Zambian President Hakainde Hichilema has asked the United Kingdom and the European Union to give back visa fees to Zambians whose applications are denied.

He made this statement on Friday, May 23, 2025. The President spoke about how many Zambians are losing money on expensive visa applications, especially when they are rejected. This has affected people who want to travel for school, work, or vacations.

President Hichilema said it is not fair to charge people for a visa if they are not allowed to travel. According to him, fees should only apply when someone’s visa is approved.

He also pointed out that many people are losing large amounts of money on these applications. Often, there’s no clear reason given when the visa is refused, which makes the loss feel even worse.

“Our people are losing money on visa applications that are not approved,” the President said. He called for a better system where people get their money back if their visa is denied.

His comments have started new conversations about whether international travel rules are fair. Many are now talking about how visa systems work, especially for people from developing countries.

The UK does have some refund rules for immigration and citizenship applications. However, rejected visa applications are usually not included in those refunds. The EU has not clearly said whether it will refund visa fees, but Zambia’s demand might push the discussion further.

Some people support the President’s idea and see it as a step toward fairness. Others think it might be difficult to put into practice. For now, it’s unclear how the UK and EU will respond.

The Zambian government hasn’t yet said how it will talk to UK and EU leaders about this issue, but many are watching to see what happens next.