Japanese Cars Durban
Back to Articles
Country GuideZimbabwe

Returning Resident to Zimbabwe? How to Import Your Vehicle Duty-Free in 2025

July 20266 min readMichelle Reyners

If you are a Zimbabwean national moving back home after living abroad, you may qualify for a significant tax concession on your vehicle. Here is what you need to know to claim it.

What Is the Returning Resident Concession?

Zimbabwe offers returning residents a suspension of customs duty on ONE motor vehicle. This is not a permanent exemption — the duty is "suspended" and may become payable if the vehicle is sold within a specified period.

Qualification Criteria

  • Must be a Zimbabwean citizen or permanent resident
  • Must have lived outside Zimbabwe for 12+ continuous months
  • Vehicle must have been owned and used for 12+ months before return
  • Vehicle must be imported within 6 months of your physical return to Zimbabwe
  • Only ONE vehicle per individual (or two per family)

Documents Required

  • Valid passport with entry/departure stamps proving 12+ months abroad
  • Original vehicle registration/ title from country of residence
  • Purchase invoice or proof of ownership (dated 12+ months before return)
  • Bill of Lading and shipping documents
  • ZIMRA Returning Resident Declaration Form
  • Proof of residence abroad (utility bill, lease agreement, work permit)

Important Restrictions

  • Vehicle must be right-hand drive (RHD)
  • Vehicle must comply with the 10-year age limit under SI 54/2024
  • If sold within 5 years of import, the suspended duty becomes payable by the buyer
  • The concession can be used only once every 5 years

Note: The returning resident concession only suspends customs duty and excise. VAT at 14.5% may still be payable in some cases. Confirm with ZIMRA before shipping.

Step-by-Step Process

  • Apply to ZIMRA before shipping for a tariff ruling and concession approval
  • Ship your vehicle to a Zimbabwe port of entry (Beit Bridge, Chirundu, or Victoria Falls)
  • Present all documents at ZIMRA border post for assessment
  • Pay any applicable VAT and processing fees
  • Register the vehicle with the Vehicle Inspection Depot (VID) for number plates

We assist returning Zimbabweans with complete logistics from Japan to your local depot. Get in touch for a full cost breakdown.

Contact UsWhatsApp
MR

Michelle Reyners

Senior Export Operations Manager at Japanese Cars Durban

Michelle oversees export operations for Japanese Cars Durban, managing vehicle imports to eight Southern African countries. With years of hands-on experience in cross-border logistics, customs compliance, and import duty optimisation, she provides authoritative guidance to buyers across the region.

Disclaimer & Accuracy

Import duties, taxes, and regulations are subject to change. The information in this article is based on official sources (ZIMRA, BURS, MRA, AT, LRA, ERA, NamRA, ZRA) and is accurate as of July 2026. Always verify current rates with the relevant revenue authority before shipping. Japanese Cars Durban accepts no liability for discrepancies arising from regulatory changes after publication.

Share this article

FacebookTwitterLinkedIn
Follow us:FacebookLinkedIn
All Articles
Chat with us