Zambian President, Hakainde Hichilema, has demanded that the European Union (EU) and the United Kingdom (UK) refund visa application fees for every rejected Zambian applicant.
The announcement, made on Friday, May 23, 2025, highlights growing concerns over the high costs and frequent rejections of visa applications, which have impacted many Zambians seeking to travel for tourism, business, or education.
The President argues that visa fees should only be charged for successful applications, emphasising that rejected applicants should not bear the cost of administrative processes that ultimately deny them entry.
Additionally, President Hichilema argued that visa application fees, which can be substantial, place an unfair burden on applicants when their requests are denied, often without clear justification.
“It is unacceptable that our citizens lose significant sums of money on unsuccessful applications,” the President stated, calling for a fairer system that includes refunds for rejected visas.
This stance has sparked discussions on visa policies and fairness in international travel regulations.
While the UK government has a defined refund policy for immigration and nationality applications, it does not typically cover rejected visas. The EU’s stance on visa fee refunds remains unclear, but the Zambian leader’s demand could prompt further debate on the issue.
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The proposal has received mixed reactions, with some supporting the idea as a step toward fairer travel policies, while others question its feasibility.
As discussions unfold, it remains to be seen whether the EU and UK will respond to Zambia’s request.
The Zambian government has not yet outlined how it will engage with EU and UK authorities to pursue this demand.
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