Moving to Timor-Leste from Zambia

moving to

What to Expect

A comprehensive look at what changes when you move from Zambia to Timor-Leste — from daily expenses to quality of life.

If you moved from Zambia to Timor-Leste, and you’d need to navigate life in Portuguese and Tetum.

Planning this move? Get up to 5 free, no-obligation quotes from vetted international movers. Get free quotes ↓

Get free moving quotes to Timor-Leste

We've teamed up with a vetted network of international movers to help MyLifeElsewhere readers plan their move with confidence. Tell us about your move and get up to 5 free, no-obligation quotes in under 2 minutes.

  • ✅ Up to 5 quotes from screened movers
  • ✅ Licensed and insured providers only
  • ✅ 100% free — you choose who contacts you

Key Indicator Comparison

How Zambia and Timor-Leste stack up on safety, healthcare, jobs, and infrastructure.

Is it safe?

Homicide rate United Nations SDG Indicators, 2015

per 100,000 people per year

ZM
5.2
TL
4.1
Road traffic deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

per 100,000 people per year

ZM
17.1
TL
12.0

Timor-Leste performs significantly better than Zambia across all safety metrics.

How's the healthcare?

Healthcare spending per person World Bank, 2023

annual government + private spending per person

ZM
$244
TL
$461
Doctors per 10,000 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

affects wait times and access to care

ZM
2.6
TL
7.7

Timor-Leste generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Zambia leads in healthcare spending per person.

What about the environment?

Air pollution deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2019

deaths attributable to air pollution per 100k people

ZM
50.0
TL
61.0
CO₂ emissions per capita World Bank, 2024

tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year

ZM
0.5t
TL
0.5t

Zambia performs better than Timor-Leste across all environment metrics.

Will I have good infrastructure?

Broadband per 100 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

fixed broadband subscriptions — key for remote work

ZM
0.4
TL
0.0
Water stress level United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

higher means greater strain on freshwater supply

ZM
2.8%
TL
28.3%

Zambia generally does better on infrastructure, though Timor-Leste leads in internet access.

What are the job prospects?

Unemployment rate The World Factbook, 2023

percentage of the labour force without work

ZM
5.9%
TL
1.5%
GDP per capita The World Factbook, 2023

a broad measure of economic output per person

ZM
$3,700
TL
$4,600

Timor-Leste performs significantly better than Zambia across all employment & economy metrics.

Is it good for families?

Life expectancy The World Factbook, 2022

average years of life at birth

ZM
66.3 yrs
TL
69.9 yrs
Infant mortality The World Factbook, 2022

deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better

ZM
37.1
TL
33.7

Timor-Leste generally does better on family life, though Zambia leads in literacy rate.

Data: The World Factbook, United Nations SDG Indicators, World Bank

Visitor Visa Requirements

Short-stay tourist visa rules between Zambia and Timor-Leste. To live, work, or study long-term in Timor-Leste, you'll need a separate residence or work visa — check Timor-Leste's immigration authority.

Zambia passport

Zambia passport holder visiting Timor-Leste

Visa on Arrival
Zambia passport holders can obtain a visa on arrival in Timor-Leste.
Timor-Leste passport

Timor-Leste passport holder visiting Zambia

Visa Online (e-Visa)
Timor-Leste passport holders need to apply for an e-Visa before travelling to Zambia.

Data: Henley Passport Index. Check with the destination country's embassy for the most current requirements.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I work remotely from Timor-Leste?

With 0.0 fixed broadband subscriptions per 100 people, Timor-Leste can support video calls in major cities. The hard part is paperwork — visa category, employer policy on overseas staff, and tax residency in Zambia and Timor-Leste.

Is Timor-Leste safe for expats?

Timor-Leste performs significantly better than Zambia across all safety metrics. The homicide rate in Timor-Leste is 4.1 per 100,000 people, compared to 5.2 in Zambia.

How is healthcare in Timor-Leste compared to Zambia?

Timor-Leste generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Zambia leads in healthcare spending per person. There are 7.7 doctors per 10,000 people in Timor-Leste, compared to 2.6 in Zambia. Timor-Leste scores 52 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Zambia: 56).

What language do they speak in Timor-Leste?

The official languages in Timor-Leste are Portuguese and Tetum. In Zambia, the official language is English.

Share this

At a Glance

ZM TL
Population 19,642,123 1,445,006
Currency Zambian Kwacha (ZMW) United States Dollar ($)
Languages English Portuguese, Tetum
Driving side Left Left
Calling code +260 +670
Time zones 1 1