Search Fees and Replacement Costs for Zimbabwe National ID Documents

When replacing a lost or damaged Zimbabwean national ID, the Registrar General's office charges more than just a replacement fee — there is also a separate search fee that applies when officials need to locate your records. Understanding the full breakdown of costs helps avoid surprises, particularly when arranging replacements from the UK on behalf of relatives back home. Under Statutory Instrument 10 of 2024 (National Registration (Fees) (Amendment) Regulations, 2024 No. 18) and SI 8 of 2024 (Citizenship (Amendment) Regulations, 2024 No. 23), all fees are now denominated in US dollars, payable either in USD or the Zimbabwe Gold (ZiG) equivalent at the prevailing interbank rate. **Search Fee** Searching ID records — covering any year, document entry, or other registration record — costs US$2 per search. This is separate from the replacement fee itself and is charged when the Registrar General's office needs to retrieve your registration records before processing a replacement. For citizenship records specifically, searching a set of citizen records costs US$10 per set. **Replacement Fees for Lost or Damaged ID** The cost depends on the type of ID document and whether the applicant is a resident or non-resident: - Replacement of a lost or torn paper ID: US$5 - Urgent replacement of a lost or torn paper ID: 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 For diaspora members in the UK whose relatives need urgent replacements, the non-resident urgent fee of US$30 applies if the applicant themselves is outside Zimbabwe at the time of application. **Other Related Fees** If you are updating or correcting details rather than replacing a lost document, separate charges apply: - Correction of an error on a paper ID (where the applicant was at fault): US$10 - Correction of an error on a plastic ID: US$25 - Upgrading from a metal ID to a plastic ID — resident: US$20 - Upgrading from a metal ID to a plastic ID — non-resident: US$30 - Change of name (other than after marriage): US$25 - Change of name by notarial deed: US$100 **Initial Registration Fees (for reference)** - First-time registration for persons aged 16 to 18: free - First-time registration for persons above 18: US$2 **Practical Notes for the Diaspora** If you are helping a family member replace their ID from Zimbabwe while you are based in the UK, the process typically requires someone physically present at a Registrar General's office in Zimbabwe. Required documents for replacement generally include a police report for the lost ID, supporting documents such as a birth certificate, and proof of identity from a parent or guardian where applicable. Fees can be paid in ZiG at the interbank equivalent rate on the day of payment, which means the actual ZiG amount may vary. Zimpricecheck.com has noted approximate ZiG equivalents (for example, US$10 equating to roughly 255 ZiG), but these figures move with the exchange rate. These fees were introduced in early 2024 and represent a shift to USD-denominated government service charges. Verify current rates directly with the Registrar General's office or through an up-to-date official source before making any payments, as ZiG equivalents in particular are subject to change.