High citizenship cost could fuel illegal immigration—expert warn

The reported increase in the cost of […]

The reported increase in the cost of acquiring Zambian citizenship could make legal citizenship pathways unaffordable for ordinary applicants and potentially encourage illegal immigration, immigration expert Sam Zulu has warned.

 The Citizenship of Zambia (Amendment) Regulations, 2025, contained in Statutory Instrument No. 98 of 2025, show that an application for citizenship by registration attracts a US$1,000 fee, while the certificate of citizenship by registration is prescribed at US$10,000. The two charges amount to US$11,000 when combined.

This represents a change from the earlier fee structure, which was prescribed in fee units. Under the 2017 Citizenship of Zambia Regulations, the application for citizenship by registration was set at 1,834 fee units, while the certificate of citizenship by registration was set at 33,333 fee units.

 Using the fee-unit value of K0.30, the certificate amounted to approximately K10,000, while the application fee was approximately K550, bringing the combined charges to about K10,550. Zulu told Zambian Business Times-ZBT that if the current US$11,000 combined charge is required for the citizenship process, it could place legal citizenship beyond the reach of many ordinary applicants, particularly spouses, children, and long-term residents who may not have access to such amounts of money.

 He warned that making legal pathways too expensive could have unintended consequences by pushing some people towards irregular means of remaining in the country.

“That would also mean fewer people going through the proper channels and, instead, more people choosing to stay on expired visas, use fake documents, or pay bribes,” Zulu said.

 According to him, such circumstances could fuel both illegal immigration and corruption, as individuals who cannot afford formal processes may seek alternative ways of regularizing their stay. “In short, when legal pathways become too expensive, it doesn’t stop migration.

 It just pushes people outside the law,” he said. The latest hike raises questions about whether citizenship fees could inadvertently create barriers for eligible applicants and whether the government needs to balance revenue collection with ensuring that lawful immigration and citizenship pathways remain accessible.

Article by Karen Ngulube.High citizenship cost could fuel illegal immigration—expert warns

The reported increase in the cost of acquiring Zambian citizenship could make legal citizenship pathways unaffordable for ordinary applicants and potentially encourage illegal immigration, immigration expert Sam Zulu has warned.

 The Citizenship of Zambia (Amendment) Regulations, 2025, contained in Statutory Instrument No. 98 of 2025, show that an application for citizenship by registration attracts a US$1,000 fee, while the certificate of citizenship by registration is prescribed at US$10,000. The two charges amount to US$11,000 when combined.

This represents a change from the earlier fee structure, which was prescribed in fee units. Under the 2017 Citizenship of Zambia Regulations, the application for citizenship by registration was set at 1,834 fee units, while the certificate of citizenship by registration was set at 33,333 fee units.

 Using the fee-unit value of K0.30, the certificate amounted to approximately K10,000, while the application fee was approximately K550, bringing the combined charges to about K10,550. Zulu told Zambian Business Times-ZBT that if the current US$11,000 combined charge is required for the citizenship process, it could place legal citizenship beyond the reach of many ordinary applicants, particularly spouses, children, and long-term residents who may not have access to such amounts of money.

 He warned that making legal pathways too expensive could have unintended consequences by pushing some people towards irregular means of remaining in the country.

“That would also mean fewer people going through the proper channels and, instead, more people choosing to stay on expired visas, use fake documents, or pay bribes,” Zulu said.

 According to him, such circumstances could fuel both illegal immigration and corruption, as individuals who cannot afford formal processes may seek alternative ways of regularizing their stay. “In short, when legal pathways become too expensive, it doesn’t stop migration.

 It just pushes people outside the law,” he said. The latest hike raises questions about whether citizenship fees could inadvertently create barriers for eligible applicants and whether the government needs to balance revenue collection with ensuring that lawful immigration and citizenship pathways remain accessible.

Article by Karen Ngulube.