Zambia: visa and entry rules

Zambia's borders: every crossing point

Zambia's land border crossings, listed by the neighbour they lead to:

With Zimbabwe: the bridge at Victoria Falls, which is crossed on foot; Chirundu on the road to Harare.

With Botswana: Kazungula, where a bridge over the Zambezi now works in place of the former ferry.

With Namibia: Sesheke - Watopa in the Caprivi Strip.

With Tanzania: Nakonde - Tunduma, which the TAZARA railway also follows.

With Malawi: Mchinji on the eastern route.

With the DR Congo: Kasumbalesa, a difficult direction and not a touristic one.

Zambia has eight neighbours - more than any other country in the region - and it is the natural transit hub of southern Africa.

Driving into Zambia

Overland routes work with all the main neighbours.

Several charges are payable at the border for a foreign vehicle - a road fee, a carbon fee and an insurance fee.

Driving is on the left.

A rental car is taken across the border with a letter from the rental company.

Find out the maximum temporary import period for Zambia before you set off. It has changed, and relying on old information is risky.

The bridge at Kazungula has replaced the ferry and noticeably cut the time on that route.

Travelling to Zambia with a pet

An import permit is required, arranged in advance with the veterinary service.

The rabies vaccination must be valid on the date of entry.

An international veterinary certificate is required.

Ask your country's veterinary service what is needed in terms of vaccinations and quarantine for bringing an animal into Zambia before you book.

Overstaying your visa in Zambia

A fine is charged for staying beyond the permitted period and is paid on departure.

The exact amount will be named by the officer as you leave. The rates in Zambia have changed more than once and figures from reference sources cannot be relied on - take plenty of cash to the border.

What you need to go by is your own stamp.

A serious overstay means deportation and an entry ban.