Customs Clearing Services in Zambia for Imports and Exports

Customs clearing services for importers and exporters across Zambia

We provide import and export customs-clearing assistance to customers throughout Zambia. From our Livingstone office, we help you organise the essential information for your goods, understand the relevant clearing steps and request a quotation based on the shipment rather than a generic advertised price.

Our work begins with the fundamentals: the direction of trade, a clear description of goods, origin, destination, customs route and available commercial documentation.

Import clearing for goods entering Zambia

For imported consignments, we discuss commercial invoices, packing lists, transport details and commodity information, including whether product-specific permits or other approvals may be relevant. Cargo classification, customs valuation and origin can influence the official assessment.

Learn how to prepare your import clearing enquiry and review our Zambia import documents guide.

Export clearing for goods leaving Zambia

For exports, we review the goods, buyer destination, supporting paperwork, transport arrangements and intended exit station. Certificates of origin and commodity-specific approvals can be relevant depending on the shipment.

Explore our export clearing service and export documents guide.

What we need before discussing your quotation

Tell us whether you are importing or exporting. Share the goods and quantities, invoice value and currency, supplier or buyer country, transport method, border or customs station, and target destination. An invoice or packing list is useful, but you can begin with the information you have.

We use these facts to clarify the scope of the clearing enquiry. Government duties, taxes, storage or transport charges are not the same as an agent service quotation.

What happens during customs clearance

Depending on the procedure, a declaration is prepared with relevant documents, customs may assess charges or request checks, and any applicable payment and intervention steps must be completed before release is authorised. Incorrect descriptions or missing permits can interrupt this process.

Read our step-by-step customs clearing guide and common delays guide to prepare your records.

Serving customers throughout Zambia

We receive enquiries from Livingstone, Lusaka, Ndola, Kitwe and other parts of the country. For border-related shipments, tell us whether your goods are moving through Kazungula, Chirundu, Nakonde, Kasumbalesa, Katima Mulilo or another station.

We do not assume a business based in one city clears through the nearest border: the origin, destination, transport contract and customs procedure determine the actual route.

Clear guidance without fixed promises

We aim to make the preparation process straightforward. The time, documentation and charges involved in clearing depend on the shipment, the customs procedure and any regulatory checks. We do not promise a fixed duty figure or guaranteed release before the relevant details have been examined.

Contact Three Stripes for a quotation or speak with our team during 8:30 AM–5:00 PM.

Frequently asked questions about clearing in Zambia

Can I enquire before my goods arrive? Yes. Send the goods description, documents available, transport route and intended entry or exit station. Early preparation can help identify missing details.

Are government duties included in your clearing fee? Government duties and taxes are separate from professional service fees. The relevant customs authority determines statutory assessments.

What if my invoice is incomplete? Share the records you have and ask your supplier for the missing product, quantity, price or transaction details. Accurate documentation is important for a useful enquiry.

Do you assist customers outside Livingstone? Yes. We serve importers and exporters throughout Zambia from our office in Livingstone; tell us the actual customs route for your consignment.

Official customs guidance

For the current legal requirements and formal customs decisions, consult the Zambia Revenue Authority’s published information: Import guidance, Export guidance.

Our nationwide service starts with your shipment, not a generic checklist

We serve customers across Zambia from our Livingstone base. Tell us where the goods are coming from, where they are going and the actual customs entry or exit point. We use those facts to discuss documentation and the next steps.

An enquiry involving Lusaka-bound goods through Chirundu calls for different route information from an export crossing at Kazungula. Both start with accurate goods and transport documents, but the particular declaration and controls depend on the movement.

A clear difference between customs duty and our charges

Statutory customs duties and taxes are determined under the applicable customs and tax rules, not by a clearing agent’s preference. Our quotation concerns the professional assistance requested and should identify the scope of work.

Where a client asks for an estimate of total clearance costs, we first need accurate goods descriptions and supporting values. We avoid quoting a single flat government duty without knowing the consignment.

Practical guides to read next

• Before your cargo arrives — prepare supplier and carrier records
• Invoice and packing list explained — check your goods description and quantities
• Understanding customs fees — distinguish charges before requesting a quote