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Visa requirements · updated Jul 2026

Do Zimbabwe citizens need a visa for United Kingdom?

Visa required

Zimbabwe citizens need a visa to enter United Kingdom. Apply in advance at an embassy or visa centre.

VISAXSJul 2026
Visa required
Zimbabwe → United Kingdom
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Everything for your trip to United Kingdom

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Zimbabwe vs United Kingdom: passport comparison

Zimbabwe

37

visa-free countries

Global rank: #147 · mobility 81.8

United Kingdom

118

visa-free countries

Global rank: #31 · mobility 167.6
29

countries both Zimbabwe and United Kingdom can enter visa-free together

Zimbabwe + United Kingdom: passport compatibility

39%

of the world — where both passports have the same visa access

Where Zimbabwe and United Kingdom travel together — by entry type:

29 both visa-free
16 both visa on arrival
16 both e-visa / eTA
15 both need a visa
121 access differs

Where Zimbabwe and United Kingdom can travel visa-free together

Travelling as a pair with two different passports? Here is the full list of countries where BOTH of you can enter without a prior visa — plus where your access differs.

Both visa-free (29)

Sort by max stay or the destination's passport strength (tap a header), and filter by region.

Country Max stay Passport rank
Angola 30 days #168
Bahamas 90 days #53
Barbados 180 days #48
Belize 90 days #99
Botswana 90 days #119
Dominica 21 days #70
Ecuador 90 days #104
Fiji 120 days #103
Gambia 90 days #132
Haiti 90 days #175
Hong Kong 90 days #46
Lesotho 90 days #122
Malawi 30 days #127
Malaysia 30 days #41
Mauritius 90 days #66
Micronesia 30 days #89
Mozambique 30 days #162
Palestine 90 days #193
Philippines 30 days #128
Rwanda 30 days #143
Saint Kitts and Nevis 90 days #54
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 90 days #56
Seychelles 90 days #58
Singapore 30 days #12
South Africa 90 days #97
Swaziland 30 days #120
Trinidad and Tobago 90 days #63
Vanuatu 120 days #105
Zambia 90 days #139

Only Zimbabwe is visa-free (8)

UK visa refusals for Zimbabwe citizens

The Home Office publishes the outcome of every visa application — issued and refused — broken down by nationality. These are visitor visas: tourism, family visits and business trips.

34.6%
of visitor-visa applications from Zimbabwe citizens were refused in 2025
+6.9 pp above the all-country median (27.7%)
+6.6 pp year-over-year: 2024 was 28.1%, now 34.6%
16,452decisions in the year
5,694of them refusals
#41strictest of 119 countries
89countries saw UK refusals rise year-over-year

Home Office data for 2025, visitor visas (applications made from outside the UK). Only countries with at least 200 decisions in the year are ranked — below that the percentage swings on small numbers. The median, rank and year-over-year change are our own calculations on top of the official figures. Source: UK Home Office  ·  All countries →

How the entry rule changed: Zimbabwe → United Kingdom

We keep our own archive of visa-rule snapshots and diff them against each other. Here is what changed over the observed period.

The Zimbabwe → United Kingdom rule itself held steady over the observed period. The context around it did move:

0passports gained easier entry to United Kingdom
1passports saw United Kingdom tighten its rules
3rule changes for the Zimbabwe passport, 2 of them easing
July 2024 — June 2026our archive observation window

Comparison is built from our own dataset snapshots; the date marks when we recorded the change, not the official decision date. See all changes →

United Kingdom: good to know

London

Capital

British Pound (GBP)

Currency

Greenwich Mean Time (UTC+0)

Time zone

+44

Calling code

G

Power plug

230V / 50Hz

Voltage

Left-hand

Driving side

Where else Zimbabwe goes visa-free

Check another route

Documents you'll usually need for United Kingdom

The usual basics for the trip. Always confirm exact requirements with the embassy or consulate.

Valid passport

Valid at least 6 more months

Return / onward ticket

Proof you will leave the country

Proof of funds

Enough money for your stay

Accommodation

Hotel booking or an invitation

Travel insurance

Recommended, sometimes required

Visa

Obtained at the embassy in advance

Frequently asked

Do Zimbabwe citizens need a visa for United Kingdom?
Zimbabwe citizens need a visa to enter United Kingdom. Apply in advance at an embassy or visa centre.
Which passport is stronger — Zimbabwe or United Kingdom?
The United Kingdom passport is stronger: 118 visa-free countries versus 37. Global rank: Zimbabwe #147, United Kingdom #31.
Where can Zimbabwe and United Kingdom citizens travel together visa-free?
Both passports get visa-free access to 29 of the same countries.
What documents do I need for United Kingdom?
Usually: a valid passport (6+ months), a return ticket, proof of funds and accommodation. Plus a visa obtained from the embassy in advance. Always confirm exact requirements with the embassy.
Can visa requirements change between Zimbabwe and United Kingdom?
Yes, visa rules change periodically. This data is current as of Jul 2026 — always confirm with the embassy before you travel.

Zimbabwe passport ranking

Where else the Zimbabwe passport can take you and how it ranks worldwide.

View the passport