Zimbabwe Passport Fees 2026: Ordinary, Emergency and Child Passports

A Zimbabwe passport costs US$170 in 2026 if you can wait about a week. If you need it in 48 hours, the emergency passport costs US$270.

You apply in person at a Civil Registry office. Below: what's in those prices, what to bring for an adult or a child, and how to avoid paying a fake agent. Fees checked against the Civil Registry Department's official notice in October 2026.

How much is a Zimbabwe passport in 2026?

An ordinary passport costs US$170 and an emergency passport US$270. The Civil Registry Department confirmed both prices in an official notice, with processing times of 7 working days and 48 hours.

Each price is made up of two parts set by government regulation:

The passport fees come from the Citizenship (Passport Fees) (Amendment) Regulations of January 2024, which also added the US$20 QR code charge on every electronic passport (SI 2024-001). Fees are set in US dollars.

Some websites still quote US$120 or US$150 as the full price. Those leave out the QR code fee or come from before 2024. Budget US$170.

Is a child's passport cheaper?

The official notice lists one ordinary price and one emergency price, with no separate child rate. Budget US$170 per child for an ordinary passport, and ask at the office before you pay in case a different fee applies.

A child under 18 can't apply alone. A parent or legal guardian has to come along and sign the parent's section of the form.

What do you need to apply?

Bring the originals and a photocopy of each document. Officers check the originals and keep the copies.

Adults

• Your full (long) birth certificate
• Your Zimbabwe national ID
• Your current or expired passport, if you've had one
• A marriage certificate or divorce order, if your name has changed
• A citizenship certificate, if you're a citizen by registration or were born outside Zimbabwe

Children under 18

• The child's full birth certificate
• The parent's or guardian's national ID and passport
• The parent or guardian, in person, to sign the form
• The child, in person, for fingerprints and a photo

If your birth certificate is an old short one, or it has a mistake in it, sort that out first. Getting a full birth certificate is a separate trip to the Civil Registry, and the passport application can't go through without it.

How do you apply for a Zimbabwe passport?

1. Gather your documents from the list above, with copies.
2. Go to a Civil Registry passport office. Applications are made only at Civil Registry offices, in person.
3. Fill in the application form at the office and hand in your documents.
4. Pay the fee: US$170 for ordinary or US$270 for emergency.
5. Have your photo and fingerprints taken. The e-passport captures them at the office.
6. Keep your receipt. You'll need it to collect the passport.
7. Collect it after about 7 working days (ordinary) or 48 hours (emergency).

Big offices such as Harare and Bulawayo get long queues. Arrive early, and bring the exact documents so you're not sent home to fetch a copy.

Can you apply for a Zimbabwe passport online?

No. The Civil Registry Department says applications are made only at its offices, and it warns people not to send money or personal details to "unofficial platforms".

Websites and WhatsApp numbers that offer to "process your passport online" for a fee are not part of the government system. At best, you pay someone for advice you can get free at the office. At worst, you lose the money and your ID details.

Applying from South Africa, the UK or elsewhere

If you live abroad, you apply through a Zimbabwe embassy or consulate. Missions add their own charges on top of the passport fee. The Cape Town consulate, for example, has charged for the form in rand, so check your mission's current list before you go.

If family at home is paying for a passport, how the money gets there affects the price. Money sent through EcoCash's international partners can be cashed out free up to US$5,000, as our EcoCash charges guide explains. To compare apps, see the cheapest ways to send money to Africa.

Mistakes that cost time and money

• Paying an agent for a "fast track". The only faster route is the US$270 emergency passport, paid at the office.
• Using a short birth certificate. You need the full one.
• Names that don't match. If your ID, birth certificate and marriage certificate spell your name differently, fix that first.
• Leaving it to the last week. The ordinary passport takes about 7 working days, plus queue time. If you're travelling soon, the US$100 extra for emergency may be cheaper than a missed flight.
• Losing the receipt. Keep it, and a photo of it, until you collect.

If you're going abroad to work or study, plan how you'll get paid too. Our guide to PayPal in Zimbabwe explains what works for receiving money from overseas.

Frequently asked questions

How much is a Zimbabwe passport in 2026?

US$170 for an ordinary passport, ready in about 7 working days. An emergency passport costs US$270 and takes about 48 hours. Both prices include the US$20 QR code fee.

How much is an emergency passport in Zimbabwe?

US$270, ready in about 48 hours, according to the Civil Registry Department. That's the US$250 emergency fee plus the US$20 QR code fee.

How long does a Zimbabwe passport take?

About 7 working days for an ordinary passport and 48 hours for an emergency one, once your application is accepted. Queues on the day, and missing documents, add to that.

What are the passport fees for a child in Zimbabwe?

The Civil Registry's published fees don't list a separate child price, so plan on US$170 for an ordinary child passport. A parent or guardian must attend and sign, and the child must come in person.

Can I renew my Zimbabwe passport online?

No. Renewals, like new passports, are done in person at a Civil Registry office, or at an embassy or consulate if you live abroad. Bring your old passport with your other documents.

Can I pay for a Zimbabwe passport in ZiG?

The fees are set in US dollars in the regulations. Bring US dollars, or ask at the office before you go if you want to pay another way.