Date of publication:

10/12/2026

Zambia

Do domestic laws and policies provide complementary international protection statuses?

ANALYSIS

Assessment by population

Refugees
Asylum-seekers
Analysis

Currently there is no complementary international protection status outside the refugee status based on the refugee definitions in the 2017 Refugees Act. Domesticating the 1951 Refugee Convention and the 1969 OAU Refugee Convention. Regarding the implementation of non-refoulement under the 2017 Refugees Act, there is no dedicated legal status provided, or documentation granted to persons who do not meet the inclusion criteria or are excluded from refugee recognition, but are still protected from deportation or removal by the non-refoulement principle (Section 23(1) 2017 Refugees Act). Nevertheless, without having any specific features or being designated to be issued to persons protected by the non-refoulement principle, in practice a Temporary Permit can be issued to such a person under section 33 2026 Immigration Control Act.

    LAW & POLICY

    Related provisions of domestic law or policy

    The 1951 Refugee Convention and 1967 Protocol relating to the Status of Refugees

    Legal provision

    The 1951 Refugee Convention and 1967 Protocol relating to the Status of Refugees - Generic

    The 1951 Refugee Convention and 1967 Protocol relating to the Status of Refugees - Generic

    Convention Governing the Specific Aspects of Refugee Problems in Africa

    Legal provision

    Convention Governing the Specific Aspects of Refugee Problems in Africa - Generic

    Convention Governing the Specific Aspects of Refugee Problems in Africa - Generic

    THE REFUGEES ACT, 2017

    Legal provision

    Section 23 - Prohibition of expulsion, extradition or refusal of entry of asylum seeker or refugee

    23. (1) Despite the provisions of any other law, a person shall not be refused entry into Zambia or be expelled, extradited or returned from Zambia to another country if that refusal, expulsion or return would compel that person to return to or remain in a country where— (a) that person may be subjected to persecution on account of that person's race, religion, nationality, membership of a particular social group or political opinion; or (b) that person's life, physical well-being or liberty is threatened by external aggression, occupation, foreign domination or event seriously disrupting public order in part or the whole of that country. (2) The Minister shall take such steps as the Minister considers necessary to ensure that the provisions of subsection (1) are applied in respect of persons to whom that subsection applies. (3) An asylum seeker or refugee shall not benefit from this provision where there are reasonable grounds to believe that the asylum seeker or refugee is a danger or threat to national security.

    THE IMMIGRATION CONTROL ACT, 2026

    Legal provision

    Section 33 - Temporary permit

    33. (1) A prohibited immigrant, illegal immigrant or any other person who does not hold any permit issued under this Act may, with the prior approval of the Director-General, apply to the Director-General for a temporary permit in a prescribed manner and form on payment of a prescribed fee. (2) An application referred to in subsection (1) shall be accompanied by a prescribed sum of money as deposit for the purpose of securing the applicant's compliance with the conditions specified in the permit. (3) The Director-General shall, within thirty days of receipt of an application under subsection (1), approve or reject the application. (4) The Director-General shall, where the Director-General rejects an application, inform the applicant in a prescribed form, stating the reasons for the rejection. (5) The Director-General shall, where the applicant satisfies the prescribed requirements, issue the applicant with a temporary permit in a prescribed form. (6) A deposit referred to under subsection (2), shall where the persons referred to under subsection (1) fail to comply with the conditions of a temporary permit, be used for purposes of deporting or removing that person from the Republic or be forfeited to the State.