Immigration Tanzania / Zambia & Carnet & Taxes Zambia | Customs and Immigration

Tanzania to Zambia with Carnet.
We arrived at 7am (Tanzanian time).
Everything went really smoothly! Peter, from the Zambian authorities showed us around in the different buildings. He didn’t ask for any money.
The offices for the carbon taxes, road tax and insurance only opened at 8am (Zambian time) so we did not paid anything (except the council levy 50kwacha).
Nobody checked the car.

We left the border within one hour!

Update:

After spending a month in Zambia, we were stopped at several toll booths because we hadn't paid the road tax. We explained that we would pay it upon leaving the country. Most of the time, we were able to leave within 20 minutes. Today, we exited the country (via the Chipata border) and no one asked us to pay this tax.

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ZAMBIA > TANZANIA
Crossed this border on the Tazara train from Kapiri Mposhi.

Zambian side:
Got to the Zambian side at 7am. Passports exit stamped, pretty efficient. At the border there are many money changers offering an ok rate (100 kwacha for 12,000 shillings; 3% commission). Be very careful though, one of the blokes is a liar and will give you less than he agrees upon so count your money carefully. There’s a open air market behind the station, where you can grab some average fried donuts and tea, root vegetables, etc.
Tazara train stopped for 1.5-2hours here.

Tanzanian side:
Very slow but officials are nice.
With an Australian passport, we could get a double entry visa for USD $50 as long as we only travelled to East African nations in between entires (this is different from an East African visa which does not include Tanzania).
Visa is a stamp that only takes up a quarter of the passport page.

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We arrived around 6am TZ time at the border to avoid the fixer hussle. We did everything like described in the previous comments and got al the stamps in our passport and in the CDP around 7 am. All the officers were very tired and just wanted their shift to be over, so they don't annoy you. We even got the ZAM stamp in our CDP without having the carbon tax, road toll tax and insurance (offices were still closed). They open around 8.00/8.30 am ZAM time. The officials were friendly and helpful, if you ask them, they tell you where to go next. The different steps are all around the border control buildings and even outside, thats why we try to upload a map here on iOverlander. It's really doable without any fixer.

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Border crossing from Zambia to Tanzania

We crossed the border with the help of an agent which made everything much easier.
Note: You have to fill in the online health form. Best thing to save time is to do it before.
Now they want to see a real PCR test. As we didn't have one, our agent talked to the ladies and we got through with a rapid test for 15$ each.
They spray your car, but you can ask to do it yourself. It costs 30.000 Tsh.
We don't have a Cdp and so we paid 57.000 Tsh for the TIP.
After the gate of the border you find the little booth for paying the Counvil levy (5000 Tsh) half way through the round about.
We didn't need an insurance because we got the Comesa card.

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Entering Zambia: Nobody asked about PCR test; rapid test for free in the green tent before entering the main building;
VISA 50USDpp; road tax, carbon tax, insurance, custom (CPD); it took 2,5 hrs (Saturday)

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Even after having read all previous postings and advice and thought that I arrived prepared, it was still an extremely frustrating situation! The 1st hurdle was when we were told that they can not do a rapid covid test on a Sunday as the service is only available for truck drivers. They could however make an exception for a gratuity. After an oral swab was taken and immediately discarded in a bin, we were told that it would only take 3 mins for the result. A certificate was issued. The immigration process was relatively smooth, but to get our TIP issued, after we had repeatedly declined the service of a fixer, took us close to 4 hours as we were sent from one building to the next, to the next. We paid Road Toll ($20), Carbon tax (K240) and no Council Levy. I can offer no other advice than to be alert as corruption is rife and stay calm!

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no 14 day quarantine when you enter Zambia

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We crossed the border today as well in three hours ☺️
It was on the middle of the day and easy. The only difference to the comments before is that the Zambian side is doing a proper Covid Test now. It was a bit weird, that we got a certificate after the testing which allowed us to proceed. No result, no follow up. nothing. We don't care.
Robert was there and caught us there. We made very clear that we did not want his help and after the third time or so he accepted his fate 😜
Everybody was very helpful and showed us the next step. You can do it 👍

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Tanzania to Zambia Border.

Crossed in 1hr 45mins with the help of Bright, very very good fixer (paid USD20) (+260 976297888).

Note is a 24hr border post but customs closes at 18:00.

Note coming into Zambia they did not want to look at our PCR test from Tanzania (which we didn't even have). Just go straight to the Green test and get a rapid covid test for free. Do not involve a fixer in this process or for immigration as they may invent problems.

Otherwise follow the directions below from @fearlessonfourwheels.

Note Council levy is a real thing and will be paid about 2km inside Zambia. Police will check it at the "checkpoints".

Note a Zambian Road toll is a return journey so if you have one already there is no need to get another.

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We crossed this border in 3 hours without an agent include technical problems and a walk to the ATM in the village. You need Kwacha for the carbon tax and therfore it would be good to have few schillings left which you can change by some of the boys (it seems so that the ATM on the border is mostly empty). Robert where waiting for us on the tanzania side where you have to stamp out the carnet and let us know we have to do the covid test there as well which is not the case. On Zambia side is still the tent for the rapid test for free and no PCR Test was necessary to enter zambia. All official employees are very friendly and helpful.

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TZ-ZM. Drive past all the trucks, ignore everyone trying to help you. Park with all the other cars, you’ll see the one stop border post on the right. If you walk straight ahead towards the high water tank, you will see a green tent on the left, take your free rapid test there, takes 15min for result, take slip of paper to the OSBP, first counter on the right, give them and they’ll give you health certificate, then you can do the immigration. Stay away from the fixers if you can help it, Robert was recommended here, but he will try to scam you

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From Zambia to Tanzania
Zambia side very quick stamped your Carnet and the toll.
Then moving to One Stop Border Post, doing "fake Corona" test 25$ or 600K
Tanzania side very tiring and expensive, visa 50$ you can pay with card, 135$ for TRA for light vehicle, 300K immigrations
Be careful with the disinfections they do spray our cabin with clorin and not Ethanol and made damage to the dashboard.
After leaving the border you can purchase the carbon tax.
We have an agent that helps us Frank ±255768024072
,

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New update; as off 28 May 2021 NO self quarantine is required if you have a negative test result. See picture for official confirmation.

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we did the border today as well with the help of Robert. As we were not completely in line with every regulation Roberts help saved us a lot of money as he knows how to handle things. He's service is highly appreciated and worth the money 💰. He makes the procedure much easier.

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I was late in the day and the required PCR covid testing (I did not have one done in Tanzania) and new quarantine rules of Zambia made it all a bit daunting so Robert helped me within 3.5 hours and I was on the road. All in all very worth the 20US he charges per person and some extra cash was needed to oil the machine of African officials...desperate times ask for desperate measures they say, but Robert will make a plan! Worst border I encountered in Africa btw, so chaotic to go to so many different windows and pay carbon tax and council fees and and and....
Please make sure you have some cash as all 4 ATM’s were empty...and no petrol so fill up in Tanzania

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Finally we hired "Robert" to help us through the customs formalities. His number (also Whatsapp) +255 76 741 4487. Robert has proven to be very serious and quick. Among other things, he led us to a functioning ATM. He accompanied us to the exit from the customs area. Explained the process to us and handed us the documents neatly. The use of the USD 20 was worth it.

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We went from Sambia to Tanzania. (4 hours).
Since May 3rd there are more severe Covid requirements. You need a PCR Test certificate. We only had the quick test since this is the only available in Mbala and Nakonde hospitals (for free though, and quickly done). for PCR you need to go to Mansa or Kasama.
At the one stop border post we were told that car fumigation is obligatory now. Because we questioned this we were called into the office of the health superior who lectured us for 45min. He also told us that our quick test is not valid and that he will send us back to Sambia. At the end he filled in a certificate for no Covid symptoms for each of us (20’000 shillings each). Together with fumigation of the car (30’000 shillings) we got through.
The requirements are all new for them too. So maybe this will evolve further.

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carbon tax change since 1 January. motorcycle 140 KW , 0-1500cc 140 KW, 1501-2000cc 280 KW, 2001-3000cc 500KW, 3001 and above 550KW.

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Exiting TZ and entering Zambia

German Passport with CdP.

The busiest border we have seen in whole southern and eastern Afrika!

First go to customs on the TZ side of the border before the gate to stamp out your carnet. The first time we passed it without seeing it because of the many trucks in front of the building. But TZ immigration sent us back. Stamping out of Carnet was done in a few minutes.

Then you go to this one stop border post. First they want to see you yellow fever vaccinations. Then we went to TZ immigration to stamp out. Done in a few seconds. After that we went to Zambian immigration to buy a Visa for 50 USD (single entry).
After that we had to go to a back office to pay 200 kwacha carbon tax (depends on your engine and only payable in kwacha) and get our Carnet stamped. After that we had to go upstairs to pay 20 USD road tax (only payable in USD). Only this last part took us over 1 hour because there was just 1 man working and hundrets of “agents“ for the truck drivers.

All in all it took us 2,5 hours. Most time was running around and waiting time.

There is an ATM at the border for Zambian kwacha but it didn't work because of failing network.

If possible try to avoid this border.

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One stop border post, 50 usd for the Sambia Visa for 30 days

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