Customs on the way to Zambia
I am traveling to Livingstone, Zambia from Tampa, Florida. This is my first time making this trip. My itinerary is as follows: Tampa (TPA) - Chicago (ORD) - Frankfurt (FRA) - Johannesburg (JNB) - Livingstone (LVI).
At which stopping points will I be going through Customs and Immigration?
Will I need to recheck my luggage at any certain point?
Best Answer
Working on the fact that it is one ticket and routed via Chicago and Frankfurt, I will hazard a guess you are flying with Star Alliance carriers (United, South African & maybe Luftansa).
Assuming your flights are all connecting without any overnight stops, your bags should be checked all the way through and you should stay airside in the international departure lounges at all intermediate airports. So you should not have to clear customs or immigration anywhere until you reach Livingstone. Nor will you need to claim and recheck your bags.
A lot of connecting flights from the USA to Africa arrive first thing in the morning in Europe and then depart that evening for Africa. In this case, if you wanted to, you could clear immigration and head into town to explore around rather than sitting for 12 hours in the airport, just be sure to get back in plenty of time for departure and be aware that there might be a departure tax imposed (some airports give you a paper certifying that you are connecting not departing to avoid this). Your bags, if checked through, would stay with the airline.
If by chance you have any longer layovers at other stops, then likely you would have to claim your baggage, clear immigration, go find a place to stay for the duration and then check back in.
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How much is customs duty in Zambia?
Customs duty rates range between 0 and 40%. This is value added tax (VAT) charged on all imported goods according to the applicable domestic rate i.e. standard rate of 16%, zero or exempt. This tax is levied on selected goods which either have externalities or are of a luxurious nature.What are customs in Zambia?
Some of the common customs are: always greet before starting a conversation, and if a person approaches you, offer the initial greeting. Men should withhold their hands when greeting a woman, until the woman offers her hands. Gifts are presented as a sign of honour, friendship or appreciation.How much can I bring to Zambia?
Currency Import regulations: Local currency (Zambia Kwacha-ZMW) and foreign currencies: amounts exceeding USD 5000. - or equivalent must be declared.How do I avoid custom duty?
There is no way to avoid customs duties, customs officers will check all items entering the country and charges will be applied where necessary. If you simply put 'gift' on the customs invoice, this does not mean it will not attract duty as they will still check the value of what is in the box.How To Shop from UK, US, India And South Africa And Ship To Zambia
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