Guidance

Zambia: Knowledge Base profile

Published 6 May 2025

About: Zambia

This document contains useful information about Zambia which will assist His Majesty’s Passport Office staff process passport applications.

Contacts

If you have any questions about the document and your line manager or senior caseworker cannot help you or you think that the document has factual errors then email the Guidance team.

If you notice any formatting errors in this document (broken links, spelling mistakes and so on) or have any comments about the layout or navigability of the document then you can email the Guidance team.

Publication

Below is information on when this version of the document was published:

• version 2.0
• published for Home Office staff on 1 May 2025

Changes from last version of this document

This document has been updated with formatting changes.

Zambia: names

This section gives HM Passport Office operational staff information about names in Zambia.

Names in Zambia consist of:

• 1 or more forenames
• 1 surname

Change of name

Name changes are allowed in Zambia.

Any change of name following birth registration must be documented, recorded and the person’s National Registration Certificate reissued in the new name.

Name changes must take place in Zambia. A new passport can be issued when the National Registration Certificate is updated.

Zambia: nationality

This section gives HM Passport Office operational staff information about nationality in Zambia.

Dual nationality is legal in Zambia.

Anyone who previously renounced their Zambia citizenship because of dual citizenship can reacquire it.

Zambia: legitimacy

This section gives HM Passport Office operational staff information about legitimacy in Zambia.

Legitimacy

Zambia recognises a difference between legitimate and illegitimate births.

A child will be considered:

• legitimate if their parents:
  • were married at the time of their birth
  • marry after the birth and the father was domiciled in Zambia at the time of the marriage
• illegitimate if the parents never marry

Zambia: adoption

This section gives HM Passport Office operational staff information about adoption in Zambia.

Adoption is legal in Zambia.

Zambia: surrogacy

This section gives HM Passport Office operational staff information about surrogacy in Zambia.

Surrogacy is illegal in Zambia.

Zambia: gender recognition

This section gives HM Passport Office operational staff information about gender recognition in Zambia.

Transgender citizens are not recognised in Zambia.

Zambia: civil partnerships and marriage

This section gives HM Passport Office operational staff information about civil partnerships and marriage in Zambia.

Same sex relationships are illegal in Zambia.

There are 3 main types of marriage in Zambia:

• customary or tribal marriage
• civil marriage
• polygamous marriage

Customary marriage and polygamous marriage are legal in Zambia.

Zambia: documents

This section gives HM Passport Office operational staff information about documents from Zambia.

Zambia issues certificates for all registered births, marriages and deaths.

Birth certificates

Since 1 January 1973 all births in Zambia must be registered within one month of the birth with the local Registrar of Births, Marriages and Deaths. Late registration is possible.

The Registrar General will issue late birth certificates to Zambia citizens who were born before 1 January 1973 if they provide:

• a hospital record of birth or a baptismal certificate; and,
• an affidavit prepared by a family member with knowledge of the birth and signed by a commissioner for oaths

Only the full version of the birth certificate (that shows the parents details) is acceptable for HM Passport Office purposes; however, there are 3 types of birth certificates:

• full version showing both parents, this type of certificate may not contain date and place of birth of parents
• short version that does not show parent details
• Record of Birth

Any errors on the register will be corrected by the Registrar General. The original entry will not be erased.

Marriage certificates

All civil marriages must be registered with the Registrar General of Births, Marriages and Deaths within 3 months. The registrar will give the couple a marriage certificate at the time of the event.

Death certificates

All deaths must be registered within 1 month of the death at the local Registrar of Births, Marriages and Deaths of where the person died.

A Registrar will allow late notification of a death of up to 3 months if they are satisfied no undue delay has taken place.

Identity documents

A National Registration Card (NRC) is issued to all Zambia nationals aged 16 or older.

The NRC must be applied for in person, in Zambia at any Registration Centre of the Department of National Registration, Passport and Citizenship (DNRPC).