Advanced Search

Citizenship may be acquired by birth, descent, registration or adoption in accordance with this Part². (Art. 34)

1. A citizen shall not lose citizenship by acquiring the citizenship of another country.
2. A citizen who ceased to be a citizen, before the commencement of this Constitution as a result of acquiring the citizenship of another country, shall be entitled to apply, as prescribed, to the Citizenship Board of Zambia, for citizenship and the Citizenship Board of Zambia shall bestow citizenship on that person. (Art. 39)

A person who was a citizen of Zambia, immediately before the commencement of this Constitution, shall continue to be a citizen of Zambia and shall retain the same citizenship category from the date the citizenship was acquired. (Art. 33)

A child who is not a citizen and who is adopted by a citizen shall be a citizen on the date of the adoption. (Art. 38)

1. Subject to clause (2), a person is entitled to apply to the Citizenship Board of Zambia to be registered as a citizen if that person has attained the age of eighteen years and—
a. was born in Zambia and has been ordinarily resident in Zambia for a period of at least five years;
b. was born outside Zambia, has or had an ancestor who is, or was, a citizen and has been ordinarily resident in Zambia for a period of at least five years; or
c. has been ordinarily resident in Zambia for a continuous period of at least ten years; immediately preceding that person’s application for registration, as prescribed.
2. Notwithstanding clause (1), a person who is, or was married to a citizen, for a period of at least five years, is entitled to apply to the Citizenship Board of Zambia, to be registered as a citizen, as prescribed. (Art. 37)

A person born outside Zambia is a citizen by descent if, at the date of that person’s birth, at least one parent of that person is or was a citizen by birth or descent. (Art. 36)

1. A person born in Zambia is a citizen by birth if, at the date of that person’s birth, at least one parent of that person is or was a citizen.
2. A child found in Zambia who is, or appears to be, of not more than eight years of age and whose nationality and parents are not known, shall be presumed to be a citizen by birth.
... (Art. 35)

1. A citizen—
a. may renounce citizenship as prescribed; or
b. shall be deprived of citizenship if that citizenship was acquired by means of fraud, false representation or concealment of a material fact.
2. The process and procedures to be followed by the Citizenship Board of Zambia when granting or depriving a person of citizenship shall be prescribed. (Art. 40)