Customs and clearing

Import and export permits in Zambia

Last checked 24 October 2026 · 9 sources

Short answer

Zambia Revenue Authority (ZRA) customs asks for permits for controlled or restricted goods with the declaration ¹. Restricted exports may need a permit from the relevant ministry ². Under the Control of Goods Act, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Agriculture issues permits for listed farm goods such as maize, wheat, meat and seeds ³. The fee is 350 fee units per 30 metric tonnes ³. Minerals need a permit from the Minerals Regulation Commission ⁹.

Customs rule: Permits for controlled or restricted goods go with the import declaration ¹
Farm goods law: Control of Goods (Import and Export) (Agriculture) Order under the Control of Goods Act ³
Farm permit issuer: Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Agriculture ³
Farm permit fee: 350 fee units per 30 metric tonnes, inserted by SI 53 of 2020 ^3,4
Mineral permits: Minerals Regulation Commission ⁹
Medicines: ZAMRA import permits. WFP says device and IVD permits are applied for at least 14 days ahead ⁶

How permits fit into customs clearance

ZRA says declarations for freighted cargo carry supporting documents such as certificates and permits for controlled or restricted goods. Original documents go to the enforcement unit when the goods arrive ¹.

For exports, ZRA lists supporting documents for commercial consignments such as the commercial invoice, cargo manifest, packing list and airway bill. Restricted exports may need a permit from the relevant ministry. The application states the commodity, quantity, value and destination country ².

ZRA lists explosives, CITES species, plants and plant products, and animals and animal products as restricted exports. CITES species need CITES permits ².

Farm goods under the Control of Goods Act

The Control of Goods (Import and Export) (Agriculture) Order names the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Agriculture as the issuing authority. Import permits use Form No. 1 and export permits use Form No. 2 ³.

The Second Schedule has 30 numbered import entries, two of them marked deleted. These include bananas, beans, eggs, maize, onions, potatoes, live poultry, rice, tomatoes, seeds and sugar, many with exclusions ³.

The Third Schedule lists 18 export items. These include maize, maize meal, groundnuts, honey, seed cotton, wheat and wheat products, seeds, fish and raw hides and skins ³.

Statutory Instrument No. 53 of 2020, dated 20 May 2020 and signed by the Minister of Agriculture, added a fee schedule ⁴. The schedule sets 350 fee units per 30 metric tonnes for an import and export permit ³.

The Order exempts goods in transit through Zambia from these permits. It still requires an import permit for maize meal and related products in transit ³.

Permits that unlock duty relief

Some duty suspensions apply only to permit holders. Statutory Instrument No. 30 of 2024 suspended import duty on maize corn of heading HS 1005.90.90 to zero for importers holding a Ministry of Agriculture permit under the Control of Goods Act ⁵.

That instrument came into operation on 31 May 2024 and stood revoked on 30 June 2025. It was historical on 24 October 2026 ⁵.

Other permit-issuing agencies

An undated WFP Logistics Cluster customs profile lists the agencies that control restricted goods ⁶. Since February 2021 the Ministry of Agriculture plant health service has generated phytosanitary certificates from the Zambia Electronic Single Window ⁷.

Agency	Goods or role	Source
Ministry of Agriculture	Plants, seeds, fruits and farm goods, export permits for maize and wheat ⁶	WFP, undated ⁶
Zambia Medicines Regulatory Authority (ZAMRA)	Medicines, medical devices and IVDs. Device and IVD permits applied for at least 14 days ahead ⁶	WFP, undated ⁶
Energy Regulation Board	Petroleum products ⁶	WFP, undated ⁶
Zambia Police Service	Firearms and ammunition ⁶	WFP, undated ⁶
Forestry Department	Wood and timber products ⁶	WFP, undated ⁶
Zambia Compulsory Standards Agency	Safety and quality compliance ⁶	WFP, undated ⁶
Minerals Regulation Commission	Import and export of minerals, gemstones, ores and mineral products ⁹	Act 14 of 2024 ⁹

Minerals and the move to electronic permits

Section 32 of the Minerals Regulation Commission Act, 2024 says no person shall import or export a mineral, gemstone, ore or mineral product without a permit from the Commission ⁹.

Section 33 lists what an exporter must hold. This includes an analysis and valuation certificate from the Commission, a mineral royalty clearance certificate from the ZRA Commissioner-General and security clearance from the Zambia Police Service ⁹.

The Border Management and Trade Facilitation Act, 2025 tells ZRA as Lead Agency to provide an electronic platform for issuing import and export permits or approvals. ZambiaLII lists that Act as uncommenced on 24 October 2026 ⁸.

Common questions

Who issues maize import and export permits in Zambia?

The Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Agriculture, under the Control of Goods (Import and Export) (Agriculture) Order ³.

How much is a Ministry of Agriculture permit?

The Order's Fourth Schedule sets 350 fee units per 30 metric tonnes ³. SI 53 of 2020 added that schedule ⁴.

Do transit goods need a Control of Goods permit?

Mostly no. The Order exempts goods in transit through Zambia, but maize meal and related products in transit still need an import permit ³.

Where do I show my permit at customs?

ZRA says permits for controlled or restricted goods are part of the supporting documents for the declaration ¹.

Who issues mineral export permits?

The Minerals Regulation Commission, under section 33 of the Minerals Regulation Commission Act, 2024 ⁹.

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

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.
Cargo release in Zambia
When Zambia Revenue Authority customs issues a release order, what blocks release, storage limits and measured release times at border posts.
Zambia Electronic Single Window
What the Zambia Electronic Single Window does, the law behind it, which agencies use it and what stage it has reached, with dated sources.
Mineral export controls and monitoring in Zambia
Mineral export permits under the Minerals Regulation Commission Act, electronic tracking with ZRA and the copper concentrate export duty, with sources.
Zambia customs tariff and duty rates
Zambia's customs duty range, import VAT, excise, average tariff rates, how duty is calculated and recent duty changes, each with its dated source.