it’s mandatory to have a yellow fever vaccination certificate to be granted access into Zambia.

On top of that, the CDC recommends the following vaccines to all travelers, including US citizens:

• Chickenpox (Varicella)
• Diphtheria-Tetanus-Pertussis
• Flu (influenza)
• Measles-Mumps-Rubella (MMR). There’s a level 1 alert for an increase in the number of cases of measles.
• Polio. There’s currently a level 2 alert for this disease in Zambia.
• Shingles
• Cholera
• Hepatitis A and B
• Rabies
• Typhoid

Besides that, it’s also necessary to bring anti-malaria medication into Zambia.

What is the time difference between Zambia and the US?

Zambia’s time zone is Central Africa Time Zone (UTC+2). The time difference between Zambia and the US’ six time zones is: 

• Hawaii-Aleutian Standard Time (HAST): UTC-10 (12-hour difference)
• Alaska Standard Time (AST): UTC-9 (11-hour difference)
• Pacific Standard Time (PST): UTC-8 (10-hour difference)
• Mountain Standard Time (MST): UTC-7 (9-hour difference)
• Central Standard Time (CST): UTC-6 (8-hour difference)
• Eastern Standard Time (EST): UTC-5 (7-hour difference)

What is the currency of Zambia and the exchange rate to US Dollars?

The currency of Zambia is the Zambian Kwacha (ZMW), which is divided into 100 Ngwee. There are banknotes of 2, 5, 10, 20, 50 and 100 Kwachas; and coins of 5, 10 and 50 Ngwee, and 1 Kwacha as well.

The current exchange rate to US dollars is:

• 1 ZMW = 0.03 USD
• 1 USD = 27.0793 ZMW

How to travel to Zambia from the US

There are no direct flights arriving in Zambia from the US. However, you can fly from San Antonio, Miami and Chicago to Lusaka with one, two or three layovers.