Zimbabwe e-Visa question
Jul 11, 2025 | 1:05 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: ORD
Programs: AA, UA, GE
Posts: 5,388
Zimbabwe e-Visa question
We'll be going to VFA next month and I'm trying to figure out what we can schedule on the day of our arrival. We are a party pf four. Tow of us are arriving around 12:30 (on Ethiopian) and two of us are arriving at 13:30 (on SAA).
How long should be allow for entry into Zimbabwe? I have heard some horror stories from people we know that it can take 1 - 2 hours to get out of the airport. We've traveled to several African countries and I have never had that long a delay getting in to a country.
I'm looking for any advice on how long it will take and ways to keep it to a minimum, Thanks for any thoughts on this.
How long should be allow for entry into Zimbabwe? I have heard some horror stories from people we know that it can take 1 - 2 hours to get out of the airport. We've traveled to several African countries and I have never had that long a delay getting in to a country.
I'm looking for any advice on how long it will take and ways to keep it to a minimum, Thanks for any thoughts on this.
Last edited by cheltzel; Jul 11, 2025 at 1:20 pm
Jul 11, 2025 | 1:44 pm
#3
Join Date: Aug 2016
Posts: 112
cheltzel's wife here. Is it all one queue? Such that if someone has an e-visa, there is not much benefit other than slightly faster processing because their paperwork is not being looked at as closely?
Jul 11, 2025 | 3:28 pm
#4
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: Geneva
Programs: AFKL Plat for life, LX FTL for life and now also BA Blue for life
Posts: 7,372
2 years ago - it took me all of 5 minutes to get through immigration, but I was in the first or second row of the plane which certainly helped as did the fact that I had been to the country before and knew the routine. Correct amount of cash (US$) helps.
IIRC there were separate queues for Zim nationals and foreign nationals but I don't recall whether there were separate VoA and Evisa lines.
(And then I lost a couple of hours when I found that my suitcase was still in Jo'burg. Had an interesting shoppping experience in town and it took a year to get reimbursed by SAA but that's a different story)
IIRC there were separate queues for Zim nationals and foreign nationals but I don't recall whether there were separate VoA and Evisa lines.
(And then I lost a couple of hours when I found that my suitcase was still in Jo'burg. Had an interesting shoppping experience in town and it took a year to get reimbursed by SAA but that's a different story)
Jul 12, 2025 | 12:35 am
#5
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: SE1, London & White River, South Africa
Posts: 24,644
Either way, I really can't see it taking longer than an hour. The ET flight arrives at the start of the lunchtime wave, and there are a few Airlink, Fastjet arrivals before SAA but they are all smaller regional jets not 747's or A380's.
Jul 14, 2025 | 7:10 am
#6
Original Poster
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: ORD
Programs: AA, UA, GE
Posts: 5,388
Thanks to Swanhunter and MichielR for their responses.
For a little topic scope creep, I have another question. I got a pretty good deal for travel by booking a round trip from the US to JNB and then buying cheaper local travel flights around the area. While we've been to Africa frequently, this is the first time I will be travelling to South Africa and after a few days, leave South Africa for Zimbabwe and then after a few days return to South Africa and finally, after a few more days we will depart to return to the US.
The question is, do we need any sort of special visa for our initial entry to South Africa (specifically a multi-entry visa) or as tourists can we simply come and go without issue?
For a little topic scope creep, I have another question. I got a pretty good deal for travel by booking a round trip from the US to JNB and then buying cheaper local travel flights around the area. While we've been to Africa frequently, this is the first time I will be travelling to South Africa and after a few days, leave South Africa for Zimbabwe and then after a few days return to South Africa and finally, after a few more days we will depart to return to the US.
The question is, do we need any sort of special visa for our initial entry to South Africa (specifically a multi-entry visa) or as tourists can we simply come and go without issue?
Jul 14, 2025 | 9:24 am
#7
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: SE1, London & White River, South Africa
Posts: 24,644
No issues at all to worry about, in fact many many people do just this. As US passport holders you are visa free so can come and go as you wish. You might asked on your second visa how long you are staying for but that's just for the purposes of the 90 day stay rule and nothing to be concerned about. I've gone in and out 3 times (Moz, Zim, Lesotho) on one trip and not had an issue.
Enjoy Zim. Despite its many challenges it remains a really charming place to travel with some truly wonderful people.
Enjoy Zim. Despite its many challenges it remains a really charming place to travel with some truly wonderful people.
Jul 14, 2025 | 1:51 pm
#9
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: SE1, London & White River, South Africa
Posts: 24,644
Jul 14, 2025 | 4:18 pm
#10
Original Poster
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: ORD
Programs: AA, UA, GE
Posts: 5,388