VISA ATLASWork visas & talent mobility
From→ToFind a corridor EN
☰

Zimbabwe

Nationality · visas, permits and migration

Moved to OECD countries, 2023
6,038
Top destination, 2023
United States
U.S. non-immigrant visas, FY2025
13,508
UK visas issued, 2025
17,514
Schengen visa refusal rate, 2024
15.9%
NationalityZWISO 3166
Year by year
Data as at 2025
NA<ZWZIMBABWE<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<
ZW1<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<2

Visa requirements for a short visit

Whether citizens of Zimbabwe need a visa for a short tourist or business visit, according to the legal lists. Rules change; check the official source before travelling.

DestinationShort visitLegal basis
Schengen areaVisa requiredRegulation (EU) 2018/1806 (consolidated 30.12.2025)
United KingdomVisa requiredImmigration Rules, Appendix Visitor / ETA National List
CanadaTemporary resident visa requiredIRPR s. 190, Schedule 1.1
Hong KongNo visa for visits of up to 90 daysImmigration Department (HKSAR), visit visa requirements, 31.12.2025
Source: Regulation (EU) 2018/1806 (consolidated 30 Dec 2025); UK Immigration Rules, Appendix Visitor and ETA National List; Canada IRPR s. 190 and Schedule 1.1; Immigration Department (HKSAR), visit visa requirements as at 31 Dec 2025Data as at Oct 2026

Where people from Zimbabwe move

Inflows of foreign nationals by country of nationality, as recorded by each destination (OECD).

Inflows to OECD countries, 2023
  1. United States1,370
  2. Australia1,223
  3. New Zealand1,200
  4. Germany817
  5. Canada555
  6. Netherlands211
  7. Japan210
  8. Belgium49
  9. Sweden46
  10. Austria44
  11. Italy38
  12. Hungary37
  13. Switzerland36
  14. Czechia33
  15. France30

Inflows to all OECD countries by year

3,0196,038200020032006200920122015201820212023
3,0196,0382000200420082012201620202023
Data table
20001,111
20012,720
20023,607
20033,449
20044,584
20053,588
20063,537
20073,815
20083,897
20093,986
20104,295
20113,457
20125,026
20133,001
20142,475
20153,494
20162,864
20173,184
20183,252
20193,692
20202,544
20213,886
20224,841
20236,038
Share going to the top destination
22.7%
Destinations recording arrivals
15
Source: OECD, International Migration Database (OECD.ELS.IMD), accessed 24 Oct 2026Data as at 2023

Living abroad

People born in Zimbabwe who live in another country: mid-year estimates of the international migrant stock (UN DESA). Where a destination records citizenship rather than country of birth, its foreign citizens are counted.

Largest destinations, 2024
  1. South Africa1,072,620
  2. United Kingdom132,869
  3. Mozambique101,486
  4. Botswana67,878
  5. Australia47,195
  6. Malawi26,561
  7. Zambia22,297
  8. Namibia16,053
  9. Canada14,291
  10. New Zealand9,140
  11. China2,913
  12. Portugal1,476

Living abroad by year

760k1.52M19901995200020052010201520202024
760k1.52M19902000201020202024
Data table
1990221,449
1995272,384
2000321,579
2005543,425
2010931,334
20151,237,826
20201,390,279
20241,519,324
Living abroad, 2024
1,519,324
Change since 2000
+372.5%
Share living in the largest destination, 2024
70.6%
Source: United Nations, DESA Population Division, International Migrant Stock 2024 (CC BY 3.0 IGO)Data as at 2024

United States

Visas issued to citizens of Zimbabwe by U.S. consulates (fiscal years, October–September) and certified PERM labor certifications.

Non-immigrant visas by class, FY2025
  1. B1/B25,836
  2. C1/D3,033
  3. F12,459
  4. J1450
  5. G4336
  6. F2330
  7. G2284
  8. J2136
  9. H1B108
  10. C182

Non-immigrant visas by fiscal year

8,85218k201720182019202020212022202320242025
8,85218k20172019202120232025
Data table
20175,848
20188,922
20199,355
20204,056
20213,542
202211,056
202317,704
202416,007
202513,508
Immigrant visas by class, FY2025
  1. E3274
  2. EW223
  3. IR565
  4. DV58
  5. IR131
  6. IR223
  7. CR118
  8. E218
Immigrant visas, FY2025
755
Certified PERM labor certifications, FY2024 (latest year with citizenship)
189
Source: U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Consular Affairs, monthly visa issuances (public domain); U.S. Department of Labor, OFLC PERM disclosure data (public domain)Data as at FY2025

Green cards and U.S. citizenship

People born in Zimbabwe who became U.S. lawful permanent residents (green cards) or U.S. citizens, and admissions of citizens of Zimbabwe with an I-94 record (DHS, fiscal years).

Green cards by fiscal year

9051,8102015201620172018201920202021202220232024
9051,810201520172019202120232024
Data table
2015780
2016820
2017810
2018750
2019760
2020670
2021740
20221,430
20231,310
20241,810
Green cards by class of admission, FY2024
  1. Employment-based preferences1,040
  2. Immediate relatives of U.S. citizens500
  3. Diversity visa lottery110
  4. Refugees and asylees90
  5. Family-sponsored preferences70
Temporary worker admissions (I-94), FY2024
  1. Specialty occupations (H-1B)420
  2. Intracompany transferees (L-1)260
  3. Spouses and children150
  4. Extraordinary ability (O-1, O-2)60
  5. Other temporary workers60
  6. Athletes, artists and entertainers (P)40
Green cards, FY2024 (born in Zimbabwe)
1,810
Naturalizations, FY2024 (born in Zimbabwe)
700
I-94 admissions, FY2024 (citizenship)
20,410
Source: U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Office of Homeland Security Statistics, Yearbook of Immigration Statistics 2024 (public domain)Data as at FY2024

United Kingdom

Entry clearance visas issued to nationals of Zimbabwe (Home Office) and students with a permanent address in Zimbabwe (HESA).

Visas issued by group, 2025
  1. Visitor10,749
  2. Work5,528
  3. Study648
  4. Other329
  5. Family260

Visas issued by year

28k57k201020122014201620182020202220242025
28k57k201020132016201920222025
Data table
20108,015
20118,064
20127,390
20137,214
20147,749
20158,021
20167,402
20177,916
20188,693
20199,163
20204,297
20216,134
202231,753
202356,525
202429,612
202517,514
Students at UK universities, 2024/25
1,610
Source: Home Office, Immigration system statistics (year ending June 2026), Open Government Licence v3.0Data as at 2025

Canada

Permits and invitations for citizens of Zimbabwe, by year the permit took effect (IRCC).

YearTFWP workIMP workStudyPermanent residentsExpress Entry invitations
20259543078057080
2024145415845600115
202375475880555115
20221028070061540
20210265525505110
20200185345335155
20190210380560145
20180180440605145
20170155450420175
2016017549528025
2015010033523020
Source: IRCC, monthly open data (rounded to the nearest 5). Open Government Licence – CanadaData as at 2025

Australia

Temporary skilled visas (subclass 457 to 2018, then 482) granted to primary applicants who are citizens of Zimbabwe, by financial year ending 30 June (Home Affairs).

Primary visas granted by financial year

3486952005–062007–082009–102011–122013–142015–162017–182019–202021–222023–242025–26
3486952005–062009–102013–142017–182021–222025–26
Data table
2005–06427
2006–07583
2007–08695
2008–09489
2009–10185
2010–11168
2011–12232
2012–13152
2013–1459
2014–1565
2015–1675
2016–1782
2017–1897
2018–19165
2019–20137
2020–2166
2021–22184
2022–23574
2023–24620
2024–25499
2025–26569
By stream, 2025–26
  1. Core Skills500
  2. Labour Agreement31
  3. Specialist Skills19
  4. Medium-term13
  5. Short-term6
Granted, 2025–26
569
Share of all Australian grants, 2025–26
0.8%
Source: Department of Home Affairs (Australia), BP0014 Temporary Resident (skilled) visas granted, data locked at 30 Sep 2026 (data.gov.au, CC BY)Data as at 2025–26

Japan

Citizens of Zimbabwe living in Japan at the end of each December, by status of residence (Immigration Services Agency of Japan). 2020 and 2021 were published only as database tables.

Foreign residents in Japan

3627232012201420162018202220242025
3627232012201420162018202220242025
Data table
201294
2013102
2014103
2015115
2016139
2017177
2018193
2019205
2022332
2023442
2024601
2025723
By status of residence, December 2025
  1. Engineer/Specialist in Humanities/International Services170
  2. Dependent151
  3. Instructor139
  4. Designated Activities75
  5. Student63
  6. Skilled Labor59
  7. Permanent Resident32
  8. Spouse or Child of Japanese National13
  9. Professor7
  10. Long-Term Resident6
Residents, December 2025
723
In work-related statuses
380
Share in work-related statuses
52.6%
Students
63
Source: Immigration Services Agency of Japan, Statistics on Foreign Residents (在留外国人統計), Table 1, end of December (e-Stat; Government of Japan Standard Terms of Use 2.0)Data as at Dec 2025

Schengen visas in Zimbabwe

Short-stay (C) visa applications at Schengen consulates located in Zimbabwe, 2024. Applicants are mostly, but not only, its citizens.

Schengen stateApplicationsIssuedNot issuedRefusal rate
France2,1991,82437517.1%
Spain1,6601,36920212.2%
Germany1,4261,17424217.0%
Italy1,2441,219211.7%
Netherlands1,19772943536.3%
Greece2862533110.8%
Portugal276234145.1%

Applications by year

4,1448,2882009201020112012201320142015201620172018201920202021202220232024
4,1448,288200920122015201820212024
Data table
20093,946
20104,380
20114,978
20123,976
20134,527
20145,431
20155,945
20166,633
20176,987
20187,522
20197,213
20201,265
2021982
20226,017
20237,856
20248,288
Refusal rate, 2024
15.9%
Refusal rate, 2019
11.0%
Source: European Commission, DG Migration and Home Affairs, visa statistics for consulates (CC BY 4.0)Data as at 2024

Residence permits in Europe

First residence permits issued to citizens of Zimbabwe in EU and EFTA countries, 2025 (Eurostat).

First permits by reason
  1. Work2,522
  2. Education1,470
  3. Other reasons696
  4. Family430
First permits by country
  1. Poland2,091
  2. Ireland905
  3. Germany650
  4. Lithuania356
  5. Netherlands176
  6. Hungary129
  7. Spain94
  8. Slovakia91
  9. France71
  10. Italy69
  11. Malta54
  12. Switzerland53
Work permits by type, 2025
  1. EU Blue Card31
  2. Highly skilled workers (national schemes)147
  3. Researchers30
  4. Other paid activities2,314
EU Blue Cards granted, 2024
62
Citizenships acquired in the EU, 2024
656
Students in EU/EFTA tertiary education, 2024
5,219
Refused entry at EU external borders, 2025
85
Valid residence permits, 31 Dec 2025
17,806
Long-term residence permits issued, 2025
334
Changed status into work, 2025
448
Intra-corporate transferee permits, 2025
1
Seasonal work authorisations, 2024
5
Source: Eurostat (migr_resfirst, migr_resbc11, migr_acq, educ_uoe_mobs02, migr_eirfs, migr_pop1ctz), CC BY 4.0Data as at 2024–2025

National statistics in Europe

Citizens of Zimbabwe in the figures of national statistics offices: residence permits granted in Denmark, immigrations by grounds for settlement in Sweden and immigrants with a non-EU/EFTA nationality by migration motive in the Netherlands; Finland and Austria publish immigration and emigration by citizenship only.

CountryYearAllWorkStudyFamilyProtectionOther or unknown
Denmark20251476100
Sweden202527331830
CountryYearImmigrationEmigrationNet migration
Finland2025381127
Austria2025432617
Work-related, latest year
  1. Denmark7
  2. Sweden3
Source: Danmarks Statistik, Statistikbanken VAN66 and VAN77M (CC BY 4.0); SCB (Statistics Sweden), Statistikdatabasen TAB1614 and TAB6670 (CC0); CBS (Statistics Netherlands), StatLine 84809NED (CC BY 4.0); Statistics Finland (Tilastokeskus), StatFin 11a8 (CC BY 4.0); Statistik Austria, OGD_bevwan020_AUSSENWAND_100 (CC BY 4.0)Data as at 2025

Foreign embassies and consulates in Zimbabwe

Countries with an embassy or consulate in Zimbabwe, as recorded in Wikidata.

CountryEmbassiesConsulates-generalConsulates
Algeria1——
Angola1——
Australia1——
Brazil1——
Canada1——
China1——
France1——
Germany1——
Ghana1——
Greece1——
India1——
Indonesia1——
Italy1——
Japan1——
Malaysia1——
Mozambique1——
Netherlands1——
Palestine1——
Portugal1——
Romania1——
Russia1——
South Africa1——
Spain1——
Sweden1——
Switzerland1——
Türkiye1——
United Kingdom1——
Countries
27
Missions
27
Source: Wikidata (CC0)Data as at Oct 2026

Remittances

Money that migrants send home: personal remittances received by Zimbabwe, in current US dollars (World Bank).

Remittances received by year, US$ million

1,7553,510200920122015201820212024
1,7553,510200920122015201820212024
Data table
20091,206
20101,413
20111,919
20122,114
20131,890
20141,904
20152,047
20161,856
20171,730
20181,428
20191,417
20201,832
20212,574
20223,085
20233,301
20243,510
Remittances received, 2024
US$3,510 million
Share of GDP, 2024
8.5%
Average cost of sending US$200 to Zimbabwe, 2023
5.3%
Source: World Bank, World Development Indicators (CC BY 4.0)Data as at 2024

All corridors from Zimbabwe

Destinations with a dedicated page for citizens of this country.

  • Zimbabwe → United States
  • Zimbabwe → Australia
  • Zimbabwe → New Zealand
  • Zimbabwe → Germany
  • Zimbabwe → Canada
  • Zimbabwe → United Kingdom
  • Zimbabwe → Poland
Source: OECD, International Migration Database (OECD.ELS.IMD), accessed 24 Oct 2026Data as at 2023

Official data, not advice. Visa Atlas publishes figures from government registers and statistics. It does not assess eligibility or give immigration advice; for advice, consult a regulated adviser. Read more