NHIMA registration Zambia 2026: who and how

Short answerChecked 31 October 2026

Every Zambian citizen or established resident over 18 must be registered with the National Health Insurance Scheme, run by NHIMA under the National Health Insurance Act No. 2 of 2018 (section 13). An employer registers its employees within 30 days of the start of the contract; the self-employed register themselves online on eNHIMA with a soft copy of their NRC (front and back); pension scheme managers register retirees. A member can add a spouse and up to 5 children under 18. Contributions are 1% of basic salary from the employee and 1% from the employer, or 1% of declared income for the self-employed (Statutory Instrument No. 63 of 2019).

Register with NHIMA through its official channels

Register online (self-employed) or as an employer: enhima.nhima.co.zm, the eNHIMA portal (NHIMA membership).
Help with registration: toll-free 8000 or info@nhima.co.zm (NHIMA contacts).

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Answers come from the law, the regulator and the insurers' own documents, with the source under each answer. General information, not advice.

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On this page · 6 sections

Who must register
How to register
What you pay
Your membership card
FAQ
Sources

Who must register

You are…	Who registers you	Rule
A citizen or established resident above 18	You, or your employer or pension scheme	NHI Act, section 13(1)
An employee	Your employer, within 30 days of the start of the contract	Section 13(3)
A retiree on a pension scheme	The manager of the pension scheme	Section 13(4); regulation 3(3)
Self-employed (marketeer, bus driver, farmer, welder, house help…)	You, directly	Section 13(5)
A foreigner	Not a member: you must hold valid health insurance with a health insurer for your stay	Section 14

Text: National Health Insurance Act No. 2 of 2018. Failing to register when the Act requires it is an offence (section 53(1)(f)), punishable by a fine of up to 200,000 penalty units, up to two years in prison, or both (section 53(2)).

How to register

Self-employed or informal sector: go to eNHIMA and register. NHIMA says all you need is a soft copy of your NRC, front and back (NHIMA, become a member).
Employer (formal sector): register the company on eNHIMA. NHIMA lists the PACRA certificate of incorporation and the TPIN among the documents (same page), then register each employee.
Add your beneficiaries: your spouse and up to 5 dependants below 18, through eNHIMA's beneficiary registration (NHIMA).
The legal form is Form I of the 2019 Regulations. It lists a certified copy of the NRC, passport-size photos, proof of marriage for a spouse and a birth certificate or proof of adoption for a child (SI 63 of 2019).

Problems on the portal (for example "NPIN already exists") have their own guides on NHIMA's resources page. Toll-free line: 8000 (contact). Logging in and paying: eNHIMA portal and payments.

What you pay

Who pays	How	Rate	Deadline
Employee	Deducted from pay by the employer	1% of basic salary	10th of the following month
Employer	Paid by the employer with the employee's share	1% of basic salary	10th of the following month
Self-employed	Paid directly to NHIMA	1% of declared income	10th of the following month

Third Schedule of the National Health Insurance (General) Regulations, 2019. Work out your amount with the NHIMA contribution calculator.

The Act lets the Minister exempt from contributions a person with a disability who cannot work, a person above 65, and a person classified as poor and vulnerable by the ministry responsible for social welfare (section 16).

Your membership card

NHIMA must issue a membership card within 60 days of receiving your registration, and a replacement within 30 days of an application for a lost, defaced or destroyed card (regulations 5 and 6). The first card has no fee; a replacement costs 100 fee units (Second Schedule, SI 63 of 2019). What the card gives access to: NHIMA benefits.

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Frequently asked questions

What do I need to register for NHIMA?

If you are self-employed, a soft copy of your NRC (front and back), on eNHIMA. Employers need their PACRA certificate of incorporation and TPIN. The legal form (Form I) also lists photos, proof of marriage for a spouse and birth certificates for children.

How many dependants can I register on NHIMA?

Your spouse and up to 5 dependants below the age of 18 (NHIMA).

Is NHIMA compulsory?

Yes for citizens and established residents above 18 (National Health Insurance Act 2018, section 13). Employers must register employees within 30 days of the start of employment.

How much is the NHIMA contribution?

1% of basic salary from the employee and 1% from the employer, paid by the 10th of the following month; 1% of declared income for the self-employed (SI 63 of 2019).

Can a foreigner register with NHIMA?

Membership is for citizens and established residents. A foreigner must hold valid health insurance for the stay, or buy it from a health insurer on arrival (section 14 of the Act).