Mozambique Immigration and Visas

Tourist Visa

The general principle is that if you are not a Mozambican citizen or from a visa-exempt country (listed below), you must apply for a visa before entering the country. Please note that all visas are valid for a maximum of 30 days. The visa categories are:

1. Visa-exempt: Citizens of the following countries do NOT require a visa if the purpose of the visit is tourism: Botswana; Malawi; Mauritius; South Africa; Swaziland; Tanzania; Zambia; Angola; and Zimbabwe.
2. Border Visa: Granted for foreigners coming from countries where there is no Mozambican consular representation. The foreign national will obtain a visa on arrival, subject to a fee payable at any Mozambican border control.
3. Visa obtained at the Mozambique embassy or consulate abroad: For countries with a Mozambican consular representation, the foreign national is required to submit a visa application prior to travel to Mozambique. Please check the requirements with the Mozambican authorities in your country of residence.

We have seen, in practice, that the Border Visa can also be obtained by foreigners from countries that have a Mozambican consular representation. Please check with your Mozambican visa specialist before you travel.

Your Mozambican visa category will depend on your purpose in the country.

Note: Apart from the visa obtained at the Mozambique mission abroad, foreign nationals who want to work legally in the country must also apply for work authorisation, which is referred to here as a short or long-term work permit. Work visas can only be obtained after work authorisation approval.

1. Business Visa: Apply at the Mozambican embassy or consulate abroad. This is for the sole purpose of business, meaning business meetings and business prospecting. This multi-entry visa is valid for a maximum of 90 days.
2. Work Visa: Apply at the Mozambican embassy or consulate abroad for work purposes. This visa is valid for 30 days and can be extended at the Mozambican Department of Immigration in the province where you will work for the duration of the project, as per the work authorisation.

To apply for a work permit in Mozambique, you are required to have a locally registered entity acting as the “inviting company”.

Short-term work permit: Apply at the Ministry of Labor in Mozambique in the province where you’re going to develop your activity. This permit is valid for periods not longer than 90 consecutive or interspersed days within a year.

For applicants working in the extractive industry in Mozambique, including mining and oil and gas, a short-term work permit is valid for 180 consecutive or interspersed days within a year.

You must apply for short-term work permits or work authorisation before you enter Mozambique. The duration of the permit cannot exceed 90 days. However, the application approval is at the discretion of the Ministry of Labour. Processing time once the application is submitted is 15-20 days.

Note: After receiving your work permit, you must apply for a work visa. Only after you have obtained the permit and visa are you allowed to enter Mozambique for work purposes.

To apply for a work permit in Mozambique, you must have a locally registered entity acting as the “inviting company”.

Long-term work permit: Apply at the Ministry of Labour in the province where you will work. The permit is valid for a maximum of two years, but it’s possible to get an extension.

The long-term work permit is defined by an In quota and Off quota regime. In this instance, the number of Mozambican workers on the payroll is considered.

Considering the classification of the company, employers can employ foreign nationals in accordance with the following quotas:

1. Ten per cent of the total workforce for small-sized companies (one to ten employees).
2. Eight per cent of the total workforce for medium-sized companies (11 to 100 employees)
3. Five per cent of the total workforce for large companies (more than one hundred employees)

If the quota has been exceeded, you may apply for the work permit off quota. You’ll need an authorisation letter from the Ministry overseeing your sector of operations.

After you’ve got all the required documents, you can submit your application to the Ministry of Labour in the Mozambican province where you will work.

The processing time is 1-3 months.

Note: After receiving your work permit, you must apply for a work visa. Only after you have obtained the permit and visa are you allowed to enter Mozambique for work purposes.

Spouses and minors of work permit holders can apply to accompany the main applicant.

Spouses and minors of work permit holders can apply to accompany the main applicant.

Spouses: Spouses and life partners may accompany the main applicant. Life partners must prove a common law of union has existed for at least one year (cohabiting). Mozambique does not recognise same-sex couples. Accompanying spouses and partners may not work on this permit.

Minors: Children under the age of 18 who are of school-going age may accompany their parents on accompanying visas. No study visa is required for the primary and high school levels.

A study visa is required for all foreign nationals who want to study further after high school.

We provide a full range of Mozambican immigration services. With our professional and trusted network of partners, we are always up to date on policy issues and the practical reality that governs immigration rules and regulations.

We will first consult to determine which visa or permit is the correct one for you. We advise on the required documentation and compile the complete application on your behalf. We will help you save time gathering the required documents to finalise your application.

There is a great advantage in having a reliable local representative who will submit the application in Mozambique and collect the resulting documents on your behalf.