Zambia occupies a high plateau in south-central Africa across which the mighty Zambezi River flows and tumbles at the renowned Victoria Falls. At 1500 metres across and 100 metres wide, Victoria Falls is double the length and height of Canada's Niagara Falls, and creates an effect called the 'Smoke That Thunders' in the Sotho language.
While e-commerce remains a young industry in Zambia, 80%-plus of Zambians use a mobile phone and have become comfortable with digital technology. They are also quite active on social media and familiar with eBay. This bodes well for Canadian shippers who hope to access an English speaking country with 73% of its population under 30!
Shipping Rates
Easily compare the best and cheapest shipping options to Zambia
through a variety of carriers using Secureship
Secureship provides safe and affordable shipping from Canada to Zambia. In case you are an everyday shopper or a business,
you can easily save up to 50% on your international shipping costs by way of accessing our group buying power.
Shipments through Secureship come with full, easy to read tracking
information to Zambia
Disclaimer
While we have made every effort to ensure that the information on this
page is accurate, Customs laws and procedures change regularly so it is
important to consult a licensed broker in Zambia before shipping any
goods.
Tracking #:780123123123
Tel: 1-800-463-3339
Signed By: Pikwalia @ Residence
Feb 21, 2026
8:49 am
Chingola , CH, ZM
Delivered
Feb 20, 2026
7:18 am
Ndola , ND, ZM
In transit
Feb 19, 2026
9:03 pm
Kitwe ,KI, ZM
International Clearance
Feb 19, 2026
8:14 am
Lusaka , LU, ZM
In transit
Feb 19, 2026
12:17 am
Toronto, ON, CA
In transit
Feb 18, 2026
4:30 pm
Ottawa, ON, CA
Pickup Scan
Types of Shipments
Not all types of shipments are created equal. Shipping a television will
require different paperwork, duties, and taxes than shipping an accounting
statement, for example.
Here is a list of the most common types of shipments:
Personal effects and household goods may be shipped to Zambia from
Canada exempt from duty fees provided:
The claimant owned the goods before leaving Canada for Zambia
The claimant has lived outside of Zambia for a minimum of 5 years
The shipment arrives in Zambia at the same time as the claimant
(unless there were circumstances beyond the claimant's control that
caused its delay)
Moving Temporarily
Students
No information is available at this time concerning students moving
temporarily to Zambia with their personal effects.
Non-students
There is no information available regarding non-students moving
temporarily to Zambia and shipping their personal effects.
Moving Permanently
Persons moving to Zambia permanently - either returning Zambian
citizens or Canadians coming to work - will be allowed a duty-free
entry of their household goods and personal effects.
Duty-free entry of belongings is conditional upon:
The shipment arriving in Zambia with the claimant (unless it can be
shown that the goods were delayed due to extenuating circumstances)
The goods were owned by the claimant in Canada before he or she
entered Zambia
The owner of the goods has NOT lived in Zambia for at least 5 years
before returning or entering the country
Personal Effects Checklist
A commercial invoice must be included with your shipment
Commercial invoice must clearly indicate 'Personal Effects' (see sample)
A detailed description of each item is provided
A certificate confirming a minimum of a 5-year residence outside of
Zambia
Written confirmation that the goods were owned by the shipper before
entering Zambia
Sample Commercial Invoice for Promotional Material
Ship To
Invoice
Henry Tayali Lion Lane Street Lusaka 10100 Zambia
Phone: +260 95 525 4440
Carrier tracking number: 736534736 General Description: Promotional Material - Not for Resale
Invoice number:
123456MGEP4916926
Customs Broker: UPS Date: 28 May 2023
QTY
Description of Goods
C/O
SubTotal
1 Each
Promotional Material: Not for Resale. Product pamphlets to hand out at trade show.
CA
$163.00
Terms of Sale: None Total number of packages: 1 Reason for export:Promotional Material Contact Name: James Smith
Total Invoice Amount: $163.00 Total Weight: 10.0 lbs
Declaration Statement: I hereby certify that information provided
is true and complete to the best of my knowledge
Repairs
Equipment and machinery repaired in Canada will incur duty fees when
they are returned to Zambia.
Items Under Warranty
Items from Zambia that are repaired under warranty in Canada will be
exempt from Canadian duties and GST; however, they will incur Zambian
duties when they re-enter the country.
Items No Longer Under Warranty
Equipment and machinery from Zambia that are repaired in Canada will
be liable to duty charges and GST on the cost of the repair and any
parts used during the repair process. And they will be liable to
duties when they return to Zambia.
Sending Product for Repair to Zambia
There is no information at this time concerning shipping equipment to
Zambia for repairs.
Returning Repaired Product to Zambia
Products repaired in Canada will be liable to duty charges when they
re-enter Zambia.
Repair Checklist
Commercial invoice must clearly indicate 'REPAIR & RETURN' under the General
Description or Remarks, and include the estimated time of return(see sample)
Include repair contract with shipment
Serial or product number and the cost of repairs should be indicated under
the Detailed Description of Goods section
Include the original shipping documents or tracking number from when the
item was first exported to Zambia or exported to Canada (depending on
which case applies)
A commercial invoice must be included with your shipment
Carrier tracking number: 736534736 General Description: Repair and Return - Watch being sent for repair
Invoice number:
123456MGEP4916926
Customs Broker: UPS Date: 28 May 2023
QTY
Description of Goods
C/O
SubTotal
1 Each
Fossil Watch being sent for repair - Model E5, serial # 789456FG7E2 - Repair Cost $76.00
US
$163.00
Terms of Sale: None Total number of packages: 1 Reason for export:Warranty Repair Contact Name: James Smith
Total Invoice Amount: $163.00 Total Weight: 10.0 lbs
Declaration Statement: I hereby certify that information provided
is true and complete to the best of my knowledge
Temporary Imports
Goods imported for a temporary period may enter Zambia duty and tax
free provided they remain in the country no longer than 12 months.
Goods eligible for temporary importation include those destined for
display at:
Meetings
Trade fairs
International exhibitions
ATA Carnets
Zambian customs authorities do not accept ATA Carnets for the
temporary importation of goods.
Temporary Imports Checklist
Commercial Invoice clearly stating 'Temporary Import'. This must be written
in the General Description section and the Detailed Description of Goods. (see sample)
The goods arrive and leave in the same condition, i.e. they undergo no
repairs nor are they used in manufacturing
Stay no longer than the period listed above
Include your ATA Carnet with your shipment (if applicable)
Include the expected return date or the date that it was originally received
within the country (whichever applies)
Any above listed items not listed in this checklist
Carrier tracking number: 736534736 General Description: Temporary Imports - Trade show booth and display equipment returning Jan 2027
Invoice number:
123456MGEP4916926
Customs Broker: UPS Date: 28 May 2023
QTY
Description of Goods
C/O
SubTotal
1 box
Temporary Imports - Trade show booth and display equipment
CA
$1032.00
Terms of Sale: None Total number of packages: 1 Reason for export:Temporary Imports Contact Name: James Smith
Total Invoice Amount: $1032.00 Total Weight: 10.0 lbs
Declaration Statement: I hereby certify that information provided
is true and complete to the best of my knowledge
Permanent/Sold Goods
Sold goods with a small value ($50 USD or less - about $60 CAD) may
enter Zambia exempt from duty and VAT.
Occasional Shipper
If you ship sold goods only occasionally to Zambia from Canada, for
example through eBay, the shipment will incur duties and taxes unless
its value is not more than $50 USD (about $60 CAD).
Regular shipper
Canadian businesses that regularly ship sold goods to Zambia are
encouraged to use the services of a licenced Zambian customs broker.
Sample Commercial Invoice for Permanent/Sold Goods
Ship To
Invoice
Henry Tayali Lion Lane Street Lusaka 10100 Zambia
Phone: +260 95 525 4440
Carrier tracking number: 736534736 General Description: Permanent/Sold: Parts and accessories for Canon B78n camera
Invoice number:
123456MGEP4916926
Customs Broker: UPS Date: 28 May 2023
QTY
Description of Goods
C/O
SubTotal
15 Each
Camera Lenses: Canon EF 50mm, Canon EF 85mm & wide-angle lenses.
CA
$132.00
Terms of Sale: None Total number of packages: 1 Reason for export:Permanent/Sold Contact Name: James Smith
Total Invoice Amount: $1980.00 Total Weight: 10.0 lbs
Declaration Statement: I hereby certify that information provided
is true and complete to the best of my knowledge
Required Documents
Shipping packages internationally requires a lot of documentation. This
process alone can be confusing and time-consuming. So we’ve narrowed
down what documents you might need and ranked them based on likeliness of
being needed.
Document Type
When?
Details
Shipping Label / Bill of Lading
Always required
This is a label provided by the carrier (UPS, FedEx, DHL, etc.).
Always required because the carrier needs to know the parcel's
destination.
Commercial Invoice
Required for all non-document shipments
For all non-document shipments, you will require 3 copies of the
commercial invoice (to be included with your shipping labels). These
are for customs purposes and need to be included inside a document
pouch outside of the box.
When creating a shipment through the Secureship website, the
system will help you create this document automatically.
B13a
Required if value exceeds $2,000 per shipment or is a controlled
good
A B13a is required if your shipment exceeds $2000 CAD or is a
controlled good and is destined to a country other than the US, Puerto Rico, or the US
Virgin Islands
Canada has a preferential trade agreement with Zambia. A COO
proves that an item has been produced, manufactured or processed in
Canada.
When an item with a COO is imported into Zambia, it will
incur a reduced or zero-rated import duty.
Certificate of Insurance (COI)
Infrequently required
Shows that the shipment has been insured.
Banks may request a certificate of insurance when providing letters
of credit for the goods. Otherwise, it is generally your choice
whether to purchase insurance for the shipment.
ATA Carnet
Infrequently required
Used to avoid duties and taxes on shipments of temporary nature.
If you ship goods of temporary nature to and from a country, you
can obtain an ATA Carnet to expedite the customs clearance process
and ensure that anything of temporary nature is not charged duties
and taxes.
No specific form required, but generally includes information regarding:
The exporter, importer and transport company
Date of issue
Number of freight invoice
Type and number of packages
Contents of each package
Marks and numbers
Net weight, gross weight and measurements of each package
Prohibited & Restricted Imports
Goods prohibited from entering Zambia will not be allowed entry whereas
restricted goods may enter but will have quantity limits or require
authorisation from a government agency.
Prohibited Items
Any materials or items considered
obscene or indecent
Goods made in a prison
Coins that are counterfeit
Alcoholic beverages with extracts
that are noxious
The amount of duty and tax that will be charged on imports entering
Zambia is calculated using the CIF method. The CIF value of a shipment
is the sum of the customs value plus insurance amount plus freight
costs.
CIF Value = Customs Value + Insurance Amount + Freight Costs
If you calculate the CIF value of your shipment, it will give you an
estimate of the duties and taxes owed by the recipient.
Thresholds
The threshold - also known as the de minimis value - for sold goods
shipped to Zambia is $50 USD (about $60 CAD). This means that for
shipments valued less than $50 USD, no duty or VAT will be incurred.
You can purchase insurance
through Secureship, and it is provided by the carrier that will be transporting
your shipment.
Each carrier will charge a different amount per $100 of declared
insurance. If you indicate that you need insurance for your shipment, our
system will automatically include the insurance costs for your shipment.
Insurance is great to have in case your package is accidentally lost or
damaged by the carrier. But be careful, not everything you ship is
insurable. Worse - even if your package contains items that are insurable,
if it doesn't meet the ISTA 3A packaging standard, the insurance purchased
through the carrier would not be available to you.
Here are some items that cannot be insured by the carrier:
Personal belongings
Antiques
Artwork
Liquids (including alcohol)
Televisions
Jewellery in excess of $500
Perishable goods
Glass or Ceramic
And many more items
For more information, please see the carrier's terms and conditions.
Shipping to Zambia from Canada can take between 3-5 business days
through the fastest carriers available on the Secureship platform. More
economical services, such as Canada Post, can take up to 1-2
months to complete the delivery.
