ZAQA Verification in Zambia (2026): Fees, How to Apply and How Long It Takes
ZAQA verification costs between K50 and K1,200 depending on the qualification, is applied for online through the ZAQA Qualifications Management Information System (QMIS), and takes about 14 working days for Zambian qualifications and about 60 working days for foreign ones. The result is an e-certificate you download from your QMIS account, and under the Zambia Qualifications Authority Act No. 8 of 2024 an employer may not appoint anyone whose qualification has not been verified. This guide explains who needs it, what it costs, the exact steps on the portal, and how to avoid the mistakes that cause rejections and delays.
What is ZAQA verification, and how is it different from evaluation?
The Zambia Qualifications Authority (ZAQA) is the statutory body that keeps the Zambia Qualifications Framework and checks whether certificates, diplomas and degrees are genuine. It offers two related services:
Verification confirms that a qualification is authentic: that the awarding institution was authorised to issue it, that the programme was approved, and that the certificate was actually issued to you. This applies to qualifications obtained in Zambia.
Verification and evaluation applies to foreign qualifications. ZAQA first checks authenticity with the overseas awarding body, then works out where the qualification sits on the Zambia Qualifications Framework so that Zambian employers and institutions know what level it represents.
Either you or a stakeholder such as an employer or university can apply to have your qualification checked. In practice most job seekers apply for themselves so the e-certificate is ready before a vacancy closes.
Who needs a ZAQA certificate in 2026?
Section 29 of the Zambia Qualifications Authority Act, 2024 states that a person shall not employ or appoint anyone to an office whose qualification has not been verified by the Authority, and that higher education and TEVET institutions shall not enrol a student whose qualifications are unverified. Breaching the section is an offence punishable by a fine of up to 100,000 penalty units, imprisonment for up to one year, or both. In December 2025 ZAQA Director-General Mercy Ngoma described verification as mandatory for anyone seeking a job or admission to a tertiary institution.
How that duty shows up in a job advert varies:
Some employers ask for the ZAQA certificate with the application. ZAQA's own October 2026 vacancy for a Standards and Research Specialist required applicants to attach verification or evaluation certificates to their single-PDF submission.
Others ask for it before an offer is confirmed. The Industrial Development Corporation's 2026 Graduate Trainee notice said successful candidates should have their qualifications validated by ZAQA before a job offer.
Some public recruitments collect different proof at application stage. The Teaching Service Commission's April 2026 teacher recruitment advert asked for proof of a K10 payment to the Examinations Council of Zambia for confirmation of Grade 12 results rather than a ZAQA certificate.
Because the legal duty sits with the employer at the point of appointment, the safest approach for a serious job seeker is to verify your highest qualification now, so a 14-day processing window never stands between you and an offer. Read every advert carefully and provide exactly what it asks for.
ZAQA verification fees in 2026
ZAQA's published fee and service-duration schedule, still the current version linked from its website in October 2026, lists the following charges per qualification:
Grade 12 or GCSE certificate (general education, local): K50, with a service time of 14 days.
Certificates and diplomas (local): K200, 14 days.
Bachelor's and Master's degrees (local): K500, 14 days.
Foreign qualifications (verification and evaluation): K1,200, 60 days.
Fees are charged per qualification, so verifying a Grade 12 certificate and a diploma together costs K250. ZAQA's learner information notes that the 14-day and 60-day figures are working days and that local timelines can stretch when an awarding institution is slow to respond. The Act itself commits ZAQA to issue a certificate, or notify you that a qualification is not valid, within 14 days for local and 60 days for foreign applications. A stakeholder such as an employer or university can also apply, and pay, on a candidate's behalf.
How to apply for ZAQA verification on QMIS: step by step
Applications are made only online. The steps below follow ZAQA's official "How to Apply" guide.
Create an account. Go to the QMIS portal at eqmis.zaqa.gov.zm, click sign up, choose the account type (an individual learner, or a stakeholder such as an employer), and enter your details. Open the activation link sent to your email.
Start the application. Log in, open the menu at the top left, select Verification and Evaluation, then Apply. Fill in your personal details and save.
Upload your qualification. Attach a clear scan of the certificate, select the country where it was issued, and click add. Use "add more" if you are verifying several qualifications in one application.
Upload your identity document. Attach your NRC or passport as a single file showing both the front and the back.
Sign the consent form. Download the consent form from the portal, complete and sign it, then attach it under the submission section and click submit. ZAQA verifies local qualifications in consultation with the awarding institution, so the consent is a required part of the file.
Pay the invoice. QMIS issues an invoice showing the amount due and your application ID. You can pay by debit or credit card, by bank deposit, or by mobile money on any network. If you pay at a bank, write your full name and application ID on the deposit slip and email a copy to finance@zaqa.gov.zm. A receipt is emailed to you.
Download your e-certificate. When processing is complete you receive a notification. Log in, open Processed Applications, select the qualification and download the e-certificate. It is a valid ZAQA certificate and carries a digital seal you can share with employers.
The whole process, including payment, runs through QMIS. The e-certificate carries a digital seal that you can add to an email signature or online profile; share it electronically, or print it if an employer asks for a paper copy. ZAQA can revoke and reissue e-certificates through the same system, which is how it guards against doctored copies.
Documents to prepare before you start
A clear, complete scan of each certificate you want verified (front page, and the back if it carries a serial number or signatures).
Your NRC or passport, both sides, merged into one file.
The signed ZAQA consent form downloaded from QMIS.
For foreign qualifications, keep your transcripts and any letters from the institution to hand in case ZAQA asks for supporting documents while it places the qualification on the framework.
A working email address and phone number: all invoices, receipts and completion notices arrive by email.
Why applications get rejected or delayed
At its December 2025 media briefing ZAQA reported that it had verified 59,137 qualifications during the year, 53,655 of them local and 5,482 foreign, and had issued close to 2,000 notices of rejection. The Authority said rejected qualifications came from unaccredited institutions, from programmes that were never approved, or were forgeries. It attributed delays to high volumes, incomplete submissions, slow responses from foreign or closed institutions, and the time needed for fraud checks. The lessons for applicants are practical:
Check that your institution and programme are registered on the Zambia Qualifications Framework before you pay. ZAQA publishes a register of qualifications on its website.
Upload legible scans. Blurred or cropped certificates are the most common reason an application stalls.
Submit the signed consent form; without it ZAQA cannot contact your awarding body.
Apply well before a closing date. Fourteen working days is roughly three calendar weeks, and longer if your college is slow to confirm records.
Never buy a "fast-track" verification from a third party. Misrepresenting a qualification or giving ZAQA false information is an offence under section 42 of the Act, and the Authority can revoke a certificate it finds was issued in error.
Scam warning
ZAQA charges only the fees on its published schedule, invoiced through QMIS. Anyone offering to "process" your certificate for a separate payment, or sending a verification certificate by WhatsApp without a QMIS record, is not acting for ZAQA. Use only the official portal and the contact details on zaqa.gov.zm, and treat any job advert that demands a recruitment fee as a red flag. Our guide to teacher recruitment in Zambia and our coverage of the Civil Service Commission health-worker verification both show how legitimate public recruitment handles documents and fees.
Frequently asked questions
How much does ZAQA verification cost?
K50 for a Grade 12 or GCSE certificate, K200 for a local certificate or diploma, K500 for a local Bachelor's or Master's degree, and K1,200 for the verification and evaluation of a foreign qualification. Fees apply per qualification.
How long does ZAQA verification take?
About 14 working days for Zambian qualifications and about 60 working days for foreign qualifications, counted from a complete application with payment. Delays usually come from incomplete uploads or slow responses from the awarding institution.
Is ZAQA verification compulsory for a job in Zambia?
Section 29 of the Zambia Qualifications Authority Act, 2024 prohibits employing or appointing a person whose qualification has not been verified by ZAQA. Adverts differ on when they ask for the certificate, so check each one, but verifying ahead of time is the safest option.
Can I verify a Grade 12 certificate with ZAQA?
Yes. Grade 12 and GCSE certificates are the lowest fee tier at K50. Some recruiters, such as the Teaching Service Commission, instead ask for an Examinations Council of Zambia results confirmation, so follow the advert you are responding to.
How do I get my ZAQA certificate after approval?
Log in to QMIS, open Processed Applications and download the e-certificate. It is issued digitally with a seal; you do not need to collect a paper copy from ZAQA's offices in Lusaka.
Next steps
Verify your qualifications now, then browse current jobs in Zambia and vacancies in Lusaka on Jobsiz. If you are updating your application pack at the same time, our CV format guide and job application letter examples will help you present a verified qualification properly.
Sources
ZAQA – Service duration and fees schedule (accessed 26 October 2026)
ZAQA – Services for learners: verification, evaluation and e-certificates
Zambia Qualifications Authority Act No. 8 of 2024, sections 29–32 and 42
Lusaka Times – ZAQA warns against fake qualifications, urges verification (23 December 2025)
News Diggers – We've verified over 59,137 qualifications, ZAQA (23 December 2025)
Teaching Service Commission – Teacher recruitment advertisement, April 2026
Written by the Jobsiz Editorial Team. Last updated 26 October 2026. Fees and processing times are those published by ZAQA at the time of writing; confirm on zaqa.gov.zm before paying.
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