How to Get Zambia CitizenshipKey facts
- Residence for naturalisation
- 10 years
- Language
- None
- Dual citizenship
- Accepted
- Civic test
- No civic knowledge requirement
- Criminal record
- A criminal record or good character condition applies
- Income condition
- Income or economic resources must be shown
- Dual citizenship in detail
- Accepted in both directionsNew citizens do not have to give up their previous citizenship.Citizens who naturalise abroad keep their citizenship.
- Available routes
- Region
- Africa
- Law in force as of
- 1 January 2024
- Last checked
- Not yet checked by our team
The rule text in the sections below was coded for the law on 1 January 2024. A November 2026 search found no later change for this country, but this has not been verified.
Naturalisation (residence)
Residence in Zambia is the basis of this route, together with the other conditions below. Authorities retain discretion and may refuse an application even when the conditions are met.
- Residence
- 10 years
Person was born outside Zambia and has been ordinarily resident in Zambia for a continuous period of at least 10 years.
- Previous citizenship
- New citizens do not have to give up their previous citizenship
- Language
- No language requirement
- Civic knowledge
- No civic knowledge requirement
- Criminal record
- A criminal record or good character condition applies
Person has not been convicted of an offence and sentenced to imprisonment, nor declared a prohibited immigrant nor would approval be contrary to public interest
- Income or economic resources
- Income or economic resources must be shown
Person is not an adjudged bankrupt.
Marriage or civil partnership
Marriage to a citizen of Zambia is the basis of this route, together with the conditions below. Authorities retain discretion and may refuse an application even when the conditions are met.
Person is or was married to a citizen for a period of at least 5 years. Other conditions: applicant has not been declared a prohibited immigrant nor convicted of an offence and sentenced to imprisonment, and the marriage was not entered into for the purpose of acquiring a status or privilege in relation to immigration or citizenship.
Descent (citizen parent)
For a person with a parent who is a citizen of Zambia, the rules below set out how this route works. The law of Zambia confers citizenship automatically, independent of any administrative decision.
Descent (born in country)
Person is born in Zambia to a citizen.
Descent (born abroad)
Person is born abroad to a citizen.
Birth in the country
This route concerns people born in Zambia, and only in the situations described below. Authorities retain discretion and may refuse an application even when the conditions are met.
Person was born in Zambia and has been ordinarily resident in Zambia for a period of at least 5 years. (Note: Act does not provide modalities.)
Adoption
For people adopted by citizens of Zambia, the rules below set out what applies. An application is required, and citizenship must be granted once the legal conditions are met.
Person is a child adopted by a citizen and resident in Zambia.
Other family members of citizens
This route covers certain family members not covered by the marriage or descent routes in Zambia. Authorities retain discretion and may refuse an application even when the conditions are met.
Person was born outside Zambia, has or had an ancestor who is, or was, a citizen and has been ordinarily resident in Zambia for a period of at least five years.
Former citizens (reacquisition)
This route covers people who previously held citizenship of Zambia, subject to the conditions below. Authorities retain discretion and may refuse an application even when the conditions are met.
Person lost citizenship as a result of acquiring the citizenship of another country.
Stateless persons
Statelessness, or the risk of it, is the basis of this route in Zambia. The law of Zambia confers citizenship automatically, independent of any administrative decision.
Person is a child found in Zambia who is, or appears to be, of not more than eight years of age and whose citizenship and parents are not known.
Not available in Zambia: Child of a new citizen, Citizens of specific countries, Ethnic or cultural affinity, Residence during childhood, Very long residence, Refugees, Special achievements, Public or military service, Investment. Coded by GLOBALCIT for 1 January 2024 and updated with in-force changes.
Dual citizenship
Both groups can hold a second citizenship under the law of Zambia: new citizens, and citizens who naturalise abroad.
- New citizens
- New citizens do not have to give up their previous citizenship
- Citizens who naturalise abroad
- Citizens who naturalise abroad keep their citizenship
Compare with neighbours
The period of 10 years set under the law of Zambia is also the most common one in Eastern Africa.
See how Zambia compares with every country in the residence ranking
| Country | Residence | Language | Dual citizenship |
|---|---|---|---|
 Burundi | 10 years | Assimilation only | Accepted |
 Comoros | 10 years | Assimilation only | Accepted |
 Djibouti | 10 years | Required, no test | Accepted |
 Mozambique | 10 years | Required, no test | Accepted |
 South Sudan | 10 years | None | Accepted |
 Uganda | 10 years | Test or certificate | Accepted |
Official sources
This page was located by search and has not yet been checked by our team.
Naturalisation provisions: Legal basis: Constitution Art. 27(1)(b), 27(1)(c), Nationality law Art. 23(1), 23(2).
Cite this page
TravelDecl. (n.d.). How to Get Zambia Citizenship. Retrieved November 5, 2026, from https://traveldecl.com/citizenship/zambia/
<a href="https://traveldecl.com/citizenship/zambia/">How to Get Zambia Citizenship</a> (TravelDecl, retrieved 5 November 2026)
Sources and licence
Vink, van der Baaren, Bauböck, Džankić, Honohan, Manby (2025). GLOBALCIT Citizenship Law Dataset v3.1. Global Citizenship Observatory, https://hdl.handle.net/1814/73190. CC BY 4.0. Modified by TravelDecl.
Modified by TravelDecl: updated with changes after 1 January 2024.
GLOBALCIT codes the law as written. Fees, processing times, quotas and how officials apply the rules in practice are not in this dataset: check them with the official authority.
FAQ
How many years to become a Zambian citizen?
The law of Zambia sets 10 years of residence for ordinary naturalisation. Other legal conditions also apply.
Does Zambia allow dual citizenship?
Yes, in both directions: new citizens and citizens who naturalise abroad can hold another citizenship.
Do I need a language test for Zambian citizenship?
Applicants are not required to demonstrate language skills under the law of Zambia.
Is there a civic knowledge test for Zambian citizenship?
Applicants for Zambian citizenship are not asked to demonstrate civic knowledge.
Do I have to give up my current citizenship to get Zambian citizenship?
There is no obligation to renounce your current citizenship to get Zambian citizenship. The law of your current country may have its own rules on this.
Can I get Zambia citizenship by marriage?
Yes, Zambia provides a marriage route. Procedure: discretionary.
Can I get Zambia citizenship by descent?
Yes, the law of Zambia provides citizenship by descent from a citizen parent. Procedure: automatic.
Can I get Zambia citizenship by investment?
The data shows no investment route for Zambia.
Related pages
Also see: Zambia passport, visa-free access and entry rules. Latest law changes.
Corrections to this page are handled by Sarah Kim, Fact-Checker.