Zambian President Hakainde Hichilema has called on the European Union (EU) and the United Kingdom (UK) to refund visa application fees for all Zambians whose applications are rejected.
Speaking on Friday, May 23, 2025, President Hichilema expressed deep concern about the high costs and frequent rejections of visa applications, which have affected many Zambians seeking to travel for tourism, business, or education.
According to Block TV, the President argued that visa fees should only be charged for successful applications, stressing that rejected applicants should not be forced to pay for administrative processes that ultimately deny them entry.
“It’s unacceptable that our citizens lose significant sums of money on unsuccessful applications,” President Hichilema stated, advocating for a fairer system that includes refunds for rejected visas.
The President’s call has ignited discussions around visa policies and international travel fairness. Currently, the UK government has a clear refund policy for immigration and nationality applications but typically excludes rejected visas. The EU’s stance on refunding visa fees for unsuccessful applications is not clearly defined.
Reactions to the proposal have been mixed—some see it as a positive step toward fairer travel practices, while others question whether it’s realistic. As this debate continues, it’s uncertain how the EU and UK will respond to Zambia’s demand.
For now, the Zambian government has not provided details on how it will engage with EU and UK officials to press for these visa fee refunds.
