Zambia asks travelers to complete online health declaration before arrival

Travelers planning a trip to Zambia now have an additional health-related requirement to consider before departure.

On October 18, 2026, the Zambia National Public Health Institute (ZNPHI), the country’s national public health agency operating under the Ministry of Health, urged international travelers to complete an online health self-assessment before arriving in Zambia.

The process is managed through a digital platform called POE Sentinel, designed to strengthen health surveillance at the country’s points of entry and help authorities identify potential public health threats.

The system allows travelers to submit their health information ahead of their arrival and receive a digital health pass in the form of a QR code.

A free online health declaration available in eight languages

Travelers can complete the declaration directly through the official POE Sentinel portal, using a computer, tablet, or smartphone. According to the ZNPHI, the process is free and takes less than two minutes, with no account registration or app download required.

The form is currently available in eight languages: English, French, Spanish, Portuguese, Arabic, Chinese, Russian, and Swahili. Travelers can select their preferred language when accessing the portal.

The questionnaire is divided into three main sections covering travel details, personal information, and health status.

1. Travel information

Travelers must first provide the following details:

• Their intended point of entry into Zambia;
• Their expected arrival date;
• The country they are traveling from;
• Their mode of transportation: plane, car or bus, boat, or other;
• Whether they have visited another country within the past 21 days.

The form allows travelers to select an arrival date of today, tomorrow, or another date. The portal does not specify a minimum advance submission period.

2. Personal information

The second section requests personal details, including first and last name, date of birth, sex, nationality, and passport or other travel identification information.

Applicants must also provide a phone number, home address, intended accommodation in Zambia, and contact details for someone who can be reached in an emergency. Providing an email address is optional.

For returning users, the platform includes a feature that can retrieve previously submitted information using a passport or identification document number. A passport scanning option is also available.

The form also allows travelers to provide information about people accompanying them.

3. Health information

The final section focuses on the traveler’s current health status.

Applicants must indicate whether they feel sick or are experiencing any symptoms when completing the declaration.

They must also report possible exposure to health risks within the previous 21 days, such as contact with a sick person, animals, a healthcare facility, or an area affected by a disease outbreak.

After confirming that the information provided is accurate, travelers can submit the declaration and receive their QR Health Pass, a digital health pass to keep available for inspection upon arrival.

A health QR code to present upon arrival in Zambia

Once the questionnaire has been submitted, the platform generates a secure QR code linked to the traveler’s health declaration. This digital document allows health officials at border checkpoints to access the information needed to verify the traveler’s preliminary health screening.

The POE Sentinel program operates through three successive stages: an initial online self-assessment completed by the traveler, a screening conducted by an official at the point of entry, and, when necessary, an additional examination by a healthcare professional.

The information submitted is also analyzed to identify potential risks associated with 41 priority infectious diseases as part of Zambia’s national disease surveillance system. Travelers reporting symptoms or possible exposure to specific health risks may therefore be referred for additional medical assessment.

Zambian authorities recommend completing the questionnaire before traveling so that the QR code is ready to present upon arrival, helping reduce the time spent on health screening procedures at the border.

According to official guidance, one person may complete declarations for family members traveling together, although each individual must have their own health pass.

The health declaration also applies at land border crossings

The electronic health declaration is not limited to passengers arriving at international airports. The POE Sentinel system also covers designated land and river border crossings across Zambia.

Major entry points covered by the system include Kenneth Kaunda International Airport in Lusaka, Livingstone, Kazungula on the border with Botswana, Chirundu on the border with Zimbabwe, Nakonde on the border with Tanzania, and Kasumbalesa on the border with the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

This is particularly relevant for tourists visiting several Southern African countries during the same trip.

In the Victoria Falls region, travelers frequently cross between Zimbabwe and Zambia to experience both sides of the famous waterfalls. Day trips from Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe, to Livingstone, Zambia, are therefore also covered by the recommendation to complete the health declaration before arrival.

The same applies to tourists entering Zambia from Botswana, particularly those traveling from the Kasane area and Chobe National Park through the Kazungula border crossing.

Even travelers planning to spend only a few hours in Zambia are advised to complete the declaration before crossing the border.

What happens if you arrive without completing the health declaration?

The ZNPHI encourages travelers to complete the online questionnaire before arriving in Zambia to make health checks at entry points more efficient. However, the official information reviewed does not specify a mandatory submission deadline before departure or any particular penalties for arriving without a QR code.

Travelers who were unable to complete the form online can request assistance from a health official upon arrival. This option does not exempt them from health screening procedures and may result in additional processing at the border.

Completing the declaration before traveling therefore remains the recommended approach, especially for visitors planning itineraries involving multiple border crossings.

The health declaration does not replace visa requirements

The introduction of POE Sentinel establishes a health screening procedure that is separate from Zambia’s immigration requirements.

The QR Health Pass does not replace a visa, when one is required, or any other documents needed to enter the country.

Citizens of the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand are currently exempt from visa requirements for tourist visits to Zambia, but they remain subject to the health screening procedures applicable to international travelers. The exemption also applies to nationals of European Union countries, as well as several other countries.

Travelers holding passports from other countries should check the entry requirements applicable to their nationality with the Zambia Department of Immigration, as some nationalities qualify for visa-free entry while others must obtain a visa.

Through POE Sentinel, Zambia is continuing to modernize its border procedures by combining advance health declarations, digital verification, and disease surveillance.

The initiative is part of the country’s broader efforts to strengthen public health preparedness while making border crossings more efficient for international visitors.