Customs and clearing

Clearing agent licence in Zambia

Q: Does ZRA set clearing agent charges?

No. ZRA says agent fees are not regulated by customs.

Last checked 24 October 2026 · 6 sources

Short answer

Zambia Revenue Authority (ZRA) licenses customs clearing agents under section 182A of the Customs and Excise Act ¹. Any company incorporated under the Companies Act can apply ¹. ZRA opens applications once a year through the press. Applicants use form CE 34 and late applications are refused ¹. New agents get final clearance status only. Removal in bond and in transit needs 12 months of licensing ¹. New regulations, Statutory Instrument 25 of 2026, were published in April 2026 ².

Legal basis: Section 182A, Customs and Excise Act ^1,3
Who may apply: Companies registered under the Companies Act, Cap 388 ¹
Application form: CE 34 with its checklist ¹
Application window: Once a year, announced in the press ¹
New regulations: Statutory Instrument 25 of 2026, version of 17 April 2026 ²
Fees: Not stated on the ZRA page read on 24 October 2026 ¹

Legal basis

Section 182A of the Customs and Excise Act, as replaced by Act No. 18 of 2015, lets the Minister make regulations on licensing customs clearing and forwarding agents. They can cover accreditation of employees, licence conditions, suspension or revocation, qualifications and fees. They can prohibit clearing and forwarding without a licence ³.

The Customs and Excise (Customs Clearing and Forwarding Agents) Regulations, 2026 are Statutory Instrument 25 of 2026. ZambiaLII lists the current version as 17 April 2026 and an assent date of 14 April 2026 ². The text of the regulations could not be read for this page, so their fees and committee rules are not shown here.

Documents for a new licence

Certificate of incorporation ¹
Certificate of share capital ¹
Articles of association ¹
Tax Clearance Certificate from the Domestic Taxes Division ¹
Clearance letter from the Customs Services Division ¹
CVs, copies of qualifications and at least two references for each declared customs staff member ¹

Licence types and renewal

New applicants are considered for final clearance only. Removal in bond and removal in transit are open only to agents licensed for at least 12 months in the preceding year ¹.

For renewal, agents send updated copies of the same documents and CVs for new staff. Agents doing removal in bond add surety letters for the fiscal year, a surety statement of the amount per station, and proof of an appointed customs area at each inland station. A company without a licence in the preceding year applies as new ¹.

Changes to a licence, such as moving from final clearance to full status or adding stations, go in writing to the Secretariat of the Clearing Agents Committee ¹.

Staff qualifications

Station type	Manager requirement
Busy stations: Chirundu, Kapiri Mposhi, Kitwe, Livingstone, Lusaka, Kenneth Kaunda International Airport, Nakonde, Chanida, Kasumbalesa, Katima Mulilo, Kazungula, Mwami, Ndola ¹	Grade 12 or Form V, one year of customs clearing experience and two years supervisory or managerial experience ¹
Other stations ¹	Grade 12 or Form V plus one year of clearing experience or a certificate from a recognised institution ¹

Reform plans

Under the WTO Trade Facilitation Agreement, Zambia listed the use of customs brokers under Article 10.6 as needing assistance. Requests include automating licensing of clearing agents and accreditation of clearing agencies. On 25 November 2025 Zambia asked to move its deadline from 31 December 2025 to 31 December 2028 to pass legislation on new licensing for customs brokers. The database shows that request as not approved ⁴.

In 2019 Freight News reported a project financed by the Global Alliance for Trade Facilitation and supported by ZRA to modernise the training and licensing of clearing agents ⁵.

ZRA does not regulate the fees agents charge their clients, so charges vary by agency ⁶.

Common questions

Can an individual get a clearing agent licence?

The ZRA page says companies incorporated under the Companies Act are eligible ¹.

When can I apply?

ZRA announces the application period once a year in the press. Late applications are not accepted ¹.

Can a new agent handle transit cargo?

No. Removal in transit and in bond need at least 12 months of licensing in the preceding year ¹.

Does ZRA set clearing agent charges?

No. ZRA says agent fees are not regulated by customs ⁶.

Rules and charges change. Check the official source linked on this page before you pay or travel. Spotted an error? Email hello@zambiatradesystems.com.

Sources

Freight and clearing associations in Zambia
The clearing and forwarding associations named in published sources for Zambia, their regional links, training work and role in customs reform.
How customs clearance works in Zambia
Value thresholds, documents, tax rates, pre-registration and agent rules for importing and exporting goods through Zambia Revenue Authority customs.
Transit cargo and bonds in Zambia
How goods move in transit through Zambia under a clearing agent's bond, the five-day road limit, seals, cargo tracking and the COMESA guarantee talks.
Zambia Revenue Authority (ZRA) customs
What ZRA customs does at Zambia's borders: the 1993 Act, ASYCUDA World, pre-clearance, e-bonds, coordinated border management and the 2025 system upgrade.