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$250,000 new company OR $150,000 joining one — two thresholds, not one

Investor’s Permit
Zambia

The official Department of Immigration portal confirms two distinct thresholds: $250,000 to set up a new company OR $150,000 to join an existing one. These aren't alternative discounts on the same product — they're two different investment scenarios with different amounts.

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Threshold for a new company
$250,000
Threshold for joining an existing one
$150,000
Transition to Residence Permit
after 3+ years
Initial permit term
not officially published

Two agencies — two different documents

The Department of Immigration issues the Investor's Permit (residency right). The Zambia Development Agency issues a separate investment licence with incentives. Their amounts partly overlap, but these are different documents from different agencies.

AGENCY
WHAT IT ISSUES
THRESHOLD
Department of Immigration
WHAT IT ISSUESInvestor's Permit (residency)
$250,000 new company / $150,000 joining an existing one
Zambia Development Agency (ZDA)
WHAT IT ISSUESinvestment licence with incentives
from $250,000 non-fiscal incentives / from $500,000 fiscal incentives

What the process consists of

Confirming the investment requires bank statements, transfer records, or a ZRA CE20 form (for equipment and goods) — the portal doesn't publish a single fixed fee for the Investor's Permit itself.

COST ITEM
AMOUNT
NOTE
Investment in a new company
AMOUNTfrom $250,000
Investor's Permit, Department of Immigration
Investment when joining an existing company
AMOUNTfrom $150,000
confirmed via bank documentation
ZDA investment licence (optional)
AMOUNTfrom $250,000 / from $500,000
a separate document with non-fiscal/fiscal incentives

How the process runs

01
Registering the company and confirming the investment
Certificate of incorporation, share capital documentation.
02
Applying for the Investor's Permit at the Department of Immigration
Passport, photos, and documents confirming the investment.
03
Renewing the permit
Requires ZRA tax documents, an audit from a ZICA-accredited firm, and an immigration inspection.
04
Transitioning to a Residence Permit
Available after holding the Investor's Permit for more than 3 years.
05
Optional: ZDA investment licence
A separate procedure for non-fiscal/fiscal incentives — it does not replace the Investor's Permit.

A good fit if

You're ready to invest from $250,000 in a new Zambian company OR from $150,000 joining an already-existing business.
You're fine with the initial permit term not being officially published, and with annual tax and audit reporting for renewal.
You're thinking on a 3+ year horizon toward a full Residence Permit.
You're interested in Southern Africa for business diversification beyond the more familiar South Africa/Botswana/Mauritius routes.

A poor fit if

You're conflating the Investor's Permit (residency) with the ZDA investment licence (incentives) — these are two different documents with partly different thresholds.
You need an exact, officially published initial permit duration — the portal doesn't state one.
You're not prepared for annual reporting (tax documents, independent audit) to renew the permit.
You want instant results without a verified real investment — bank statements, transfer records, or a ZRA CE20 form are required.

Who runs this programme

Your request goes to two or three firms from this list. You see exactly which ones before it is sent, and you can exclude any of them.

No matching firms in the directory for this category yet — the list is curated by hand and grows over time.

This is an independent list of firms in the market, not our partners — we do not forward requests to them or receive payment for referrals. Contact them directly via the link.

Frequent questions

Why does this page show two thresholds — $250,000 and $150,000?

Per the available data these are two scenarios under the same Investor's Permit: $250,000 for setting up a new company, $150,000 for joining an existing one — not a discount, but different conditions.

Is the Investor's Permit the same as the ZDA investment licence?

No — per the available data these are two different documents from two different agencies: the Investor's Permit grants residency (Department of Immigration), the ZDA licence grants tax and customs incentives (Zambia Development Agency); their amounts partly overlap, but one cannot substitute for the other.

How long is the wait for an initial decision?

The official portal doesn't publish an initial review time — it only states that renewal requires annual tax and audit documentation.

When is a full Residence Permit available?

Per the available data — after holding the Investor's Permit for more than 3 years, subject to a successful immigration inspection.

What documents confirm the investment?

Per the available data — bank statements, fund transfer records, or a ZRA CE20 form (for investments made as equipment or goods).

Sources

Zambia's Department of Immigration (zambiaimmigration.gov.zm) — official description of the Investor's Permit: $250,000 (new company) and $150,000 (joining an existing one) thresholds, supporting-document requirements, renewal conditions, and transition to a Residence Permit after 3+ years. Separately, the Zambia Development Agency (businesslicenses.gov.zm) confirms related but distinct investment-licence thresholds — $250,000 for non-fiscal incentives and $500,000 for fiscal incentives; this is a separate document, not equivalent to the Investor's Permit↗

Figures are for reference only. Verified against official sources on 27 August 2026. A precise quote is issued by the appointed firm after document review. This material is not legal advice, a public offer or investment advice.