Mozambique Visa 2026: A Simple Guide to Types and Online Applications

(MOZAMBIQUE) Mozambique is letting more travelers enter without a traditional visa, but most still need an online approval before they fly. For 2026 trips, the decision comes down to three paths: Visa exemptions with Electronic Travel Authorizations (ETAs), the E-Visa, or a visa on arrival.

The rules affect tourists, business visitors, families with children, and residents of the United States 🇺🇸 or Canada 🇨🇦 who travel on non-citizen passports. A missed ETA, an expired passport, or missing consent papers for a minor can turn a simple holiday into a border delay.

Fast way to choose the right entry option

Mozambique expanded its visa liberalization program launched May 1, 2023, and it now lists 29 countries whose citizens can enter for short tourism or business stays without a visa sticker. Those travelers get multiple entries for 30 days per stay, and they can extend once for another 30 days. They must request an ETA online at least 48 hours before travel and pay MZN 650 on arrival.

• SADC nationals remain a separate group: they enter visa-free for up to 90 days for tourism with no ETA required.
• Everyone else needs a visa, most often through the online E-Visa system or, if timing is tight, a visa on arrival.

Mozambique directs travelers to the official e-Visa and ETA portal to request an ETA or file an E-Visa application.

Timeline from planning to border control

Plan 2–4 weeks before departure for safety:

• Embassy processing: 3–10 business days
• Most E-Visas: 4–5 business days
• Visa on arrival: issuance is immediate, but queues and possible refusals make it unpredictable

Build your paperwork first, then lock in final flights and hotels once you know which channel you’ll use.

Step 1: Confirm whether visa exemptions apply, and whether an ETA is mandatory

If you hold a passport from one of the 29 designated countries (including the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, France, Germany, Australia, Brazil, China, India, and Portugal), you travel under the exemption rules. You still need an ETA approval at least 48 hours before departure, then you pay MZN 650 at the border.

• SADC nationals: No ETA, visa-free up to 90 days for tourism.
• Diplomatic/official passports from Brazil, Cabo Verde, China, Cuba, Guinea-Bissau, India, Portugal, São Tomé and Príncipe, South Korea, and Vietnam also have exemptions for non-study, non-work, non-residence trips.

Step 2: Build a document set that matches border checks

Visa-free does not mean document-free. Officers focus on identity, itinerary, and intent. Prepare this core set whether you use Visa exemptions, an E-Visa, or visa on arrival:

• Passport valid for at least 6 months beyond entry, with 2–3 blank pages
• Return or onward ticket and a clear travel plan
• Accommodation proof (hotel booking or invitation letter)
• Proof of funds, commonly around $50 per day
• Yellow Fever certificate if arriving from an endemic area (e.g., Brazil, Angola)

Special notes:

• U.S./Canadian residents traveling on foreign passports: carry proof of permanent residence (airlines and border officers often ask).
• Families with minors: notarized consent from both parents and the child’s birth certificate are essential for minors under 18.

Step 3: Choose the E-Visa, embassy filing, or visa on arrival

E-Visa:

• Options: single-entry (30 days) or multiple-entry (up to 90 days)
• Processing time: 4–5 business days
• Validity: must be used within 60 days of issuance
• Fees: ~$50 single-entry, $210 multiple-entry (non-refundable)

Visa on arrival:

• $50 single-entry visa available at airports and border posts
• Cards accepted at major entry points (e.g., Maputo airport)
• Immediate issuance but expect queues

Embassy filing:

• For complex cases; processing 3–10 business days
• U.S. applicants may need money orders and a prepaid return envelope

Step 4: After approval — travel like you’ll be asked to prove everything

• E-Visa: you receive an email approval and a barcode — print it for airline check-in and immigration.
• ETA: carry a printout or a saved copy despite the electronic system.
• Mozambique uses biometric scanners at 20+ entry points; this speeds checks but does not replace supporting documents.
• Keep scanned copies of your passport page and entry stamp for extensions or dispute resolution.

Key takeaway: always travel with printed and electronic copies of approvals and core documents — airlines and border officers expect them.

Step 5: Arrival checks, fees, and staying within allowed days

At ports like Maputo International Airport or land borders (e.g., Ressano Garcia), officers typically review:

• Passport
• ETA or E-Visa printout
• Ticket and accommodation proof

If entering under Visa exemptions:

• Pay MZN 650 on arrival
• Receive a stamp showing the permitted stay

Health and overstaying:

• Arriving from a Yellow Fever risk country without the certificate can incur fines up to $100 and delays
• Overstays: fines start at MZN 1,500 per day; serious cases may lead to deportation
• Extensions: migration offices can grant a 30-day extension with a written reason and ~$50 fee
• Maximum total short-stay without long-term visa: 90 days

Special cases that trip up travelers

Work and study travel require different permission types and additional documentation:

• Labor Ministry authorization, a contract or school letter
• Police clearance and health certificate
• These visas can be valid up to one year and are renewable — start the process early

2026 update:

• Faster handling (3 business days) for multiple-entry business visas tied to investors pre-approved in Maputo under the Economic Acceleration Stimulus Package.

Managing expectations: real-world processing and costs

• E-Visa route is popular because it reduces embassy visits.
• Embassy wait times dropped by 70% for high-volume applicants after expansion.
• Tourism has rebounded: arrivals up 25% since 2023, with over 1.2 million in 2025 — expect earlier sell-outs in peak season.

Cost summary table

Practical travel scenarios

• Example 1: A U.S. citizen flying to Tofo for two weeks uses Visa exemptions, files the ETA at least 48 hours ahead, pays MZN 650 on arrival, and keeps hotel bookings ready for the officer.
• Example 2: An Indian entrepreneur with meetings across Maputo and Beira for a month can use the exemption list, but a multiple-entry business E-Visa may be better if trips repeat within 90 days.
• Example 3: A traveler from a non-exempt country with last-minute funeral plans uses the $50 visa on arrival, brings a printed invitation and return ticket, and expects biometric capture at the counter.

Where to double-check details before you travel

Rules change quickly. Confirm:

• Your nationality’s status and the applicable entry route
• Entry points and accepted payment methods
• Document checklists and health requirements

VisaVerge.com reports that travelers who screenshot their ETA approval have fewer airline check-in problems. According to analysis by VisaVerge.com, most entry issues arise from missing supporting documents, not from the online systems themselves.

As of 2026, Mozambique has no COVID-19 testing or vaccine rules, but Yellow Fever screening remains strict at borders. Carry the right papers, track your days, and request any extension before your stamp ends to avoid daily fines.