Guidance

Zimbabwe: Knowledge Base profile

Published 6 May 2025

About: Zimbabwe

This document contains useful information about Zimbabwe 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.

Zimbabwe: names

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

Names in Zimbabwe consist of a:

• first name or given name
• family name or surname

Change of name

Name changes are allowed in Zimbabwe.

Citizens can change their name by completing a Notarial Deed for change of name with a Notary Public in Zimbabwe.

The Notary Public will publish the change of name and log the Notarial Deed with the Registrar of Deeds. When permission to change the name is granted this is registered with the Registrar General. The Registrar General will issue new identity documents to allow the person to get a passport in the new name.

Where the change of name is due to a marriage, the person needs to register the marriage with the Registrar General. They do not need to complete a change of name Notarial deed.

Zimbabwe: nationality

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

Dual nationality

Dual nationality is only recognised if the person is a Zimbabwe citizen by birth.

A Zimbabwe citizen who has gained citizenship by registration or descent is not allowed to hold dual citizenship.

Zimbabwe: legitimacy

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

Legitimacy

Zimbabwe recognises a difference between legitimate and illegitimate births.

A child is considered:

• legitimate if their parents:
  • are married at the time of the birth
  • marry after the birth
• illegitimate if the parents never marry

Zimbabwe: adoption

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

Adoption is legal in Zimbabwe.

Same sex couples cannot adopt in Zimbabwe.

Zimbabwe: civil partnerships and marriage

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

Civil partnerships and same sex marriages are not recognised in Zimbabwe.

There are three types of marriage in Zimbabwe:

• civil marriage
• customary law marriage
• customary law union (this must be converted to a customary law marriage to be registered as an official marriage in Zimbabwe)

Polygamy is allowed in customary law unions in Zimbabwe, it is not allowed in civil marriages.

Zimbabwe: documents

This section gives HM Passport Office operational staff information about documents in Zimbabwe.

Birth certificates

Children born in a hospital or medical facility receive a birth confirmation record.

Births must be registered at Ministry of Home Affairs, Department of Registrar General within 42 days of the birth. Late registrations are accepted.

A computerised birth certificate is issued where the child’s parents are already in the system (for example, their own birth has been registered) and they can produce identification.

A manual birth certificate is issued to children whose parents:

• do not have a national identity card
• have lost their national identity card,
• qualify for Zimbabwe nationality through descent

Marriage certificates

All marriages in Zimbabwe must be registered immediately and are registered at Ministry of Home Affairs, Department of Registrar General Office. Marriage certificates are issued.

Marriage records are held centrally in the Registrar General Office in Harare.

Death certificates

Deaths must be registered within 30 days of the death, at the local Home Affairs office or registrar. Death certificates are issued within 6 weeks of the registration.

Identity documents

A national identity document is compulsory for all Zimbabwe citizens or permanent residents who are aged 16 years or older. Identity documents are held in a central registry in Harare.