Military action is underway in Ukraine. If you’re in Ukraine, shelter in place until it’s safe to depart.
The Russian invasion of Ukraine is ongoing. The security situation continues to be volatile and is deteriorating rapidly. Heavy fighting, including bombardments, explosions and missile launches, is ongoing throughout Ukraine, including in major cities. Infrastructure and military facilities have been struck by rocket attacks. There have been many civilian casualties. Foreigners have been killed and may be targeted, including in areas not directly affected by fighting. Do not travel to Ukraine, there is a real risk to life. If you’re in Ukraine, shelter in place until you judge it’s safe to depart. Continue to monitor advice on Smartraveller and reputable local and international media. Where it is safe to do so, you should leave Ukraine.
Use your judgement to decide the best time and safest means of exit. Expect some congestion on routes, at checkpoints and lengthy queues. Roads may be crowded, exposed to military action or have damage, including to bridges and facilities. Make sure you have an adequate supply of food, water, medication and fuel.
The Australian Government will not be able to evacuate you from Ukraine.
Be aware that some borders may close without notice. Information may change and will be updated as details become available. You should also read the travel advice of the destination you’re travelling to - entry requirements may differ when entering by road, rail or air. Before leaving Ukraine, verify if the local authorities of your destination have implemented any restrictions or requirements related to this situation.
Expect some congestion on routes, at checkpoints and lengthy queues. Make sure you have an adequate supply of food, water, medication and fuel. Use your judgement to decide the best time and safest means of exit. Roads may be crowded, exposed to military action or have damage, including to bridges and facilities.
In most cases, Australians departing Ukraine must present a valid Australian passport.
Read our advice about Ukraine border regions.
Call 999.
Call 999 or go to the hospital.
Call 999 or go to the local police station.
Exercise a high degree of caution in Zambia overall due to the impacts of COVID-19.
Exercise a high degree of caution in Zambia overall due to the impacts of COVID-19.
Reconsider your need to travel to border areas with the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Angola and Mozambique.
Reconsider your need to travel to border areas with:
Full travel advice: Safety
Full travel advice: Health
Full travel advice: Local laws
Full travel advice: Travel
Full travel advice: Local contacts
Crime persists throughout Zambia including:
Security risks increase after dark, especially in tourist areas and city centres.
Pickpockets and bag snatchers target tourists.
Thieves also target travellers in:
There have been violent robberies, some involving fatalities, along the Cairo Road area of Lusaka, including:
To protect yourself from crime:
Date-rape drugs have been used in bars and restaurants in Lusaka.
To help protect yourself:
If you're the victim of a violent crime, including rape, see a doctor straight away. HIV/AIDS is common.
Business fraud scams are common in Zambia. People have been cheated after being persuaded to travel to Zambia on business.
To avoid a potential scam:
If you're the victim of a scam, get legal help.
Don't travel to Zambia to get your money back.
Credit card fraud occurs.
To protect yourself from fraud:
Public protests and events that draw large groups of people can turn violent.
To protect yourself during period of unrest:
More information:
Local transport and tour operators don't always follow safety and maintenance standards. This includes for adventure activities, such as rafting at Victoria Falls.
If you plan to do an adventure activity:
If proper safety equipment isn't available, use another provider.
Getting too close to wildlife can be dangerous.
Swimming in lakes and rivers is unsafe because wildlife could attack you.
To protect yourself from wildlife:
Zambia experiences severe weather, including flooding.
The rainy season is from November to April. Roads may become impassable because of flooding.
To protect yourself if flooding occurs:
Get comprehensive travel insurance before you leave.
Your policy needs to cover all overseas medical costs, including medical evacuation. The Australian Government won't pay for these costs.
If you can't afford travel insurance, you can't afford to travel. This applies to everyone, no matter how healthy and fit you are.
If you're not insured, you may have to pay many thousands of dollars up-front for medical care.
Confirm:
Consider your physical and mental health before you travel, especially if you have an existing medical condition. Consider whether you may be in a vulnerable category for COVID-19.
See your doctor or travel clinic to:
Do this at least eight weeks before you leave.
More information:
Not all medication available over the counter or by prescription in Australia is available in other countries. Some may even be considered illegal or a controlled substance, even if prescribed by an Australian doctor.
Medications containing diphenhydramine are regulated in Zambia.
If you plan to bring medication, check if it's legal in Zambia. Take enough legal medication for your trip.
Always carry a copy of your prescription and a dated letter from your doctor saying:
If you don't carry your prescription, you could be arrested and jailed.
More information:
COVID-19
COVID-19 remains a risk in Zambia.
You should consult your local health professional for advice on vaccine options, including assistance that may be available locally. The Australian Government cannot provide advice on the safety, quality and efficacy of vaccines that have been approved for use outside of Australia's regulatory process.
More information:
The rate of HIV/AIDS (World Health Organization) infection in Zambia is high.
Take precautions if engaging in activities that expose you to the virus.
Malaria (World Health Organization) occurs throughout the year across Zambia.
Other insect-borne diseases, including these listed by the World Health Organization:
To protect yourself from disease:
Speak to a doctor if you develop a fever, muscle pain, a rash or severe headache.
Waterborne, foodborne and other infectious diseases are common, including these listed by the World Health Organization:
Serious outbreaks sometimes occur.
A cholera outbreak that began in October 2017 in Zambia has resulted in approximately 5,900 cases and 114 deaths by May 2018. The outbreak affected seven of the ten provinces in Zambia.
The Zambian Government has introduced measures to reduce the spread of cholera.
To protect yourself from illness:
If you're bitten or scratched by an animal, get medical help straight away.
Get medical advice if you have a fever or diarrhoea.
The standard of medical facilities in Zambia is poor, especially in rural areas.
Medical supplies are limited. Some prescription medicines may not be available.
Know your blood type. Carry a sterile medical kit, including needles and dressings.
Most doctors and hospitals require up-front cash payment.
If you become seriously ill or injured, you'll need to be evacuated to a place with better facilities. Medical evacuation can be very expensive.
You're subject to all local laws and penalties, including those that may appear harsh by Australian standards. Research local laws before travelling.
If you're arrested or jailed, the Australian Government will do what it can to help you under our Consular Services Charter. But we can't get you out of trouble or out of jail.
Zambian authorities don't always contact the Australian Embassy when they detain or arrest an Australian citizen.
If you're detained, you have the right to contact an Australian Embassy consular official.
More information:
Penalties for drug-related crimes are severe. They include long prison sentences and heavy fines.
More information:
Police and border officials can ask to see your passport and immigration stamp or visa at any time. They could detain or arrest you if you don't have them.
Always carry your passport and visa or immigration permit. You can get certified copies from the issuing office.
In Zambia, it's illegal to:
More information:
Some Australian criminal laws still apply when you're overseas. If you break these laws, you may face prosecution in Australia.
More information:
Officially, Zambia recognises dual nationals. In practice, authorities may not recognise a second nationality.
In Zambia, dual nationals can't yet apply to have their other nationality recognised.
If you're both an Australian and Zambian national, local authorities may consider you a Zambian national. This limits the consular services we can give if you're arrested or detained. Enter and exit on the same passport.
More information:
Visa conditions
You'll need a visa to enter Zambia. Business and tourist visas can be applied for online, and are available on arrival.
If you're visiting for fewer than 90 days, you can get a 30-day 'KAZA visa' when you arrive. You can get a KAZA visa if you enter via:
You can use the KAZA visa:
In other cases, you'll need to get a visa before you travel.
You're allowed two 30-day extensions on entry visas.
Entry and exit conditions can change at short notice. Contact the nearest embassy or consulate for details about visas, currency, customs and quarantine rules.
If you plan to stay for more than 90 days, you'll need a National Registration Card.
To work in Zambia, including as a volunteer, you'll need a work permit. For more details please see Zambian Department of Immigration.
To live in Zambia, you'll need a residence permit. For more details please see Zambia Immigration Zambian Department of Immigration.
If you don't comply with these or other immigration rules, authorities may detain you.
Some Zambian immigration agents may issue fake documents. Make proper checks before and after using a local agent to get a visa or permit.
If you fly within or out of Zambia, you'll need to pay the National Airports Corporation levy. The levy isn't often included in airline tickets. You'll have to pay the levy in US dollars or Zambian Kwacha.
More information:
Zambian authorities have revised their guidelines for all travellers entering Zambia.
Fully vaccinated travellers don't require to present any form of negative COVID-19 test result on entry into Zambia but are required to provide proof of COVID-19 vaccination status. Fully vaccinated means having 2 doses of a COVID-19 vaccine.
If you're not fully vaccinated, you must provide a negative COVID-19 (PCR) test result taken 72 hours before departure from your country of origin. Some airlines ask passengers for evidence of a negative COVID-19 (PCR) test taken within 72 hours before arrival in Zambia. You should check your airline's guidelines carefully prior to travelling.
Children below the age of 12 are exempt from these measures.
If you're planning to travel to Zambia and aren't fully vaccinated, you must use an approved laboratory through the Africa CDC Trusted Travel platform. If you're arriving in Zambia with results from a non-Trusted Travel approved laboratory, you must upload a copy on the Global Haven system.
All travellers arriving in Zambia will have their temperature checked and will be required to complete health declaration forms for submission to Port Health Officers. Regardless of vaccination status, if you enter Zambia with a body temperature equal to or above 38.0 C, you will be tested for COVID-19 at your expense on arrival and be required to quarantine (at your home, a hotel or a government facility) until your test results are known.
All international airports are open. Land borders may be closed to non-essential traffic, with little or no notice.
Face masks must be worn in public.
You're required to have a negative PCR test to depart Zambia. The test must be from an approved laboratory through the Africa CDC Trusted Travel platform.
You'll need a valid yellow fever vaccination certificate if you're arriving from a country where there's widespread yellow fever.
More information:
If you're travelling from an Ebola-affected area, you may be subject to a medical check at the Zambian border.
Zambian authorities have refused entry to people arriving from Ebola-affected countries. If there's another outbreak, authorities may again ban people who arrive from affected areas.
Some countries won't let you enter unless your passport is valid for six months after you plan to leave that country. This can apply even if you're just transiting or stopping over.
Some foreign governments and airlines apply the rule inconsistently. Travellers can receive conflicting advice from different sources.
You can end up stranded if your passport is not valid for more than six months.
The Australian Government does not set these rules. Check your passport's expiry date before you travel. If you're not sure it'll be valid for long enough, consider getting a new passport.
Your passport is a valuable document. It's attractive to people who may try to use your identity to commit crimes.
Some people may try to trick you into giving them your passport. Always keep it in a safe place.
If your passport is lost or stolen, tell the Australian Government as soon as possible:
If you're travelling through South Africa, you'll need a full Australian passport. South Africa does not accept temporary travel documents.
More information:
The local currency is the Zambia Kwacha (ZMW).
Declare any ZMW and foreign currency over USD5000 when you arrive and depart. This covers all forms of currency, not only cash.
You must use ZMW to pay in Zambia. It's against the law to quote or pay in foreign currency for local goods or services. If you do, you could be fined or jailed for 10 years.
Use well-known banks or currency exchange companies to change or withdraw money. Fake USD100 and ZMW notes are common.
Zambian banks and foreign exchange agents won't accept US banknotes issued before 2000.
Zambia revalued its currency in 2013. Old notes are not accepted. Make sure you receive correct and legal notes.
Only ATMs in Lusaka accept international cards.
Some hotels, restaurants and shops in major urban centres accept credit cards. Many companies charge a fee to use a credit card.
Credit card fraud occurs in Zambia. See Safety
There are landmines and other explosives near Zambia's borders with:
These may not be marked.
Off-road travel in these areas is dangerous.
If you travel to these border areas despite the risks, ask local authorities about the safest routes.
To drive in Zambia you need both:
You must get your IDP before leaving Australia.
You're five times more likely to be killed in a motor vehicle accident in Zambia than in Australia.
Hazards include:
Traffic accidents often happen along the Great East Road in Lusaka.
Cars in Zambia must carry two metallic emergency triangles with white reflective stickers on the front. Red reflective stickers must appear on the back.
Drivers must carry identity documents.
If you want to take a vehicle into Zambia, you'll need to get a temporary import permit.
You'll also need to buy third-party insurance at the border. If you're not the owner of the vehicle, you must have a letter from the owner saying you can use the vehicle in Zambia.
Police road blocks are common.
If you plan to drive:
Always carry ID, such as your driver's licence, when driving.
More information:
Ask your travel insurer if your policy covers you when using a motorbike or similar vehicle. Your policy may not cover you for accidents in these vehicles.
Always wear a helmet.
Only use registered taxis and limousines, preferably arranged through your hotel.
There's no reliable public transport in Zambia.
Avoid long-distance buses. They are poorly maintained and often overloaded.
Travelling on river boats is dangerous. They can be overloaded and lack necessary lifesaving gear.
Always wear a life jacket, even if others don't.
More information:
DFAT doesn't provide information on the safety of individual commercial airlines or flight paths.
Check Zambia's air safety profile with the Aviation Safety Network.
More information:
Depending on what you need, contact your:
Call 999.
Call 999 or go to the hospital.
Call 999 or go to the local police station.
Police response, particularly outside major cities, may be slow due to lack of resources.
Always get a police report when you report a crime.
Your insurer should have a 24-hour emergency number.
Contact your provider with any complaints about tourist services or products.
Read the Consular Services Charter for what the Australian Government can and can't do to help you overseas.
Australia doesn’t have an embassy or consulate in Zambia. The Australian Embassy in Zimbabwe (Harare) can provide consular assistances to Australians in Zambia.
1 Green Close
Borrowdale
Harare, Zimbabwe
Phone: +263 24 2853 235 55 or +263 24 2852 4716
Fax: +263 24 2870 566
Website: zimbabwe.embassy.gov.au
Email: zimbabwe.embassy@dfat.gov.au
Facebook: Australian Embassy, Zimbabwe
Twitter: @AusEmbZim
Check the Embassy website for details about opening hours and any temporary closures.
In a consular emergency, if you can't contact an embassy, call the 24-hour Consular Emergency Centre on:
Be the first to know official government advice when travelling.