It is the primary proof for citizenship which can be verified through the Registrar General's office in the Ministry of Home Affairs.

On 15 December 2021, the Zimbabwean government launched the new e-passport in order to meet modern international standards.

The country code in these passports is listed as ZIM when it should otherwise be ZWE; this has led to frustrating encounters for Zimbabweans with airline, immigration, and border control officials.

When the passport's MRZ is scanned, the immigration and checking systems fail to recognise the country code ZIM.

As of 1 January 2017[update], Zimbabwean citizens had visa-free or visa on arrival access to 59 countries and territories, ranking the Zimbabwean passport 77th in terms of travel freedom (tied Ghanaian passport) according to the Henley visa restrictions index.