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Maputo Entry Requirements

Maputo Entry Requirements

Visa, immigration, and customs information

Important Notice Entry requirements can change at any time. Always verify current requirements with official government sources before traveling.
The cabin door opens at Maputo International Airport and the first thing that hits you is the damp, salt-laced heat mingled with the tang of charcoal from roadside grills. Inside the immigration hall, Portuguese echoes off concrete walls while passport stamps land on glossy pages with a soft clack. Maputo keeps entry simple for most visitors: three lanes, visa-free, e-visa, or embassy visa, dictated by your passport. From touchdown to baggage claim, budget 20, 30 minutes: a short immigration queue, a customs scan, then the cool blast of air-conditioning in the arrivals hall where taxi drivers brandish laminated cards for Maputo hotels. Before you board, print or download every document in colour. Under the harsh fluorescents the officer's gaze will flick between your passport photo and your face. The visa-on-arrival counter sits to the right of the main desks. If you need it, join the shorter line marked "Vistos" and have exact cash. Once cleared, sliding doors release you into a small foyer where the scent of strong Mozambican coffee drifts from a kiosk and SIM-card vendors shout over the drone of the baggage belt.

Visa Requirements

Entry permissions vary by nationality. Find your category below.

Visa-Free Entry
30 days per visit, extendable once for an additional 30 days

Citizens of select countries may enter Mozambique without any prior visa.

Includes
South Africa Botswana Eswatini Malawi Mauritius Seychelles Tanzania Zambia Zimbabwe

Entry is granted at Maputo, Matola, or any land border. An onward ticket and proof of accommodation, such as confirmed Maputo hotels, may be checked.

Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA/eVisa)
30 days for tourism, 30 days for business, single or multiple entry

Most other nationalities must obtain an e-visa before arrival.

Includes
United States United Kingdom Canada Australia Germany France Netherlands China India
How to Apply: Apply online at evisa.gov.mz; upload passport bio page, itinerary, and yellow-fever certificate if applicable. Standard processing is five business days. Expedited service takes 48 hours.
Cost: Mid-range fee payable by Visa or Mastercard

Print the approval letter in colour. Immigration officers in Maputo will scan the QR code.

Visa Required
Up to 30 days single entry, 60 days multiple entry

Travellers whose countries are not eligible for visa-free or e-visa must apply at a Mozambican embassy or consulate.

How to Apply: Submit passport, two photos, flight confirmation, hotel booking or invitation letter, and bank statements to the nearest embassy. Processing ranges from five to ten working days.

Embassy visas are issued as a large sticker. Ensure the consular officer stamps the correct dates.

Arrival Process

Maputo International Airport (MPM) is compact. Arriving passengers funnel through a single corridor to immigration, then descend to the single baggage belt.

1
Immigration Queue
Follow signs marked "Chegadas/Arrivals"; EU and US passport holders typically use the e-visa line on the right where officers wearing crisp navy uniforms glance at your documents under bright white lights.
2
Fingerprint & Photo
Place four fingers on the glass scanner while a camera flashes. The machine beeps, and an officer stamps your passport with a satisfying thud.
3
Baggage Claim
One belt circulates suitcases beneath a wall of tinted windows. The smell of jet fuel mingles with roasted peanuts sold by vendors in yellow aprons.
4
Customs Channel
Choose the green channel if you have nothing to declare. The red channel leads to a table where officers in khaki uniforms may ask to inspect bags.

Documents to Have Ready

Passport
Must be valid for six months beyond arrival and contain two unstamped visa pages.
e-Visa Approval Letter
Color printout with QR code. Keep it until departure from Maputo.
Return or Onward Ticket
Airline or bus ticket showing exit from Mozambique within visa validity.
Accommodation Confirmation
Hotel voucher, Airbnb confirmation, or letter of invitation with host's ID copy.
Yellow-Fever Certificate
Required if arriving from or transiting through a yellow-fever-endemic country.

Tips for Smooth Entry

Have $50 or €50 in exact cash if you need a visa on arrival, change is rarely given.
Download the offline map of Maputo before leaving the terminal; Wi-Fi is spotty outside the airport café.
Keep a pen in your pocket. Arrival cards are distributed mid-flight and customs forms are completed just before the baggage belt.

Customs & Duty-Free

Mozambique follows Southern African Customs Union allowances. Luggage is X-rayed as you exit the baggage hall. Officers may ask to open bags that appear bulky.

Alcohol
1 litre of spirits OR 2 litres of wine
Must be 18 years or older. Bottles should be sealed and in original packaging.
Tobacco
200 cigarettes OR 50 cigars OR 250 g loose tobacco
Strictly for personal use. Resale is prohibited.
Currency
Declaration required for amounts exceeding 500,000 MZN or foreign equivalent
Fill in the blue customs form available at the red channel desk.
Gifts/Goods
Value up to 500 USD per adult
Electronics must be declared if over this limit. Keep receipts.

Prohibited Items

  • Fresh meat and dairy, risk of foot-and-mouth disease
  • Narcotics and related paraphernalia, criminal offense
  • Counterfeit currency and goods, immediate confiscation

Restricted Items

  • Firearms and ammunition, police permit required upon arrival
  • Endangered species products, CITES certificate mandatory

Health Requirements

Mozambique requires proof of yellow-fever vaccination only if arriving from endemic zones. But additional vaccinations are recommended for travel in and around Maputo.

Required Vaccinations

  • Yellow fever (if arriving from endemic country)

Recommended Vaccinations

  • Hepatitis A
  • Typhoid
  • Hepatitis B
  • Rabies (for extended rural stays)
  • Routine boosters (MMR, DTP)

Health Insurance

While not mandatory for entry, mid-range travel health insurance is strongly advised. Hospitals in Maputo accept cash or international insurance cards.

Current Health Requirements: Mozambique lifted all COVID-19 entry measures in 2022, but airlines may still request masks on flights. Check one week before departure for any sudden changes.

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Important Contacts

Essential resources for your trip.

Embassy/Consulate
Find your country's embassy or consulate
Check your government's travel advisory website
Immigration Authority
Official immigration website
evisa.gov.mz for applications and official updates
Emergency
Emergency services number
Dial 119 for police, 117 for ambulance, 198 for fire

Special Situations

Additional requirements for specific circumstances.

Traveling with Children

Bring an unabridged birth certificate plus written consent from any non-traveling parent. Immigration at Maputo often checks these for minors under 18.

Traveling with Pets

Obtain an import permit from the Mozambican veterinary authority at least 14 days before arrival. Present a rabies certificate issued within 30 days and a health certificate from an accredited vet.

Extended Stays

Apply for an extension at the Maputo immigration office on Avenida 25 de Setembro before your current visa expires. Bring two photos, passport copies, and proof of accommodation such as a long-term lease near Maputo beaches.

Know What to Pack

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