If a Birth Certificate was not issued at birth, but a Hospital Record of Birth or Baptismal Certificate was obtained, an Affidavit must be prepared by a member of the applicants family having knowledge of the birth.

The Affidavit must be sworn to before an officer authorised to administer oaths. The Hospital or Baptismal Certificate must be attached to the Affidavit, and submitted to the Registrar General requesting issuance of a late Birth Certificate.

Registration of birth is compulsory. Birth Certificates are available to any applicant born on or after January 1, 1973 and can be obtained by the applicant applying to:

Registrar General of Births, Deaths & Marriages
P.O. Box 32311
LUSAKA, ZAMBIA
Tel: (260-1) 228197

Application for a marriage certificate can be made in writing to:

Registrar General of Births, Deaths & Marriages
P.O. Box 32311
LUSAKA, ZAMBIA
Tel: (260-1) 228197

Application for a death certificate can be made in writing by the next of kin of the deceased whose death was registered in Zambia to:

Registrar General of Births, Deaths & Marriages
P.O. Box 32311
LUSAKA, ZAMBIA
Tel: (260-1) 228197

You must obtain a set of fingerprints taken on a standard finger print form at any Police Station in the area of residence. The set of fingerprints obtained will then be forwarded by courier to the Inspector General of Police, Zambia Police for the attention of the Director C.I.D. The forwarded fingerprints should be accompanied by fees in form of international postal order or bank certified cheque.

Please note: Faxed and photocopied prints are not allowed and will not be processed.

Fees

• $100.00 for Zambians living abroad
• $150.00 for non Zambians living abroad

Make the Money Order payable to the Inspector General of Police and send to:

The Deputy Commissioner of Police (C.I.D.)
Office of the Inspector-General
Independence Avenue
P.O. Box 50104
Lusaka, Zambia

Tel: (260-1) 251827/253764
Fax: (260-1) 253543/253537

Enclose a pre-paid envelope of the courier of your choice for them to return the Police Certificate to you.

Citizenship by birth

A person born in Zambia is a citizen by birth if, at the time of that person’s birth, at least one parent is or was a citizen of Zambia.

Citizenship by descent

A person born outside Zambia is a citizen by descent if, at the time of that person’s birth, at least one parent is or was a citizen of Zambia

Citizenship by Registration

A person is entitled to apply to be registered as a citizen if that person has attained the age of 18 and –

•  was born in Zambia and has been ordinarily resident in Zambia for a period of at least five years.
•  was born outside Zambia, has or had an ancestor who is, or was a Zambian citizen, and has been ordinarily resident in Zambia for a period of at least five years
•  has been ordinarily resident in Zambia for a continuous period of at least ten years; immediately preceding that person’s application for registration.
•  is or was married to a citizen of Zambia for a period of at least five years.

Note: Applications for Citizenship by Registration have to be logged in Zambia.

For persons who wish to bestow their Zambian Citizenship, the procedure is as follows:

1. Complete Bestowal of Citizenship applications forms (Form VII) (only available at the Embassy)
2. Pay prescribed processing fee of Three hundred Zambian Kwacha (K300) or its equivalent (at time of the in-person Consular Interview. Payment is by money order or Bank Certified Check only, made payable to the “Embassy of the Republic of Zambia.”
3. Mission to forward duly completed form and the supporting documents listed below to Passport & Citizenship Office, Lusaka;

   Supporting Documents for applicants aged 16 years and above:

   1. National Registration Card
   2. Zambian Passport (last held)
   3. Birth Certificate if available
   4. Current Foreign Passport
   5. Applicant’s parents’ National Registration Card if available
   6. Four Passport size pictures
   7. Finger prints from police
   8. Money Order or Bank Certified Check $30 payable to “Embassy of Zambia”

Supporting Documents for Minors / Also applicable to Children who were born outside Zambia; to Zambian Parents who were Zambian Citizens at the time of the minor applicants’ birth:

1. 1. Applicants’ Birth Certificate
   2. Applicants Zambian Passport (last held and if available)
   3. Applicants Current Foreign Passport
   4. Four (4) passport size pictures
   5. Finger prints from the police
   6. Applicants’ parents’ National Registration Card if available
   7. Applicants’ parents’ Zambian passport (last held)
   8. Money Order or Bank Certified Check $30 payable to “Embassy of Zambia”
2. Upon Citizenship Board approval, letters of approval will be sent to the Mission
3. Applicants will be required to complete an Oath of Allegiance and pay Five thousand kwacha (K5,000) or its equivalent for the Certificate of Bestowal;
4. Oath of Allegiance and receipt of payment should be forwarded to Passport Office in Lusaka for the issuance of Certificate of Bestowal;
5. Certificate of Bestowal will be forwarded to Mission for onward transmission to the applicants

Send an email to washington@grz.gov.zm with the following details:

1. In the Subject line enter: DUAL CITIZENSHIP
2. In the body of the email, list the following details:
   1. Applicants name in full
   2. Date of Birth
   3. Contact information
      1. Telephone number
      2. Mailing address
   4. National Registration Card number
   5. Zambian Passport number
   6. State the basis of your claim to Zambian National Status
      1. By Birth
      2. By Decent
   7. State your acquired Citizenship
   8. State Date of acquisition of the Citizenship listed in (g) above
3. Attachments:
   1. Zambian Passport
   2. National Registration Card (front and back)
   3. Valid Passport foreign passport
   4. All other case specific applicable aforementioned documents

Upon receipt of the email, the Consular Section will contact the applicant and advise.
NOTE: Dual Citizenship application requires an in-person Consular Interview.

For applicants aged 16 years and above; submit copies of the following documents:

1. National Registration Card
2. Bio-data page of Zambian Passport
3. Bio-data page of current Foreign Passport

For applicants aged below 16 years; submit copies of the documents listed below:

1. Birth Certificate
2. Bio-data page of Zambian Passport (if available)
3. Bio-data page of Foreign Passport
4. Father / Mother’s National Registration Card
5. Father / Mother’s Zambian Passport