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.
- Naturalisation
- 5 years
- Tax system
- Residence Based
- Currency
- Zimbabwe Gold (ZiG) / USD widely used
- Dual citizenship
- Not allowed
- Capital
- Harare
- Region
- africa
- Population
- 16,000,000
- Cost-of-living
- 28 /100
Passport Rank
#95
Visa-Free
57
destinations
Visa-free travel
A Zimbabwe passport has visa-free access to 57 destinations. See the full Zimbabwe passport breakdown →
Passports that enter Zimbabwe without a prior visa (141)
Visa-free, visa on arrival, or on an eTA.
Community-sourced (passport-index, synced 2026-08-18) — verify with the embassy before travel.
Immigrating to Canada from Zimbabwe
Current IRCC processing times for Zimbabwe nationals, by application type.
| Visitor visa (outside Canada) | 147 days |
| Super visa | No processing time available |
| Study permit | 14 weeks |
| Work permit | 48 weeks |
| Sponsor a dependent child | No processing time available |
| Adopted child (citizenship) | Not enough data |
| Government-assisted refugees | Not enough data |
| Privately sponsored refugees | sponsor: Not enough data / refugee: Not enough data |
Your application may take longer than the times shown here. They’re not a maximum or a guarantee.
As of 2026-09-22 (IRCC). See all Canada processing times →
Source: Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada — “Check processing times”. This is a copy of the version available at https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/application/check-processing-times.html. Reproduced under the Government of Canada’s non-commercial reproduction terms; not endorsed by or affiliated with IRCC.
Sources & last verified
Government of Canada — non-commercial reproduction (canada.ca Terms and conditions)
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
- GDP per capita
- $3,021
- Life expectancy
- 63.06 yrs
- Population growth
- 1.88%/yr
GDP per capita, life expectancy, and population growth: World Bank (2025).
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
Regulators & official sources
Bodies that regulate immigration advice in Zimbabwe, and the official sources indexed for it by Visa Atlas. Descriptions are verbatim; each links to its source.
Law Society of Zimbabwe
LSZProfessional body for legal practitioners in Zimbabwe. Immigration status is administered by the Department of Immigration; eVisa and ePermit filings use official immigration platforms.
Related Guides
Related on The Citizenship Desk
Visa routes
Official visa and residence routes for Zimbabwe, indexed from Visa Atlas. Each links to its government source. This is a licensed external index, distinct from our own curated visa guides.
Short-term / business
Business Visa
Short-term / businessBusiness visitor visa for meetings, seminars or short-term projects without entering the Zimbabwean workforce.
Conferencing Visa
Short-term / businessVisa for attending conferences, seminars, workshops and other professional events in Zimbabwe.
Holiday Visa
Short-term / businessVisitor visa for leisure or holiday travel to Zimbabwe.
KAZA Visa
Short-term / businessRegional tourist visa for entry within the Kavango Zambezi Transfrontier Conservation Area framework.
Work (sponsored)
Temporary Employment Permit
Work (sponsored)Zimbabwe work permit route requiring employer, qualification, recruitment, company and clearance evidence.
Family
Spouse Residence Permit
FamilyResidence permit route for a foreign spouse supported by the local spouse.
Study
Scholars Permit
StudyPermit for school pupils with local guardian, accommodation and Ministry of Education clearance evidence.
Student Permit
StudyResidence permit for students accepted by a Zimbabwe college or university.
Investor
Investor Residence Permit
InvestorResidence permit route for investors with project, funds, equipment and stakeholder evidence.
Sources & last verified
Route index from Visa Atlas (CC BY 4.0), as of 2026-09-12. Each route links to its official government source.
Sources & last verified
- Last verified