Zambia · Business / Startup
Zambia Investor's Permit
Investment needed: from $150k
First checked against official sources on , some details partly verifiedChange log
Key facts
Investor's Permit is a business / startup route for Zambia. Applicants need an investment from $150k. Checked 2026-10-10 against the official source.
- Money needed
- from $150k
- Government fees
- ZMW 16k ≈ $800
Cost, time and long term
To apply: government fee ZMW 16k ≈ $800; investment from $150k. No lawyer or agent fee is included.
Government feesZMW 16k ≈ $800
- ZMW 16,000 (≈ $800)Statutory fee for Investor's Permit issuance (private sector schedule); renewal is ZMW 20,000 (≈ $1,000).
Invested and held$250k+ · $150k+
- $250,000Proof of personal investment for establishing a new business (bank statement, money transfer or ZRA Form CE20 showing the value of goods or equipment).
- $150,000Proof of personal investment when joining an existing company; alternative to the new-business amount.
RenewalRenewable
The permit can be renewed or extended. Renewal needs tax clearance, an audit report, a bank statement and an immigration inspection.
Permanent residenceAfter 3 years of residence
You can apply for a Residence Permit, which confers permanent residence, after holding an Investor's Permit for more than three years.
CitizenshipTime here doesn't count
Citizenship by registration needs ten continuous years of ordinary residence, and the Citizenship Act counts only time as a Residence Permit holder. Years on this permit do not count until you hold a Residence Permit.
Why this route may not fit
Check this before you apply.
- Time on this route doesn't count toward citizenship
What you'll need
Who can apply2
- The applicant is above the age of 18.
- The applicant intends to establish or invest in a business, has done so, or is joining an existing company.
What you must show3
- The renewal fee is ZMW 20,000 (≈ $1,000).
- Personal investment of USD 250,000 is shown for a new business.
- Personal investment of USD 150,000 is shown when joining an existing company.
When you become tax resident
How Zambia decides tax residence and treats foreign-source income, from its tax records.
- Income tax
Employment income is taxed under PAYE on monthly bands: 0% on the first ZMW 5,100, (≈ $250) 20% to 7,100, 30% to 9,200 and 37% above, as shown in the Revenue Authority table labelled 2023.
Full official text
Issued to a foreigner over 18 intending to establish a business or invest in Zambia, who has established or invested in a business, or is joining an existing company. 1 2 3
What you must show and pay
- An investment of at least $250,000 · Proof of personal investment for establishing a new business (bank statement, money transfer or ZRA Form CE20 showing the value of goods or equipment). 3
- An investment of at least $150,000 · Proof of personal investment when joining an existing company; alternative to the new-business amount. 3
- A fee of ZMW 16,000 (≈ $800) · Statutory fee for Investor's Permit issuance (private sector schedule); renewal is ZMW 20,000 (≈ $1,000). 2
Requirements
- The applicant is above the age of 18. 1
- The applicant intends to establish or invest in a business, has done so, or is joining an existing company. 1
- The renewal fee is ZMW 20,000 (≈ $1,000). 2
- Personal investment of USD 250,000 is shown for a new business. 3
- Personal investment of USD 150,000 is shown when joining an existing company. 3
Stay
- Holding it for more than three years is one ground for a Residence Permit.
Work
Operate the business or investment.
Family
A spouse or children can be added to the permit by variation; the variation fee is ZMW 8,000 (≈ $400) (private sector schedule).
Official sources
- Information for Residents: permit types · Zambia Department of Immigration · checked 2026-10-10
- Visa and Immigration Permit Fees · Zambia Department of Immigration · checked 2026-10-10
- Permit Types (Spouse Permit) · Zambia Department of Immigration · checked 2026-10-12
- Immigration and Deportation Act, 2010 (Act No. 18 of 2010), sections 20, 26 and 28 · National Assembly of Zambia · checked 2026-10-12
- The Citizenship of Zambia Act, 2016 (Act No. 33 of 2016) · National Assembly of Zambia · checked 2026-10-11
- Constitution of Zambia (Amendment) Act, 2016, Article 37 · National Assembly of Zambia · checked 2026-10-11
Investor's Permit and its alternatives
| Route | Money needed | Stay | Work |
|---|---|---|---|
| Investor's Permit | Needs an investment from $150k | – | – |
| Self-employed card Morocco | – | 10 yr, renewable | Limited |
| PR · Business South Africa | Needs an investment of ZAR 5M+ ≈ $302k | – | Yes |
| Innovator Occupation Permit Mauritius | – | 10 yr, renewable | – |
| Freelancer residence Cabo Verde | – | 2 yr, renewable | – |
Questions people ask
How much money do I need for the Investor's Permit?
An investment of at least $250,000. Proof of personal investment for establishing a new business (bank statement, money transfer or ZRA Form CE20 showing the value of goods or equipment). An investment of at least $150,000. Proof of personal investment when joining an existing company; alternative to the new-business amount. A fee of ZMW 16,000 (≈ $800). Statutory fee for Investor's Permit issuance (private sector schedule); renewal is ZMW 20,000 (≈ $1,000).
How long can I stay on the Investor's Permit?
Holding it for more than three years is one ground for a Residence Permit.
Can I work on the Investor's Permit?
Operate the business or investment.
Can I bring my family on the Investor's Permit?
A spouse or children can be added to the permit by variation; the variation fee is ZMW 8,000 (≈ $400) (private sector schedule).
Does the Investor's Permit lead to permanent residence in Zambia?
Time on the Investor's Permit counts toward permanent residence in Zambia, which the rules allow after 3 years of residence. Time on the Investor's Permit doesn't count toward citizenship.
How are Investor's Permit holders taxed in Zambia?
No special regime in our records is tied to the Investor's Permit. The standard rules apply: Employment income is taxed under PAYE on monthly bands: 0% on the first ZMW 5,100, (≈ $250) 20% to 7,100, 30% to 9,200 and 37% above, as shown in the Revenue Authority table labelled 2023.
More in Zambia
Business / startup visas elsewhere
≈ USD figures are approximate: daily reference rates from ExchangeRate-API, dated 12 Oct 2026, refreshed when the site is updated.
Ask the AI about this route AI
An AI assistant answers from the published records on this page and cites them. It can't assess your personal eligibility. Don't include personal details.
How this was checked
Checked on 2026-10-10 against 6 official sources. Status: partly verified; the page marks the facts an official source does not fully confirm.
Every figure on this page comes from the official source it links to. The record was researched against these sources, then reviewed separately, with special attention to effective dates and amendments. Where a source does not state something, the page leaves it out.
- Information for Residents: permit types · Zambia Department of Immigration · checked 2026-10-10
- Visa and Immigration Permit Fees · Zambia Department of Immigration · checked 2026-10-10
- Permit Types (Spouse Permit) · Zambia Department of Immigration · checked 2026-10-12
- Immigration and Deportation Act, 2010 (Act No. 18 of 2010), sections 20, 26 and 28 · National Assembly of Zambia · checked 2026-10-12
- The Citizenship of Zambia Act, 2016 (Act No. 33 of 2016) · National Assembly of Zambia · checked 2026-10-11
- Constitution of Zambia (Amendment) Act, 2016, Article 37 · National Assembly of Zambia · checked 2026-10-11
Tracked since 2026-10-10. Rule changes and corrections are listed on the changes page, and the methodology page explains how facts are checked. Found something out of date? Email contact@stayglobe.app with a link to the official source.