Working in Zimbabwe as a French National: Permit, Taxation and Economy

An entry visa is mandatory for French nationals: 30 US dollars for a single entry, 45 US dollars for a double entry, to be requested on evisa.gov.zw or obtained on arrival. For a business assignment, France Diplomatie (the French foreign ministry’s travel advice service) specifies that the “business” visa is obtained on arrival, notably at Harare airport, or online; it is valid for one or two entries and for 30 days. The documents required are an invitation letter from the Zimbabwean host, a cover letter from the company of origin and proof of residence in the country of origin. “In principle, a business visa cannot be extended on the spot,” states the same source.

This visa does not replace a work permit. For long-term salaried work, the Zimbabwean employer prepares the permit application with the immigration and labour authorities; the documents, times and fees are published by these administrations and should be confirmed before departure. Regulated professions may require prior recognition of qualifications.

Business travellers must also respect the currency regulations (declaration on entry, ceiling of 2,000 US dollars on exit) and those on minerals: holding or buying raw minerals is strongly discouraged and diamond trafficking is heavily punished.

Minimum wages in Zimbabwe fall under labour regulations. No amount could be read on an official source for this guide: it should be checked with the Ministry of Labour before signing a contract. Likewise, no average salary is put forward.

The economic context helps in reading an offer: since dollarisation is high, the currency of payment (US dollar or ZiG), the share paid in foreign currency, the payment date and the employer’s reliability are as important as the nominal level of the salary. France Diplomatie reminds us that poverty affects more than 40% of the population, after a doubling in about ten years.

To compare a post, think in terms of the full package: salary, housing, home security, health insurance and repatriation, schooling, travel. The guide seconded or expatriate explains the differences between statuses.

The employment contract must specify the position, the pay and its currency, the term, the probationary period and the notice; it is wise to have it reviewed by a local lawyer. Tax on salaries is managed by the tax authority, ZIMRA; the scales in force, published on its website, do not appear on this page because they could not be read in an up-to-date version.

France and Zimbabwe are bound by a tax treaty signed in Paris on 15 December 1993 and in force since 5 December 1996; it covers income tax, capital gains and wealth (BOFiP). It serves to avoid double taxation: the State of tax residence, the nature of the income and the length of stay determine where the salary is taxed. For an employee on assignment, the 183-day rule and the provisions on salaries should be read in the consolidated text on impots.gouv.fr.

Before leaving, you must declare the change of tax residence or, on the contrary, keep a residence in France if the stay is temporary: written advice from the tax office for individuals is recommended.

CLEISS (the French liaison centre for international social security) records no social security agreement between France and Zimbabwe: periods worked locally cannot be added to French periods. A seconded employee keeps, according to Assurance Maladie (the French national health insurance), French affiliation and, in a country without an agreement, dual affiliation with the host country’s scheme; care abroad is reimbursed on the basis of French rates.

For a local employee, cover depends on the employer and on private provident arrangements; France Diplomatie stresses that both public and private facilities require, on admission, a deposit that is sometimes large, in cash and in US dollars, even if the patient presents an insurance card. International cover with direct payment then becomes a cash-flow issue.

See the CFE (Caisse des Français de l’étranger, the French social security fund for expatriates) for voluntary insurance suited to employees abroad, and reimbursements in Zimbabwe to compare the routes.

A French self-employed person who wishes to settle in Zimbabwe checks with the local authorities the permit suited to their activity (investment, work or residence), the conditions for setting up a business and their tax registration. The rules on exchange and repatriation of profits, which matter in a dollarised economy, should be confirmed before any investment.

No remote-worker visa is mentioned in the official pages read for this guide. A short stay on a visitor visa remains possible; for a longer presence, the residence document must be planned for. Internet connections should be tested before committing: in Harare, broadband access is found mainly in hotels and spaces equipped with Wi-Fi.

See also digital nomad insurance and visas for digital nomads.

France Diplomatie presents a GDP of the order of 35 billion US dollars, the third-largest economy in southern Africa, and sustained growth according to the World Bank. The driving sectors are agriculture and mining, supported by high gold prices and diaspora remittances.

Public debt is high, of the order of 80% of GDP; the IMF judges it unsustainable and monitors the country under a staff-monitored programme. Poverty exceeds 40% of the population, which limits domestic demand.

The regional economic service in Pretoria follows relations with Zimbabwe, and the Johannesburg office of the Agence française de développement handles cooperation. Current inflation, unemployment and growth appear in the “Economic indicators” block.

The ZiG, introduced on 5 April 2024 to replace the Zimbabwean dollar, circulates mainly in electronic form, while the US dollar remains widely used and dollarisation of the economy remains very high. Currency must be declared on entry; exit is limited to 2,000 US dollars or the equivalent, beyond which the sums risk being seized.

The outlook depends on currency stability, gold prices, harvests and dialogue with creditors. For someone considering expatriation, the main checks are the currency of payment, secure housing, health cover with evacuation, and the real cost of living on the spot; they can be worked through with the page living in Zimbabwe.