Zambia

Government advisories

• ☐ United States: level 1/4 — Level 1: Exercise Normal Precautions
• ☐ United Kingdom: level 1/4
• ☐ Canada: level 1/4 — Exercise normal security precautions (with regional advisories)

Health notices

• ☐ Global Measles (level 1)

Entry requirements

☐ Visitors to Zambia must obtain a visa from one of the Zambian diplomatic missions, unless they come from one of the visa exempt countries or countries whose citizens are eligible for visa on arrival. Visitors may alternatively obtain an electronic visa.

☐ Passport valid 6+ months beyond your stay

Practical

• ☐ Plug type C/D/G, 230V — bring an adapter if yours differs
• ☐ Drives on the left
• ☐ Emergency (police): 999
• ☐ Emergency (ambulance): 999
• ☐ Emergency (fire): 999
• ☐ SIM: The country code for Zambia is "260." The city code for Lusaka is "211". For the city code for other towns, check the directory. However, phone service both within Zambia and into Zambia is very hit-or-miss. In large cities, you are more likely to get regular, dependable phone service, but it is by no means a guarantee. The farther you travel from Lusaka, the less likely you are to maintain a good
• ☐ Money: The currency of Zambia is the kwacha – meaning "sunrise," so-named to celebrate Zambia's independence – denoted by the symbol ZK (ISO code: ZMW).

Laws that could get a tourist arrested

• ☐ Nighttime curfew — There is a 10PM curfew in most of the country. Being on the street after this time risks arrest.
• ☐ Police corruption — Police require payment to file reports for insurance purposes. Lodging a complaint against a local can result in the accused being interrogated and beaten by police.

Before you go

General trip-prep, not specific to Zambia — the same short list applies anywhere.

• ☐ Register with your embassy's traveler program if one exists
• ☐ Check your passport's validity and blank-page requirements on your destination's official entry-rules page
• ☐ Photograph/screenshot your passport, visa, and travel insurance documents
• ☐ Download offline maps for your destination
• ☐ Confirm your bank/card issuer knows you're traveling
• ☐ Check whether your phone plan needs a travel add-on or a local SIM