The Zimbabwe Guide

Zimbabwe Expands Visa-on-Arrival to 75 Countries in 2026

· 3 min read Travel News
Zimbabwe Expands Visa-on-Arrival to 75 Countries in 2026

Contents

  1. What Has Changed
  2. KAZA UniVisa Remains the Smarter Option
  3. Border Wait Times in Peak Season
  4. Practical Checklist for Entry
  5. What This Means for Safari Planning

Zimbabwe’s immigration authority confirmed in mid-2026 that visa-on-arrival (VoA) eligibility has been extended to citizens of 75 countries, up from 68 at the start of the year. The expansion brings most Western European, North American, and Australasian passport holders into the no-pre-approval category, simplifying the entry process significantly for leisure travellers.

What Has Changed

Previously, travellers from several European Union member states - including Croatia, Bulgaria, and Romania - were required to obtain a visa through a Zimbabwean embassy before travel. As of June 2026, these nationalities can now pay at the port of entry.

The single-entry visa-on-arrival fee remains USD 50 for most nationalities. A double-entry visa costs USD 80, and a KAZA UniVisa - which covers both Zimbabwe and Zambia and remains popular among Victoria Falls visitors - is USD 50. All fees must be paid in US dollars cash at the immigration desk; card payments are not accepted at land borders, though Harare and Victoria Falls airports have introduced card payment pilots that are reportedly working reliably as of mid-2026.

KAZA UniVisa Remains the Smarter Option

For travellers planning to cross into Zambia to see the falls from both sides - or to visit Livingstone - the KAZA UniVisa is still the most cost-effective route. It covers Zimbabwe and Zambia for 30 days and is issued at Victoria Falls Airport, Harare International, Kazungula border, and Victoria Falls (Beit Bridge is excluded). At the same price as a standard Zimbabwe single-entry visa, the upgrade requires only a tick in a different column on the arrival form.

Check with your nearest Zimbabwean embassy or the Zimbabwe Immigration Department for the current full list of eligible nationalities - the list can shift on short notice and embassy websites are not always kept current.

Border Wait Times in Peak Season

Immigration officials at Victoria Falls Airport have noted that the July–October peak season sees queues at the VoA desk extending to 45–60 minutes during busy arrival windows. Completing the arrival card on the plane and having exact USD cash ready reduces processing time considerably. Travellers arriving overland from South Africa via Beit Bridge or from Botswana via Kazungula should allow extra time; land border crossings operate on different hours and staffing levels.

Practical Checklist for Entry

  • Passport validity: At least six months from your date of entry into Zimbabwe
  • Onward or return ticket: Immigration officers may request proof
  • USD cash: Bring clean, undamaged bills - heavily worn or pre-2009 USD notes are sometimes refused
  • Yellow fever certificate: Required if you are arriving from a yellow fever endemic country
  • Accommodation confirmation: Not always requested, but worth having on hand

What This Means for Safari Planning

The expansion is a deliberate policy push tied to Zimbabwe’s 2025–2030 tourism growth target of 3 million annual visitors, up from around 2.1 million in 2024. The government has identified visa friction as a meaningful barrier to shorter-stay visitors from Europe who might otherwise choose Zambia or Botswana for a three- or four-night add-on safari.

For most travellers reading this, the practical effect is simple: book your Zimbabwe safari or Victoria Falls trip, confirm your nationality is on the VoA list, and prepare your USD cash. Pre-trip embassy appointments are no longer necessary for the vast majority of Western visitors.

For full details on entry requirements and current conditions, see our Zimbabwe travel info guide.