The Zimbabwe government has relaxed visa requirements for visitors from 37 countries including China and SADC countries.
Zimbabwe uses a migration management system with a three-tier visa model classified into categories A, B and C. Category A refers to countries whose nationals are exempt from visa requirements, while those in category B obtain visas on arrival at the port of entry. Category C nationals are required to apply for visas prior to travelling to Zimbabwe.
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China has moved from category C to B, however, Immigration Department Principal Director, Clemence Masango said there were still some conditions attached to the eligibility criteria for Chinese nationals. He said only Chinese tourists travelling as a group cleared by tour operators and travel agencies in China could apply for a visa on arrival. Business travellers and other citizens of China will continue to apply for visas online, a process that take five days to complete.
Category A includes travellers from all SADC countries, Hong Kong and Singapore. Category B includes travellers from the US, UK, France, Italy, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, United Arab Emirates, New Zealand, Australia and now China.
The current charge for a single-entry Zimbabwe visa issued on arrival is US$30 (R460) and US$55 (R844) for a multiple-entry visa.
Masango said the move was meant to facilitate easy movement within the region, adding that consultations would continue to be made with concerned stakeholders with a view to further relaxing visa controls to make travel easier and market Zimbabwe as a more favourable and accessible destination.
Ross Kennedy, Chief Executive of Africa Albida, welcomes the relaxation of the visa requirements and said: “In a competitive world and region such as Zimbabwe, any initiative to enhance the scale of ‘user friendliness’ is certainly a positive move.”
