Sunday, May 25, 2025 - Zambian President, Hakainde Hichilema, has demanded that the European Union (EU) and the United Kingdom (UK) refund visa application fees for every rejected Zambian applicant.
The announcement, made on Friday, May 23, 2025, highlights
growing concerns over the high costs and frequent rejections of visa
applications, which have impacted many Zambians seeking to travel for tourism,
business, or education.
The President argues that visa fees should only be charged
for successful applications, emphasising that rejected applicants should not
bear the cost of administrative processes that ultimately deny them entry,
Block TV reports.
President Hichilema argued that visa application fees, which
can be substantial, place an unfair burden on applicants when their requests
are denied, often without clear justification.
“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.
This stance has sparked discussions on visa policies and
fairness in international travel regulations.
While the UK government has a defined refund policy for
immigration and nationality applications, it does not typically cover rejected
visas. The EU's stance on visa fee refunds remains unclear, but the Zambian
leader's demand could prompt further debate on the issue.
The proposal has received mixed reactions, with some
supporting the idea as a step toward fairer travel policies, while others
question its feasibility. As discussions unfold, it remains to be seen whether
the EU and UK will respond to Zambia’s request.
The Zambian government has not yet outlined how it will
engage with EU and UK authorities to pursue this demand.
0 Comments