Visitors planning a safari in Zambia in 2026 will face higher visa fees, but tourism operators and government officials say the country remains one of the most accessible gateways to Southern Africa’s great wildlife reserves and natural wonders.

With most nationalities now either visa-exempt or able to obtain streamlined entry permits on arrival, industry stakeholders argue that the modest increase in costs is unlikely to deter travelers drawn to Victoria Falls, South Luangwa, Lower Zambezi and other headline destinations.

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New Visa Fees Take Effect for 2026 Travel

Zambia’s Department of Immigration began implementing revised visa fees from January 1, 2026, following a statutory instrument issued late in 2025. The changes primarily affect travelers from countries that still require a visa to enter the Southern African nation, a minority of source markets given recent liberalization of entry rules.

Under the updated schedule circulated to travel trade partners in early January, the cost of a single entry visa has doubled from 25 US dollars to 50 dollars, while a double entry visa has increased from 40 dollars to 80 dollars. Multiple entry visas, used mostly by frequent business travelers and tour operators, have risen more modestly, from 75 dollars to 80 dollars. Industry news services covering Southern and East Africa have confirmed the higher charges and their effective date.

The KAZA Univisa, which allows movement between Zambia and neighboring Zimbabwe on a single document, remains priced at 50 dollars. The popular day tripper visa, commonly used by visitors crossing the border briefly to see Victoria Falls from the opposite side or join a short river cruise, has also held steady at 10 dollars.

Officials describe the higher fees as an adjustment to reflect updated government fee units and administrative costs rather than a shift in policy away from tourism promotion. The Department of Immigration first flagged a broad revision of immigration service charges in August 2024 after changes to national fee unit values, creating expectations that visa prices would be revisited for 2025 and 2026.

Most Travelers Still Enter Zambia Visa-Free

While the headline increase for individual visas has raised concerns among some tour operators, the practical impact is cushioned by the fact that a growing majority of visitors no longer need a visa at all. In December 2024, the Ministry of Home Affairs and Internal Security announced that visa requirements would be waived for nationals of 53 additional countries as of January 1, 2025. That decision expanded the list of visa-exempt states to 167, according to official statements at the time.

This expansion continued a policy direction first set in 2022, when Zambia began systematically widening visa-free access to attract more tourists, investors and business travelers. By early 2026, only 31 countries remained subject to visa requirements. For much of Europe, large parts of the Americas, and segments of Asia and the Pacific, Zambia now functions as a visa-free destination, with visitors entitled to up to 90 days of tourist stay in any 12 month period.

Tourism analysts note that this liberal stance makes Zambia one of the more open countries in the region for international arrivals. In practice, the new higher charges apply primarily to travelers from a relatively limited group of states in Africa, Asia and the Middle East that remain under standard visa regimes. For many long haul leisure travelers, especially from major source markets already on the exemption list, the fee changes will not be felt at all.

Government officials present the policy mix as a balancing act between security screening and economic opportunity. While visa requirements have been rolled back for low risk markets, authorities have simultaneously invested in tighter border management tools, including an advanced passenger information system that screens travelers before arrival.

KAZA Univisa and Regional Access Remain Strong Selling Points

For visitors heading directly to Zambia’s most famous tourist hub at Livingstone and Victoria Falls, the decision to keep KAZA Univisa fees unchanged at 50 dollars has been welcomed by safari lodges and regional tour operators. The joint visa, issued by both Zambia and Zimbabwe, allows multiple entries between the two countries over a 30 day period, and also covers day trips through border posts to Botswana’s Chobe area.

Travel businesses see the KAZA Univisa as a cornerstone of multi-country itineraries that link Victoria Falls, Chobe National Park and Zambia’s interior parks into a single trip. With the cost holding steady, the product remains competitively priced against the standard single entry visas that have seen increases.

The survival of the 10 dollar day tripper visa at border posts such as Kazungula is another factor keeping Zambia attractive for spontaneous cross border excursions. Visitors staying in Zimbabwe or Botswana can cross briefly into Zambia to view Victoria Falls from the Zambian side, take a sunset cruise on the Zambezi River, or enjoy a lunch in Livingstone without committing to a full tourist visa.

Industry representatives say these regional arrangements are increasingly important as travelers look to combine multiple destinations in one long haul journey. The ability to move relatively freely between Zambia, Zimbabwe and Botswana remains a strong selling point even as individual visa fees rise.

Cost Increases Offset by Value of Zambia’s Parks and Landscapes

On the ground, Safari operators argue that the higher visa fees are modest in the context of what most international travelers already spend on flights, accommodation and guided activities in Zambia. With safari camps in premier reserves such as South Luangwa and Lower Zambezi routinely charging hundreds of dollars per person per night, an additional 25 or 40 dollars on a visa is often absorbed into the overall cost of a trip.

Tourism marketing bodies emphasize that Zambia offers experiences that remain relatively uncrowded compared to some better known regional competitors. South Luangwa National Park is widely regarded as one of Africa’s best destinations for walking safaris and leopard sightings, yet visitor numbers are still well below those recorded in high profile parks elsewhere in Southern and East Africa.

Lower Zambezi National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage site, combines classic game drives with canoeing and boat safaris along the Zambezi River, offering river based wildlife viewing and fishing experiences that many guests describe as exceptionally intimate. Further west, Kafue National Park provides vast open safari landscapes that see fewer vehicles than many of the continent’s flagship reserves.

For travelers, the higher visa fees effectively become a small premium on access to some of Africa’s least disturbed big game habitats. Guides and lodge managers say that as long as Zambia maintains its reputation for low crowd densities, strong guiding and unspoiled landscapes, demand from serious wildlife enthusiasts is likely to remain robust.

Ease of Entry Still a Priority for Government and Industry

Despite the revised fee structure, Zambia’s authorities continue to stress that facilitating legitimate travel is a strategic priority for economic growth. The Department of Immigration’s visitor guidance highlights the availability of visas on arrival for eligible nationalities at major airports and land borders, as well as an expanding e visa platform designed to simplify pre travel formalities.

Tourists and ordinary visitors are generally entitled to stay in Zambia for up to 90 days within any 12 month period, with the possibility of free extensions issued at local immigration offices if the initial entry stamp does not cover the full duration of a planned tour. Business visitors receive up to 30 days in the same period, again with options for extension when justified.

At major ports of entry such as Lusaka’s Kenneth Kaunda International Airport and Livingstone’s Harry Mwanga Nkumbula International Airport, immigration officers work alongside tourism representatives to guide new arrivals. Airport infrastructure upgrades in recent years, including expansion projects and improvements to customs and baggage handling, have been promoted as part of a broader push to enhance the first impressions of arriving visitors.

Industry associations, meanwhile, continue to lobby for clear, up to date public information on visa categories and fees so that tour operators and international partners can accurately brief clients. The synchronized roll out of new visa rates from January 1 has been widely communicated in trade channels, reducing the risk of on arrival surprises.

Balancing Revenue Needs with Tourism Competitiveness

The latest adjustments to visa charges come at a time when Zambia, like many African destinations, is looking to rebuild and expand tourism earnings. The sector is seen as a crucial source of foreign exchange, rural employment and conservation funding, particularly in regions hosting national parks and game management areas.

Economists following the country’s policy debates note that visa fees serve both as a revenue source for government and as a tool for managing demand and security screening. By doubling the single and double entry charges while maintaining liberal exemptions for most countries, Zambia has sought to raise income from a relatively small pool of visa applicants without broadly undermining its reputation for openness.

Political opposition figures and some civil society voices have previously argued that visa waivers should be matched with stronger investment in infrastructure, law enforcement and hospitality standards to truly unlock tourism’s potential. Concerns have also been raised about road conditions, informal charges and service quality in some regions, issues that can affect visitor perceptions more directly than visa costs.

In response, the government has pointed to ongoing efforts to tighten border controls through technology, improve major highways connecting to tourist hubs, and professionalize tourism training. For now, the revised visa schedule represents one element of a wider, still evolving strategy to position Zambia as both accessible and secure.

Practical Guidance for Visitors Planning a 2026 Trip

For travelers considering Zambia in 2026, the key message from both officials and tour operators is to confirm visa status early in trip planning. Nationals of visa exempt countries need only ensure that their passports meet standard validity requirements and that they carry any necessary supporting documentation such as return tickets and proof of accommodation.

Those from visa requiring states should factor the new fees into their budgets and decide whether a single, double or multiple entry visa fits their itinerary. Travelers combining Zambia with Zimbabwe and Botswana around Victoria Falls and Chobe are often advised to opt for the KAZA Univisa, which remains one of the region’s best value products at 50 dollars for 30 days of multi country access.

Tour companies based in Lusaka and Livingstone report that they are updating pre arrival information packs, quoting the new visa rates alongside park fees and activity costs. Many are also encouraging guests to make greater use of the e visa system where applicable, reducing queuing times at busy border posts during peak holiday seasons.

With visibility on costs and requirements, tourism insiders say the revised visa regime should have limited impact on Zambia’s attractiveness. For travelers who have long dreamed of watching wild dogs hunt on the plains of Kafue, tracking leopards on a South Luangwa night drive, or drifting along the Zambezi at sunset with elephants on the bank, the higher visa fee is a minor addition to the price of experiencing some of Africa’s most pristine natural environments.