Living in Zambia as a French National: Cities, Formalities and Daily Life

Zambia offers expatriates exceptional natural areas, including Victoria Falls, a subtropical climate at altitude (around 1,300 m) and a tropical one in the valleys and by the lakes, and the status of an English-speaking country where English is the official language alongside Bantu languages (Bemba, Nyanja, Tonga, Lozi, Kaonde, Lunda, Luvale). France Diplomatie describes it as a generally calm country, with few incidents, but where any assaults can be violent.

• Strengths: free visa on arrival, widely spoken English, natural wealth, a welcoming community life, a plateau climate.
• Points of caution: roads sometimes in poor condition and unlit, night-time travel discouraged, a rainy season that cuts some roads, limited access to advanced care, consular procedures in Johannesburg.
• Health: malaria, cholera in the rainy season, tap water not drinkable; see the page the healthcare system in Zambia.

Lusaka, the capital, concentrates embassies, administrations and skilled jobs; it is the city where France Diplomatie locates the first accessible care. The country also counts Ndola, Kitwe and Chingola (Copperbelt, the mining heartland), Kabwe, Livingstone and Chipata among its main towns.

Livingstone attracts tourism professionals around Victoria Falls. France Diplomatie nonetheless reports assaults on tourists between Livingstone and the Zambian side of the falls and in the surrounding area, while specifying that the site of the falls and the neighbouring large hotels are secured. During the rainy season (November to April), cholera outbreaks are frequent, notably in the Copperbelt and the Lusaka region.

The choice of city is therefore made according to employment, proximity to healthcare and access to water and roads; it is prepared with an exploratory stay in the dry season and a visit to homes in daytime.

Zambia is the fourth-largest economy in southern Africa according to France Diplomatie, with a mining sector accounting for 13% of GDP and about 70% of export revenue. Copper makes the country the continent’s second-largest producer behind the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Current inflation and the value of the kwacha appear in the “Economic indicators” block of this page.

No official average rent was read for this guide; housing budgets vary by city and neighbourhood and are compared on the spot with several landlords. The security of the home (fencing, alarm, lighting), the water and electricity connection and the conditions for terminating the lease should be checked.

On payments, France Diplomatie indicates that the kwacha is the main currency used, that dollars are accepted in some establishments to be checked beforehand, that the Visa card is the most widespread for paying and withdrawing, and that Mastercard is accepted by merchants but allows withdrawals only at a few cash machines. Card fraud has been reported in Lusaka, at the airport and in the Kabulonga district.

For fewer than 90 days, no advance visa is needed: it is obtained on arrival, free of charge since 1 November 2022; the application can also be made online on the immigration portal. The passport must be valid for at least six months beyond the end of the stay and have two blank pages.

The immigration officer often grants 30 days at most: you must report to immigration before expiry to obtain an extension, free up to 90 days and then paid beyond three months, and justify the request. Overstaying without an extension is illegal: the person may be imprisoned until an 18,000-kwacha fine is paid.

For a long stay, Zambia’s immigration department issues work, investment, study and residence permits; the procedures and the rates, revised periodically, can be consulted on its website. Zambia also imposes SIM card formalities: an identity document and an address are requested by the operators Zamtel, MTN or Airtel.

The France Diplomatie pages devoted to Zambia mention no establishment of the French education network abroad. Before departure, the French embassy in Lusaka and the directory of the Agency for French Education Abroad (AEFE) are the sources to consult to learn of any French-language schooling options.

Families compare local schools by language of instruction, the exams taken, fees and distance from home, and often plan for French support at home.

For children’s health, see the guide children’s cover abroad and the page expatriate family insurance.

France Diplomatie classes two border zones as orange (advised against except for imperative reasons): the northern border, where remnants of explosive war material reportedly remain in the North-Western province and where people sometimes flee fighting in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and the southern border between Livingstone and the Zambian side of Victoria Falls. In the rest of the country, incidents are few but can be violent (armed robberies, burglaries, carjackings).

Travelling on foot, by car or by intercity bus after nightfall is discouraged except in an emergency; city taxis are considered reliable for night-time journeys. General recommendations: avoid displaying valuables, do not resist in an armed robbery, lock the home and vehicle, travel accompanied.

On the road, some roads are in poor condition and unlit, pedestrians and animals can appear suddenly, and drunk drivers have been reported; night driving outside built-up areas is strictly discouraged. In parks, you must never get out of the vehicle during a safari, and any natural object (bone, horn, stone, feather) must come with a certificate from the wildlife authority to be exported.

The rainy season, from December to March-April, often floods regions crossed by rivers; Zambian weather services and the state of the roads should be consulted before each journey. For residents, the French licence is to be supplemented by a local licence: traffic drives on the left. The embassy also reminds us that tap water is not drinkable.

On legislation, France Diplomatie reminds of severe penalties: up to five years in prison for drunk driving, ten to twenty years for drug trafficking, including for a very small amount of marijuana; a ban on photographing official buildings; and the legal prohibition of same-sex relations. Respect for local rules avoids any incident.

To compare health cover before settling in, the page expat health insurance presents the options and the page healthcare reimbursement in Zambia details each status.