Key points
- ZIMRA announced tighter Temporary Import Permit controls in Public Notice No. 60 of 2026, citing abuse of the facility.
- Permits will ordinarily last no more than 30 days and cannot exceed three months in total.
- Drivers pay a $10 carbon tax and $30 for insurance, plus $37 in extra charges at Beitbridge.
The Zimbabwe Revenue Authority has tightened the rules for issuing Temporary Import Permits to foreign-registered vehicles, citing abuse of the facility.
ZIMRA announced the changes in Public Notice No. 60 of 2026, issued Wednesday, Oct. 21. The authority said it is acting under the Customs and Excise Act and the Customs and Excise (General) Regulations of 2001, also known as Statutory Instrument 154 of 2001.
A permit may go to a bona fide visitor who normally lives outside Zimbabwe and is entering temporarily for lawful reasons, ZIMRA said. These include tourism, business, study, employment and sporting activities.
Applicants must present several documents. They are a valid passport, the original vehicle registration book, and a letter of authority or affidavit if the registered owner is not driving.
A Zimbabwean resident abroad who is behind the wheel must also show a work, employment, study or residence permit.
Some applications may face extra checks, especially when someone other than the owner is driving, ZIMRA said. The authority described this as part of enhanced verification measures.
Permits will ordinarily be issued for no more than 30 days. Longer stays will be considered case by case, but the total cannot exceed three months.
Anyone seeking an extension must apply before the permit expires and back the request with valid reasons and relevant documents.
The vehicle must remain under the permit holder’s control, and it cannot be disposed of in Zimbabwe without ZIMRA’s approval. It must leave the country before the permit expires unless an extension has been granted.
Permit holders should not leave Zimbabwe without the vehicle unless they first make arrangements with the nearest ZIMRA office, the notice states.
Drivers must pay a $10 carbon tax and $30 for third-party insurance. Those crossing at Beitbridge Border Post owe an extra $9 bridge toll and a $28 Zimborders fee, which brings the total to $77.
