Zambia

VISA REGIME

ENTRY REGIME FOR CITIZENS OF THE REPUBLIC OF SERBIA DURING THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC
Citizens of the Republic of Serbia may enter Zambia if they present a negative test (not older than 72 hours) for Covid-19.
Random testing at the border is possible.
All airports are open, though availability of international flights remains limited. Traveller “Health questionnaires” are provided on incoming flights for passengers to fill in, and they should be handed in to the airport officials on arrival.
International train and bus services are suspended.
All travellers arriving from a country designated as “high risk“ by the Government of Zambia (current list may be found via following link https://www.zambiaimmigration.gov.zm/covid-19-news/ ) must take another Covid-19 test at their expense (around 100 USD) upon arrival or within 48 hours of their arrival even if they present a negative PCR test, and will be placed in a mandatory 14 day self-isolation (which may be terminated once a negative PCR test result done in Zambia is presented). Travelers transiting through high risk countries (less than 24 hours) are exempt from these measures.
Negative test for Covid-19 must be done in Zambia even when exiting the country, except if a country of destination does not require tests for entry (travellers are advised to check with their airline on their requirements prior to travel).

ENTERING AND LEAVING THE COUNTRY
Visa is not required, except for a holder of a travel document in transit. Validity period of a passport for travel purpose must be 6 months from the date of planned entry into Zambia. Additionally, there must be two blank pages in the passport when entering the country or when applying for a KAZA UNIVISA visa, which was introduced jointly by Zambia and Zimbabwe on 28 November 2014 and is issued at eight border crossings in these two countries, with a validity period of up to 30 days in both countries and at a price of USD 50. Also, this visa is valid for visits to Botswana, but only in the form of one-day tourist excursions via the Kazungula border crossing. Everyone arriving in Zambia by air must have valid return air tickets. Those arriving by land must have sufficient funds to stay in and leave Zambia. Flight crew members on a regular flight are allowed a maximum of seven days of stay in the nearest city to the airport, without undergoing any immigration formalities.

SOCIAL SECURITY AGREEMENT
No social security agreement has been concluded.

USEFUL INFORMATION

HEALTH SITUATION — Visitors coming from an area where there is yellow fever must have a vaccination certificate (the so-called "yellow card"). Travellers arriving from or returning via the Republic of South Africa, for now, do not have to be vaccinated against yellow fever until further notice. According to the World Health Organization, from 11 July 2016 (for all countries), the Yellow Fever Certificate must be valid for the life of the vaccinated person. As a consequence, a valid certificate cannot be refused on the grounds that more than ten years have elapsed since the entry into force of the vaccination as stated in the certificate.
The use of bottled drinking water is recommended. Fruits and vegetables should be thoroughly washed and dried before being consumed fresh. In restaurants, request the meat to be well done.
Outbreaks of cholera and other "dirty hand" diseases are common. Malaria often exists in areas of lower altitude (especially around the Victoria Falls and other river valleys) where the use of repellents and possibly antimalarials is advised. More detailed information can be found on the World Health Organization website.

SECURITY SITUATION — Security in Zambia is relatively decent in urban areas. There is crime in unsafe parts of cities. There is a danger of petty theft and pickpocketing, as well as of fraudsters who use foreign tourists in various ways or break car windows at traffic lights for attempted theft, less for kidnapping. Walking at night is not recommended, and in places where there are large crowds (local markets, etc.), pickpocketing and robbing should be taken into account. Driving outside populated areas as well as in rural areas during the night should be avoided. During the rainy season that lasts from October to April, floods are frequent.

TRANSPORT — Citizens of the Republic of Serbia do not need an international driving permit (IDP) until the 90^th day from the date of entry. After the expiration of the specified period, it is necessary to own an IDP or to apply for a Zambian driver's licence. When renting a vehicle, some local rent-a-car agencies may, less frequently, ask renters for the IDP in addition to the national driver's licence, whereas others in order to rent a vehicle require that the national driver's licence be valid for at least the previous three or five years and the driver to be at least 21/23 or 25 years old, depending on the type of vehicle.There is no limit on taking foreign currency into/out of the country, but it is necessary to declare at the border crossing all amounts over USD 5,000. Duty-free import is allowed for 400 cigarettes or 500 g of tobacco, one bottle of spirits and wine, as well as 2.5 litres of beer. Perfume in a bottle with a volume of 1oz. Souvenirs may be exported without restrictions, but trophies such as teeth, bones, horns, shells, claws, leather, feathers, etc. are subject to the export licence regime. Hunting weapons may be brought into the country, with registration at the border crossing. Smaller pets with the vaccination certificate may be brought into the country. Travellers are advised to check the current health situation on the website of the World Health Organization, Regional Office for Africa, before going on a trip. The overall sanitary situation is not satisfactory. Bottled drinking water is recommended. Fruits and vegetables should be thoroughly washed and dried before being consumed fresh. In restaurants, request the meat to be well done. Epidemics of cholera and other "dirty hand" diseases are often present. Malaria is common in areas of lower altitude (especially the area around the Victoria Falls and the valleys of other rivers) where the use of repellents and, alternatively, the use of antimalarials is advised. More detailed information on the current health situation can be found on the World Health Organization website.

OTHER INFORMATION — The national currency, the Zambian Kwacha (ZMK) is the official and exclusive means of payment, it is internally convertible. Credit cards can be used in most hotels, restaurants and larger stores. As a rule, ATMs accept VISA cards for cash withdrawals, but this is not recommended due to the loss on the exchange rate difference. Climate: November, December, January, February, March and April are months of the rainy season. The days are warm, up to 27 °C, the nights are fresh. May, June, July and August are dry, cold periods (6 °C to 24 °C). September and October and a good part of November is a hot, dry period, with temperatures of 25 °C to 35 °C.
Hotels have internet and WI-FI connections. Mobile phone operators have roaming agreements with most European companies, but it is more cost-effective to use local than Serbian SIM cards. Before departure, it is necessary to check whether the mobile phone operator whose services the traveller uses has a roaming agreement with Zambia.
Additionally, the security tax must be paid by all departing air passengers. The price is USD 3 per person for domestic flights and USD 5 for international flights. This is also usually included in the air ticket fare, but passengers will be asked to pay separately in the Zambian kwacha if it is not. It is recommended that passengers carry with them the required amount of medication that they use on a regular basis. Travel via travel agencies is recommended, while individual travel should be thoroughly prepared.
The official language is English.

Contact information
During your stay in the Republic of Zambia, for consular assistance and protection you may contact the Embassy of the Republic of Serbia, at the following telephone number: 00 260 (0) 97 17 32 44 (WhatsApp, Telegram, Signal, Viber), and e-mail: serbianemb.lusaka@gmail.com.