Zambia
Last update 17 October 2025Travel advice
Risk index
Level 3: Avoid non-essiential travel (Do not travel in certain areas of the country unless necessary)
3
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Republic of Zambia
The Republic of Bulgaria does not have an embassy in Lusaka. Bulgarian citizens residing in the country on a short or long-term basis may address consular matters to the Embassy of the Republic of Bulgaria in Pretoria, The Republic of South Africa.
Embassy of the Republic of Bulgaria in Pretoria, the Republic of South Africa
Address: 1071 Stanza Bopape Str., 0083 Hatfield, Pretoria, the Republic of South Africa
Telephone: +27 12 342 37 20; +27 12342 79 41
Fax: +27 12 342 37 21
Working hours: 08:00 – 16:30
Opening hours: 09:00 – 12:00
E-mail: Embassy.Pretoria@mfa.bg , Consular.Pretoria@mfa.bg
Website: www.mfa.bg/embassies/southafrica
No embassy of the Republic of Zambia in a third country is accredited to Bulgaria. Bulgarian citizens can apply for visas at the Embassy of the Republic of Zambia in Paris.
Embassy of the Republic of Zambia in Paris
Address: 18 avenue de Tourville, 75007 Paris, France
E-mail: zambiansparis@wanadoo.fr
Fax: (+33) 1 56 88 03 50
Telephone: (+33) 1 56 88 12 70,2
General information
Security level:
Although Zambia is considered one of the most peaceful African countries, vigilance should be exercised against pickpocketing in major cities and tourist centres. It is not recommended to carry large sums of money.
Travellers are advised to be particularly cautious about the risks of internet financial fraud. Such frauds are found on dating sites, job and sales listings, and others.
Take care when travelling on the country's highways, especially at night, there have been cases of robbery attacks. When travelling by car outside the capital, don't forget to take your identification documents! There are unexploded mines in the border areas near Angola and Mozambique.
Zambia has seen an upward trend in crime, which includes more frequent and violent crimes, including burglaries, assaults, motor vehicle thefts, and murders. Lusaka province as a whole is the country's leader in crime rates. The use of firearms and bladed weapons to commit crimes is common; It is recommended that no resistance be offered in such situations. In some parts of Lusaka, Livingston and Copperbelt province, street groups are active. The groups are engaged in various criminal activities, including car thefts, robberies, burglaries, vandalism and assaults.
Healthcare:
Medical care in state hospitals does not meet Western European standards, but new private clinics at a very good international level, such as Medland Hospital, were opened.
Recommended vaccines and personal hygiene advice:
Strict personal hygiene is recommended. There is a large number of HIV-positive people.
For up-to-date information on mandatory and/or recommended vaccines you may contact the Regional Health Inspectorates in the country. Yellow fever vaccine is administered in the following regional health inspectorates: Sofia Regional Health Inspectorate; Varna RHI; Burgas RHI; Pleven RHI; Plovdiv RHI; Blagoevgrad RHI and Ruse RHI.
Specifics of the local legislation:
Possession of drugs, including cigarettes containing marijuana, is severely punished. Homosexuality is prohibited.
Be careful if photographing or filming.
It is forbidden to photograph objects of strategic importance such as: bridges, railway sites, public buildings, including post offices, and the Ndola refinery.
Customs requirements:
There are no restrictions on the import of local or foreign currency, but when the total amount exceeds USD 5 thousand, it must be declared.
In Zambia you can import duty-free up to 200 cigarettes, 450 grams of tobacco, as well as 1 litre of hard liquor.
There are no special customs requirements for the export of items.
Road traffic:
The road traffic in the Zambia is in the left lane.
Public transport is in a bad state and the city and intercity buses are overcrowded. Many of the roads are in poor condition and become almost impassable during the rainy season.
When entering by car, insurance is required at the border for the period of stay in the country.
Practical advice:
Recommendations to Bulgarian citizens travelling to or residing in the territory of Zambia
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs recommends Bulgarian citizens to inform themselves about the current prevalence of acute infectious diseases such as cholera before travelling to Zambia.
Strict personal hygiene is recommended.
Particular care should be taken when consuming fresh fruit and vegetables.
Water should be boiled or you should buy bottled water.
Travelling with children
There are no specific requirements, but it is advisable for children to travel with their own passports.
Local currency:
Zambian Kwacha (ZMK). Banks do not accept US dollar bills that were printed before 1996.
Climate:
The rainy season lasts from November to April.
Travel papers and visas
Bulgarian citizens traveling to Zambia do not need a visa for short-term stays in the country. After a brief interview with the arriving person, local border authorities determine the maximum length of stay, which is indicated with a stamp in the passport.
For long-term stays, work, study, and other purposes, a visa is still required. Information on the procedure and the necessary documents can be obtained from the Zambian Embassy in Paris at the above contacts.
To enter the country through international airports, you must present an international passport (valid for at least 6 months from the date of arrival and with at least three blank pages) and a valid return ticket. When crossing the border by land or water, travelers must prove that they have sufficient financial means for the duration of their stay.
For more information: https://www.zambiaimmigration.gov.zm/for-visitors/
Consular service
European Emergency Travel Document:
In extreme situations — in case of damage, loss or theft of a passport, Bulgarian citizens can apply for an Emergency Travel Document at an Embassy of an EU Member State in Lusaka.
Certifications and legalizations:
In order to be valid in Bulgaria and to be able to serve before the Bulgarian institutions, all documents issued by the authorities in Zambia to Bulgarian citizens must bear the stamp of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Zambia. Then, they need to be certified by the Embassy of Zambia in Paris. The signature and certifications of the Embassy of Zambia in Paris are certified by the Consular Office of the Embassy of Bulgaria in the capital of France.
Once the documents have been so prepared, they must be translated into Bulgarian by an authorized company in Bulgaria and certified by the Department of Certifications and Legalizations with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Bulgaria.