Zimbabwe
ZWEZimbabwe occupies the southern African plateau between the Zambezi and Limpopo rivers, sharing Victoria Falls with Zambia. The country has a highly educated, English-speaking population yet has endured one of the world's most severe currency crises: the Zimbabwean dollar collapsed spectacularly in 2008–2009, wiping out savings. A multi-currency system followed, dominated by the US dollar, before the Zimbabwe Gold (ZiG) was introduced in 2024 as a gold-backed replacement — its long-term stability remains unproven. The economy relies on tobacco, gold, platinum, and chrome exports. Despite abundant natural resources, infrastructure is strained and foreign investment is constrained by land-reform legacy and regulatory uncertainty. Dual citizenship is not permitted. Zimbabwe offers no formal investment-migration programme, though a five-year naturalisation route exists for permanent residents.
Passport Rank
#95
Visa-Free
46
destinations
Country Details
- Capital
- Harare
- Currency
- Zimbabwe Gold (ZiG) / USD widely used
- Languages
- English, Shona, Ndebele, Chewa, Nambya
- Population
- 16,000,000
- Tax System
- Residence Based
- Dual Citizenship
- Not allowed
- Naturalisation
- 5 years
- Schengen / EU
- No
- Climate
- Subtropical highland / savanna
- English Proficiency Rank
- #28
Indices
Cost of Living
28
Safety
38
Healthcare
25
Quality of Life
82
Tax Summary
- Tax System
- Residence Based
- Territorial Taxation
- No — worldwide income taxed for residents
- Naturalisation
- 5 years of legal residency
- Dual Citizenship
- Not allowed
Cost of Living by City
← scroll the table →
| City | Rent 1BR centre | Rent outside | Groceries | Utilities | Transit pass |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Harare | — | — | — | — | — |
| Bulawayo | — | — | — | — | — |
| Mutare | — | — | — | — | — |
Monthly USD figures. Typical central 1-bedroom rent, grocery basket for one, household utilities, monthly transit pass.
Climate
Harare
Rainfall range: 2–196 mm/month · Daylight 11h (winter) to 13h (summer)
Bulawayo
Rainfall range: 1–115 mm/month · Daylight 11h (winter) to 13h (summer)
Mutare
Rainfall range: 3–235 mm/month · Daylight 11h (winter) to 13h (summer)
Visa Categories & Immigration Authority
Major Visa Categories
- KAZA UniVisa
- Tourist
- Business
- Work Permit
- Investor
- Student
- Residence Permit
- Authority
- Department of Immigration Control
- Official Portal
- www.dic.gov.zw
- Phone
- +263 242 791 913
- info@dic.gov.zw
Naturalisation Details
- Residence Years
- 5
- Language Test
- Yes (English (functional proficiency assessed at interview; Zimbabwe's sole official administrative language))
- Civic Test
- Yes
- Oath Required
- Yes
- Dual Allowed
- Yes
- Fee
- $150
- Processing
- ~18 months
Safety
GPI Rank
#127
Global Peace Index ranking (lower is safer)
Common Risks
- ⚠Currency exchange fraud — unlicensed street changers offer favourable ZiG rates then pass counterfeit notes or short-change; use banks or RBZ-licensed bureaux de change only
- ⚠Vehicle 'breakdown' distraction scams on the Harare–Bulawayo highway, where staged emergencies are used to rob good-Samaritan motorists
- ⚠Fake land and property deals exploiting Zimbabwe's complex 99-year lease system; insist on ZIMRA-verified title documentation and a registered conveyancer
Examples of areas to avoid: Mbare (Harare) — highest petty crime and mugging risk in the capital, particularly after dark and around the musika bus rank, Magwegwe North (Bulawayo) — elevated street crime; exercise caution at night, Sakubva high-density suburb (Mutare) — periodic unrest and pickpocketing near the market area
Related Guides
Sources & last verified
- Last verified 2026-06-15