Zambian President Hakainde Hichilema Demands Visa Fee Refunds from EU and UK for Rejected Applicants

In a bold move that has ignited debate across diplomatic and migration circles, Zambian President Hakainde Hichilema has called on the European Union (EU) and the United Kingdom (UK) to refund visa application fees for every Zambian applicant whose visa is rejected.

The announcement, made on Friday, May 23, 2025, reflects growing frustration over visa rejection rates and the financial strain placed on applicants, particularly from countries in the Global South. President Hichilema stated unequivocally that it is “unacceptable that our citizens lose significant sums of money on unsuccessful applications,” and he argued that visa fees should be charged only for successful applications.

Visa application fees for travel to Europe and the UK can be substantial, often ranging between €80 to €150 per application, not including other hidden costs such as travel to consulates, documentation, and translation services. These expenses are non-refundable, even when the application is rejected, placing a disproportionate burden on applicants from countries like Zambia. Data from 2023 shows that EU governments collected over €130 million from rejected Schengen visa applications alone. The UK, meanwhile, earned around £44 million from similar rejections. African countries are among the hardest hit, with citizens frequently turned away despite meeting application requirements.

Zambia’s move comes amid a broader conversation about “reverse remittances,” a term used to describe the one-way flow of funds from poorer nations to wealthier countries through non-refundable visa fees. President Hichilema’s comments echo sentiments shared across the continent—that current visa practices are exploitative and reinforce global inequality. “The administrative cost of processing a visa should not be borne by those who are ultimately denied entry—especially when rejections come with little to no explanation,” said President Hichilema, in remarks carried by Block TV. He emphasized the need for more transparent visa systems that do not punish applicants financially for outcomes beyond their control.

While the UK government has a refund policy in place for certain immigration and nationality decisions, it typically does not extend to standard visitor or student visa rejections. The EU’s refund policies are similarly opaque, and pressure is now mounting for both blocs to reassess these frameworks.

The Zambian President’s demand has drawn mixed reactions. Advocates of equitable mobility and migration justice have applauded the proposal, calling it a long-overdue challenge to discriminatory visa systems. Others, however, have questioned its feasibility and warned that such demands could strain diplomatic relations or result in more rigid visa requirements for Zambians.

As of now, the Zambian government has not released a detailed roadmap for how it intends to engage with the EU and UK on this issue. No formal response has been issued by European or British authorities, but diplomatic watchers expect the proposal to fuel further conversations around migration fairness and visa reciprocity.

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