Zimbabwe Passport Tracking — Check Your Application Status (2026)
Waiting for your Zimbabwe passport and want to know where it is? This guide explains how to check your application status, who to contact, what the typical timeline looks like, and what to do if your passport is delayed.
How to Check Your Application Status
To check the status of your Zimbabwe passport application, you need:
- Your application reference number (printed on your receipt)
- The name of the office where you applied
- Your full name as it appears on the application
Contact the embassy or consulate where you submitted your application using one of these methods:
Phone
Call during business hours
Include your reference number
Visit
Visit the office in person
Embassy Contact Details for Status Queries
| Office | Phone | |
|---|---|---|
| London (UK) | +44 20 7836 7755 | zimlondon@zimfa.gov.zw |
| Pretoria (SA) | +27 12 342 5125 | zimpretoria@zimfa.gov.zw |
| Johannesburg (SA) | +27 11 616 5534 | zimjohannesburg@zimfa.gov.zw |
| Cape Town (SA) | +27 21 421 1096 | zimcapetown@zimfa.gov.zw |
For other embassies, see our complete embassy directory.
Typical Processing Timeline
Understanding the typical timeline helps you know when to expect your passport and when to start making enquiries.
| Stage | Ordinary | Fast-Track | Emergency |
|---|---|---|---|
| Application submitted | Day 1 | Day 1 | Day 1 |
| Data sent to Harare | Week 1 | Day 1-2 | Day 1 |
| Production queue | Weeks 2-5 | Days 3-10 | Days 2-5 |
| Passport printed | Week 5-6 | Week 2 | Day 5-6 |
| Shipped to embassy | Week 6-7 | Week 2-3 | Day 6-7 |
| Ready for collection | Week 6-8 | Week 2-3 | Day 7 |
When to enquire: For ordinary processing, wait until at least week 7 before making your first enquiry. For fast-track, wait until week 3. For emergency, follow up on day 8 if you have not been contacted.
What to Do if Your Passport Is Delayed
- Contact the embassy — Call or email with your reference number and ask for a specific status update.
- Ask where it is in the process — Is it still at the embassy? Has it been sent to Harare? Is it in the printing queue?
- Request a timeline — Ask for an estimated date when the passport will be ready.
- If you need to travel urgently — Apply for an Emergency Travel Document ($50, 1-2 days) while waiting.
- Escalate if necessary — If the delay is excessive and you are not getting resolution, ask to speak with the Consul or Head of Consular Section.
- Keep records — Document all communications (dates, names, reference numbers) in case you need to follow up further.
Common Reasons for Delays:
- High application volumes (especially during peak periods)
- Incomplete documentation requiring additional information
- Printing backlog at the Harare production facility
- Courier or diplomatic pouch delays
- Public holidays (Zimbabwe and host country)
- System or technical issues at the production facility
Frequently Asked Questions
As of 2026, there is no widely available online tracking system for Zimbabwe passport applications made at embassies abroad. The primary method is to contact the embassy directly by phone or email with your reference number. The government has been developing digital services as part of the e-passport system, and online tracking may become available in the future.
Most embassies will contact you by phone, email, or SMS when your passport is ready for collection. Make sure the contact details on your application are correct and that you check your phone and email regularly. Some offices also post collection lists on their notice boards.
Generally, you must collect your passport in person with your receipt and identification. However, some embassies allow a designated third party to collect on your behalf with a signed authorisation letter, a copy of your ID, and the original receipt. Contact your embassy to confirm their policy.
Expected Wait Times
- Ordinary 6-8 weeks
- Fast-Track 2-3 weeks
- Emergency 7 days
- Emergency Doc 1-2 days