Zambia’s President, Hakainde Hichilema, is pushing for a major change in how visa application fees are handled by the European Union and the United Kingdom.
Hichileme called on both the EU and the UK to refund the fees of Zambians whose visa applications are rejected.
The demand, made public on Friday, May 23, 2025, comes amid growing frustration over the high cost of visa applications and the number of people being denied entry, especially for those hoping to travel for business, education, or tourism.
President Hichilema said it’s unfair for applicants to lose money when their visa requests are turned down.
He argued that people shouldn’t have to pay expensive fees just to be rejected, especially when the reasons given aren’t always clear.
“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.
His comments have sparked wider debate over the fairness of global visa systems.
The UK has specific refund rules for immigration-related applications, but these usually don’t apply to standard visa refusals.
The EU has not made its position clear, but President Hichilema’s call could put pressure on both to review their policies.
Reactions have been mixed, with some people seeing the idea as a step toward a more just travel system, while others question how realistic it is to expect refunds from foreign governments.
The Zambian government hasn’t shared details on how it plans to raise the issue with the UK and EU, but the president’s remarks have already put the spotlight on what many see as an unfair part of the international travel process.
KanyiDaily recalls that the UK government is planning to tighten its immigration rules, especially for countries whose citizens often overstay their visas.
