Search Fees and Replacement Costs for Zimbabwe National ID

When replacing a lost or damaged Zimbabwean national ID, the fees involved go beyond just the replacement itself — there is also a separate search fee that applies when the Registrar General's office needs to locate your records. Understanding the full cost picture helps avoid surprises at the counter. Under Statutory Instrument 8 of 2024 (Citizenship Amendment Regulations, 2024, No. 23), a records search — formally described as searching a set of citizen records per set — costs US$10, payable strictly in US dollars. This is a separate charge from the replacement fee and applies when officials need to trace your registration details in the system. For the replacement ID itself, the fees are set out under SI 10 of 2024 (National Registration Fees Amendment Regulations, 2024, No. 18) and vary depending on your ID type, residency status, and urgency: - Replacement of a lost or torn paper ID document: US$5 - Urgent replacement of a lost or torn paper ID document: US$10 - Replacement of a lost or defaced metal or plastic (synthetic polythene) ID — resident: US$10 - Replacement of a lost or defaced metal or plastic ID — non-resident: US$15 - Urgent replacement of a lost or defaced metal or plastic ID — resident: US$20 - Urgent replacement of a lost or defaced metal or plastic ID — non-resident: US$30 If you currently hold an older metal ID and wish to upgrade to a plastic card during the replacement process, residents pay US$20 and non-residents pay US$30. All fees can be paid in either US dollars or Zimbabwe Gold (ZiG) at the prevailing interbank exchange rate. The ZiG equivalent shifts as the rate moves, so confirm the current figure at the Registrar General's office on the day of your visit. For those applying from outside Zimbabwe — including diaspora members in the UK — applications can be submitted through Zimbabwean embassies and consulates, though processing times are longer than applying in-country. Non-resident fees apply in these cases. Beyond fees, you will need the following documents to apply for a replacement ID: - A police report confirming the loss (obtained from a local police station in Zimbabwe, or from authorities in your country of residence if abroad) - A sworn affidavit - Your long birth certificate - Your parents' national ID cards where applicable Processing time for a replacement ID is typically four to six weeks, though this can extend during busy periods. A few additional charges worth knowing if your situation is more complex: - Searching ID records for any year or document entry: US$2 - Correction of an error on a paper ID (where the error was the applicant's fault): US$10 - Correction of an error on a plastic ID (applicant's fault): US$25 - Fingerprint clearance: US$1; urgent fingerprint clearance: US$5 These fees were introduced in early 2024 and represent a shift to USD-denominated government charges. As fee schedules can be updated through new Statutory Instruments, always verify the current amounts directly with the Registrar General's office or a Zimbabwean embassy before your appointment.