Zimbabwe National ID Fees & Application Guide (2026)
Your National ID is the document you’ll be asked for more than any other in Zimbabwe — from opening a bank account to registering a SIM card to voting. Here’s what it costs to get one, replace a lost one, or upgrade to the plastic card, plus what’s changing in 2026.
Zimbabwe National ID fees
Prices last confirmed 5 hours ago.
All of these are handled by the Civil Registry Department (the same office that issues passports). Fees are billed in USD, but you can pay in ZiG at the exchange rate on the day.
| Service | Fee (USD) | Fee (ZiG) |
|---|---|---|
| Searching ID records for any year or any document entryor other record | US$2.00 | ZiG 53 |
| For fingerprint clearance | US$1.00 | ZiG 27 |
| Urgent fingerprint clearance | US$5.00 | ZiG 133 |
| National ID (Initial registration for persons aged 16-18) | US$0.00 | ZiG 0 |
| National ID (Initial registration for persons above 18 years) | US$2.00 | ZiG 53 |
| Replacement of lost or torn paper ID document | US$5.00 | ZiG 133 |
| Urgent replacement of torn or lost paper ID document | US$10.00 | ZiG 266 |
| Replacement of lost or defaced metal or plastic ID document (resident) | US$10.00 | ZiG 266 |
| Replacement of lost or defaced metal or plastic ID document (non-resident) | US$15.00 | ZiG 399 |
| Application for plastic changeover from metal ID to plastic ID (resident) | US$20.00 | ZiG 532 |
| Application for plastic changeover from metal ID to plastic ID (non-resident) | US$30.00 | ZiG 798 |
| Correction of ID error due to applicant on paper ID | US$10.00 | ZiG 266 |
| Correction of an error due to applicant on plastic ID | US$25.00 | ZiG 665 |
| Change of name on plastic, metal or paper ID | US$0.00 | ZiG 0 |
| Change of name on plastic, metal or paper ID other than after marriage | US$25.00 | ZiG 665 |
| Change of name on ID by notarial deed | US$100.00 | ZiG 2,661 |
What's changing: the new plastic National ID card
Government has announced plans to replace the metal National ID card with a biometric polycarbonate (plastic) card, similar in concept to the e-passport, as part of a wider civil registry digitisation drive. As of 2026 this has not fully rolled out — the metal ID remains the standard document — and it is expected to begin in Harare and Bulawayo before extending countrywide. There is no need to apply early or pay anything now; this page will be updated with the official application process once it opens.
Getting your first National ID
You can register for a National ID from age 16, though it’s compulsory by 18. For an initial ID for someone above 16, you’ll need:
- Your long birth certificate
- Your parents’ national ID cards
- A marriage certificate, if applicable
Replacing a lost or damaged ID
To replace a lost or torn paper ID, or a lost/defaced metal or plastic ID, you’ll need your long birth certificate, your current ID if you still have it, and a police report if it was lost (rather than just damaged). Bring the replacement fee too — see the table above for the exact amount, which depends on whether you’re replacing a paper, metal or plastic ID, and whether you’re a resident or non-resident.
Fingerprint clearance — often needed alongside a replacement, or for jobs and visa applications — costs a small fee on its own, with an urgent option available for a higher fee.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Your long birth certificate, a police report confirming the loss, and the replacement fee.
Your long birth certificate, your current plastic ID card if you still have it, and a police report if it was lost.
It depends on the document type: replacing a lost or torn paper ID, or a lost or defaced metal or plastic ID, each carry their own fee — see the fee table above for the exact current amounts, including the resident vs. non-resident difference for plastic ID replacement.
The standard fingerprint clearance fee is small; urgent clearance costs more. See the fee table above for the exact current amounts.
Government has announced plans to move to a biometric plastic (polycarbonate) National ID card, expected to start in Harare and Bulawayo before extending countrywide. As of 2026 it hasn’t fully rolled out, so the metal ID remains the standard document — there’s nothing you need to do yet.
You can register from age 16, and it becomes compulsory to hold one by 18.
Related civic documents
- Passport application fees & FAQs — your National ID is one of the documents you’ll need.
- Birth certificate fees & how to apply
- Death certificate fees & registration guide
- All birth, death, National ID and citizenship fees in one place
