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Cargo release steps in Zambia

These steps draw on the WFP Logistics Cluster border profiles, the US trade guide and reports on Zambia Revenue Authority (ZRA) rules ^1,2 ³. Pre-clearance on ASYCUDA World has been mandatory for commercial goods since 1 May 2024 ². ZRA checks tax compliance automatically at import ⁵. Transit steps cover bonds and seals ^4,6. Permit and mineral steps draw on the laws ^12,13. Each step names the party responsible. Rules can change, so confirm with ZRA or a licensed clearing agent ⁷.

Last checked 24 October 2026

01 Import clearance

Register TPINs
The importer and the clearing agent each need a Taxpayer Identification Number (TPIN) registered with ZRA ¹.
Who: Importer and clearing agent
Appoint a licensed clearing agent
WFP recommends a licensed customs clearing agent for commercial cargo ⁴. At Mokambo, WFP says commercial goods over US$2,000 need a clearing agent ⁷.
Who: Importer
Gather commercial documents
Bills of lading or airway bills and commercial invoices are needed to clear goods ³. WFP adds packing lists and road manifests, and invoices that state description, quantity, value and currency ¹.
Who: Importer
Get permits for controlled goods
Meat needs Veterinary Department certification. Plants, seeds and fruit need a phytosanitary certificate from Mount Makulu Research Station. Food and drugs need Ministry of Health and Zambia Medicines Regulatory Authority certification ³.
Who: Importer and permit agencies
Apply for a Ministry of Agriculture import permit
Listed farm imports such as maize, rice, potatoes, eggs and live poultry need a permit from the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Agriculture. The fee is 350 fee units per 30 metric tonnes ¹².
Who: Importer and Ministry of Agriculture
Apply early for a ZAMRA permit
WFP says import permits for medical devices and IVDs are applied for at least 14 days in advance, with premises registered with ZAMRA ¹¹.
Who: Importer and Zambia Medicines Regulatory Authority
Pay radiation assessment fees
From 19 April 2024 ZRA collects Radiation Protection Authority assessment fees through the Zambia Electronic Single Window, per an RPA statement reported by Zambia Monitor ¹⁸.
Who: Importer and ZRA
Lodge the bill of entry early
Register the bill of entry on ASYCUDA World at least 5 days before the goods reach the border. This is mandatory for commercial goods since 1 May 2024 ².
Who: Clearing agent
Pre-clear on the ZRA portal
At Nchelenge, WFP says most goods must be pre-cleared through the ZRA customs portal or the TaxOnApp before reaching the border ¹⁶.
Who: Clearing agent or importer
Get a temporary import permit for the truck
WFP says vehicles entering at Nchelenge need a Temporary Import Permit, and carbon emissions tax and road access fees are paid ¹⁶.
Who: Transporter
Declare amounts over US$5,000
WFP says amounts over USD 5,000 or equivalent must be declared on an Integrated Border Declaration Form ¹⁵.
Who: Driver or traveller
Automatic tax compliance check
ASYCUDA World checks the importer's status in ZRA's TaxOnline system. A non-compliant importer is charged 15 percent advance income tax on the declared value ⁵.
Who: ZRA (ASYCUDA World)
Pay duty and VAT
All taxes, VAT and duty, must be paid before goods are released ¹.
Who: Importer or clearing agent
Inspection and release
All trucks are subject to inspection on entry or exit ⁶. The Ministry of Agriculture inspects food imports ⁶. Goods are released once taxes are paid ¹.
Who: ZRA and inspecting agencies
Use removal in bond or a bonded warehouse
WFP says Removal in Bond lets goods move through Zambia for 30 days without immediate tax payment. Bonded warehouses allow storage for up to 12 months ¹¹.
Who: Importer, clearing agent and ZRA

02 Transit through Zambia

Lodge the transit declaration
WFP lists export and transit declarations and a Customs Road Freight Manifest among the documents for commercial goods at Sesheke ².
Who: Clearing agent
Provide a bond
WFP says the forwarding agent holds the bond for fees ⁶. By September 2024 ZRA had started phase one of an E-Bonds system that automates bond issuance ⁸.
Who: Clearing agent and guarantor
Choose the transit guarantee
WFP says transit is covered by a clearing agent's bond or the COMESA Regional Customs Transit Guarantee ¹¹.
Who: Clearing agent and guarantor
Load vehicles on a carrier
WFP says motor vehicles in transit, other than trucks and heavy-duty vehicles, must travel on a vehicle carrier from 1 January 2022 ¹¹.
Who: Transporter
Seal the cargo
Electronic seals are used for transit cargo at Nakonde, according to WFP ⁴.
Who: ZRA
Tracking of high-risk cargo
WFP says the Electronic Cargo Tracking System monitors high-risk transit cargo ¹¹.
Who: ZRA
Keep to transit time limits
WFP says road transit goods must exit within 5 days and rail transit goods within 30 days ¹¹.
Who: Transporter and clearing agent
Exit and close the transit
ZRA's Commissioner General said in 2024 that Auditor General reports had flagged irregularities in bond removals and transit transactions ⁸. The Auditor General's report on 2024 found K10.9 million in transit taxes at risk from poor monitoring of goods leaving the country ⁹.
Who: ZRA at the exit border

03 Export clearance

Pre-clear the export
WFP says pre-clearance on ASYCUDA World at least 5 days ahead has been mandatory for all commercial goods since 1 May 2024 ².
Who: Exporter or clearing agent
Gather export documents
For cereals WFP lists a waybill, an export permit where the commodity needs one, a COMESA or SADC certificate of origin, a fumigation certificate, an export schedule for maize, an invoice and a phytosanitary certificate ⁶.
Who: Exporter
Get an export permit for listed farm goods
Listed exports such as maize, maize meal, groundnuts, honey, seed cotton, wheat and raw hides need a Ministry of Agriculture permit. Goods in transit are exempt ¹².
Who: Exporter and Ministry of Agriculture
Get the phytosanitary certificate from ZESW
Since February 2021 the Ministry of Agriculture plant health service generates phytosanitary certificates from the Zambia Electronic Single Window ¹⁴.
Who: Exporter and Ministry of Agriculture
Get a mineral export permit
Minerals, gemstones and ores need a Minerals Regulation Commission permit. The exporter needs an analysis and valuation certificate, a ZRA royalty clearance certificate and police security clearance ¹³.
Who: Exporter and Minerals Regulation Commission
Check export duty on minerals
Reuters reported on 3 June 2026 a 10 percent duty on copper concentrate exports, suspended for set volumes to 30 September ¹⁷.
Who: Exporter and ZRA
Inspection at exit
All trucks are subject to inspection on exit. The Ministry of Agriculture inspects food exports with ZRA ⁶.
Who: ZRA and Ministry of Agriculture
Clear and depart
WFP puts average export clearance at Mokambo at about 4 hours ⁷. At Kasumbalesa, export delays sometimes average over 100 hours, often from bottlenecks on the DRC side ¹.
Who: ZRA and the neighbouring border agency

Notes

WFP profiles are undated and some contain internal conflicts, for example on opening hours at Mokambo ⁷.
A US$2,000 simplified trade regime threshold applies to small traders at some borders, subject to origin rules ¹⁰.

Rules and charges change. Check the official source linked on this page before you pay or travel. Spotted an error? Email [email protected].

01 Import clearance

Register TPINs

Appoint a licensed clearing agent

Gather commercial documents

Get permits for controlled goods

Apply for a Ministry of Agriculture import permit

Apply early for a ZAMRA permit

Pay radiation assessment fees

Lodge the bill of entry early

Pre-clear on the ZRA portal

Get a temporary import permit for the truck

Declare amounts over US$5,000

Automatic tax compliance check

Pay duty and VAT

Inspection and release

Use removal in bond or a bonded warehouse

02 Transit through Zambia

Lodge the transit declaration

Provide a bond

Choose the transit guarantee

Load vehicles on a carrier

Seal the cargo

Tracking of high-risk cargo

Keep to transit time limits

Exit and close the transit

03 Export clearance

Pre-clear the export

Gather export documents

Get an export permit for listed farm goods

Get the phytosanitary certificate from ZESW

Get a mineral export permit

Check export duty on minerals

Inspection at exit

Clear and depart

Notes

Sources