How do I obtain a Zimbabwean temporary travel document?

A Zimbabwean temporary travel document, sometimes called a TTD or emergency travel document, is generally issued by a Zimbabwean mission to help a citizen return to Zimbabwe when a valid passport is unavailable. It is not a faster ordinary passport and should not be assumed to permit tourism, transit or onward travel through other countries.

Confirm that a TTD fits the journey

Contact the Zimbabwean embassy or consulate responsible for your location. Explain where you are, why you cannot use a passport, your intended route and travel date. Official consular guidance, including the Johannesburg service page, states that its TTD can be used only to travel back to Zimbabwe and cannot be used to enter South Africa as though it were a passport.

Ask the mission whether the planned airline and transit points will accept the document. The mission issues it, but airlines and foreign border authorities control boarding and transit. A direct journey may be necessary.

If this applies to your situation, read our guide on obtain a Zimbabwean temporary travel document.

Prepare identity and loss evidence

Published mission checklists commonly require a Zimbabwean national ID and/or birth certificate, the expired passport or a copy of its biographical page, and passport photographs. If the passport was lost or stolen, obtain the police report or affidavit required by the mission. Some offices ask for two copies of the civil documents and passport page.

Take proof of citizenship and local immigration status if requested. If no Zimbabwean document is available, tell the mission immediately; it may need additional confirmation from Harare or relatives, which can extend the process.

You may also need to know can delay or cause rejection of temporary travel document in Zimbabwe.

Apply through the mission

1. Confirm whether an appointment is required and request the current checklist.
2. Attend personally with originals, copies, photographs, police record and itinerary details.
3. Complete the mission’s application or declaration accurately.
4. Allow the officer to verify identity and, where required, obtain clearance from Zimbabwe.
5. Pay the local consular fee through the accepted method and retain the receipt.
6. Check the document’s name, validity, permitted journey and conditions before leaving.

Fees differ by mission and currency. Lusaka publishes US\$50, while Johannesburg publishes a rand-denominated fee. Use the amount confirmed by your mission, not a figure from another country.

Travel with the correct supporting records

Carry the TTD, police report if relevant, itinerary and any letter the mission provides. Arrive early and be prepared to explain that the document is for return to Zimbabwe. Do not change the route after issuance without checking whether the document remains valid.

On arrival, ask the Civil Registry how to apply for a full passport and what happens to the temporary document. If the original passport is later found, do not use it without official advice because it may have been reported lost. A TTD solves a specific return journey; a regular passport is the long-term solution for future travel.

Keep evidence of lawful arrival and surrender because it may help explain the missing passport when you later apply for the replacement. If the mission gives a supporting letter, carry the original during travel and store a separate copy with a trusted contact.

Official sources

• Zimbabwe Embassy Lusaka Temporary Travel Documents
• Zimbabwe Consulate Johannesburg Consular Services
• Zimbabwe Embassy Berlin Passport Requirements

Before paying or travelling, confirm the latest fee, accepted payment method and office arrangements with the Civil Registry Department.