The Zambian government has officially launched and implemented a new online passport application system, which marks a significant advancement in the country’s digital transformation agenda.
- The Zambian government has officially launched and implemented a new online passport application system, which marks a significant advancement in...
- Minister of Home Affairs and Internal Security Hon.
- Convenience The minister claims that the digital system brings previously unheard-of convenience and efficiency to the application process by enabling citizens...
- Mwiimbu emphasised that the previous manual process, which disproportionately affected applicants in remote areas, was characterised by lengthy lines, expensive...
Keep reading for the full breakdown on apply passport online — everything you need to know is covered below.
Minister of Home Affairs and Internal Security Hon. Jack Mwiimbu announced the development in a ministerial statement to Parliament, stating that the new system is now fully operational on the Government Service Bus (GSB) and available via the ZamPortal website at https://zamportal.gov.zm.
Convenience
The minister claims that the digital system brings previously unheard-of convenience and efficiency to the application process by enabling citizens to apply and pay for passports and other travel documents from any location, at any time.
The programme is a component of the government’s larger e-government strategy, which is headed by the Ministry of Finance and National Planning and the SMART Zambia Institute.
Hon. Mwiimbu asserts that the GSB provides a secure, reliable, and user-friendly platform that ensures service availability, confidentiality, and integrity. Hon. Mwiimbu emphasised that the previous manual process, which disproportionately affected applicants in remote areas, was characterised by lengthy lines, expensive transportation, and lost time.
The action comes after a 2022 government initiative to digitise passport services to increase operational effectiveness and lessen administrative burdens.
What the GSB offers
The GSB currently offers the following services:
- Application for a Zambian Passport
- Application for a Diplomatic Passport
- Application for a Refugee Travel Document (UNCTD)
- Application for a COMESA Laissez-Passer
- Application for a Travel Document of Identity
Advantages
The online system offers several advantages, including shorter wait times, lower operating costs, encrypted digital records, real-time application tracking, improved access for citizens in remote areas, compliance with national digital goals, lower transportation costs, and easier applicant tracking.
For Lusaka, Ndola, and Livingstone, processing times are 14 days; for other provincial capitals, they are 21 days.
Until the digital process is completely phased out, Hon. Mwiimbu added, manual passport applications will continue to be processed concurrently during the transition period.
Applications for passports can now be accessed and submitted by citizens via the official Government Service Bus at https://zamportal.gov.zm.