Zambia
If you now live in Canada and previously lived, worked, or studied in Zambia,
many immigration, employment, and licensing processes will ask you for a Zambia Police Clearance Certificate (PCC)
in addition to your Canadian one. Getting fingerprinted correctly is usually the first step. This guide walks through how that works
while you’re based in Canada, and how Surrey Fingerprint Company can help with the fingerprinting part.
Visit Surrey Fingerprint Company for professional, correctly-formatted fingerprints for your Zambia police clearance
application. Email info@surreyfingerprint.com
beforehand so we can confirm the exact form and format Zambia Police Service — Criminal Investigation Department (CID) Headquarters, Lusaka currently requires.
Why Would Someone in Canada Need a Zambia PCC?
- Canadian immigration & citizenship (IRCC): if you lived in Zambia for 6 months or more before moving to Canada, IRCC may require a police certificate from Zambia as part of permanent residency, sponsorship, or citizenship applications.
- Immigration to a third country: if you are applying to move from Canada to another country (e.g. Australia, the UK, the US, or elsewhere), that country’s character/background check requirements often ask for a clearance from every country you’ve lived in for an extended period, including Zambia.
- Employment & licensing: some regulated professions and international employers request a background check covering your time in Zambia.
- Legal, banking, or property matters: some processes back in Zambia may themselves ask you to complete identity verification via fingerprints while abroad.
The General Process From Canada
Because you’re applying from outside Zambia, the typical path is: get fingerprinted locally in Canada in the exact
format Zambia Police Service — Criminal Investigation Department (CID) Headquarters, Lusaka accepts, then send that fingerprint record to them along with the rest of your
application package.
Contact Zambia’s issuing authority first
Confirm the current application form, required fingerprint format, fee, and mailing/submission method directly with
Zambia Police Service — Criminal Investigation Department (CID) Headquarters, Lusaka — requirements can change, so always check before your appointment.
Get fingerprinted at Surrey Fingerprint Company
Bring valid photo ID and any required form. The fingerprint format usually requested for a Zambia PCC is:
Ink-and-Roll Fingerprinting (Paper Card). We offer both ink-and-roll and digital fingerprinting on-site.
We complete your card correctly
We take your fingerprints on the correct form, complete any required identity/witness sections, and provide the card or
document ready to send.
Send your package to Zambia
Mail or submit your fingerprint card along with your application form, ID copies, photos, and fee (as required) to
Zambia Police Service — Criminal Investigation Department (CID) Headquarters, Lusaka. Use a tracked courier for original documents.
If you live outside Zambia, apply by mail to CID Headquarters-Lusaka. Send a copy of your passport, a set of fingerprints taken on a standard fingerprint form at any police station in your area of residence, a pre-paid DHL return envelope, and proof of the applicable fee (payable via the government e-portal, zamportal.gov.zm).
Mailing address:
Criminal Investigation Department (CID) Headquarters, Lusaka, Zambia
Receive your Zambia PCC
Processing time is Confirm current timelines with CID Headquarters, Lusaka. Some authorities mail the certificate directly to your Canadian
address; others may require pickup via a consulate or representative.
Source: Official guidance for Zambia. Requirements can change; always confirm current details on the official page before applying.
the current requirement before your appointment so you don’t need to redo it.
clearance applications can change without notice. Always confirm current requirements directly with
Zambia Police Service — Criminal Investigation Department (CID) Headquarters, Lusaka before your appointment.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I get fingerprinted in Surrey for a Zambia PCC?
Yes. Surrey Fingerprint Company offers both ink-and-roll and digital fingerprinting, and can prepare your fingerprint card or document in the format most commonly requested for Zambia applications. Contact us to confirm the exact form before your visit.
How long does it take to get a PCC from Zambia while living in Canada?
Timelines vary widely by country and by how the application is submitted. As a general estimate: Confirm current timelines with CID Headquarters, Lusaka. Confirm current processing times with the issuing authority.
Do I need an original fingerprint card, or is a scan acceptable?
This depends on Zambia's current requirements — some authorities require original ink cards mailed physically, others accept digital submissions. We'll help you confirm which applies before you leave our office.
Can Surrey Fingerprint Company submit my application to Zambia for me?
We handle the fingerprinting step. Submission of the full application package is generally your responsibility (or your immigration consultant/lawyer's), unless otherwise noted for a specific country.
Get Fingerprinted for Your Zambia PCC — Surrey, BC
Email us before your visit so we can confirm the correct form and format for Zambia.
+1 (604) 825-8882 · info@surreyfingerprint.com