Choose the visa that fits your trip. Fully online process, real-time tracking.
Since February 2026, Mozambique's official platform has been completely updated, making the entry process smoother than ever. Depending on your nationality, you will be directed towards the eTA (Electronic Travel Authorization, reserved for nationals of visa-exempt countries) or the electronic visa (e-Visa), open to more than 183 nationalities. In both cases, everything is done online, before departure, for a stay of up to 30 days, renewable once in-country. There is also a third route: around fifteen African nationalities are exempt from any prior formality and enter simply by presenting their passport.
01 · The essentials
eTA or e-Visa, the entire process is 100% online before departure, with no visit to a consulate required.
Whichever option you choose, your passport must be valid for at least 6 months after your planned entry date.
The official platform (updated in February 2026) is accessible, but the variety of formalities can be confusing.
Mozambique offers two dematerialised entry routes, and confusion between the two is common — indeed, the authorities themselves acknowledge this. It is therefore important to correctly identify your situation before starting the process.
The eTA (Electronic Travel Authorization) is an electronic travel authorisation, not a visa. It is intended exclusively for nationals of countries that do not need a visa to enter Mozambique. If you hold a French, Belgian, Swiss, German or any other passport from the list of 29 exempt countries, this is the authorisation you must apply for — not a visa. The eTA is mandatory: without it, even visa-exempt travellers cannot board.
The e-Visa (electronic visa), on the other hand, is a genuine dematerialised visa. It is intended for nationals of countries that do not benefit from visa exemption. The procedure is longer and consular fees are higher, but it is carried out entirely online, without any need to visit a consulate.
The Mozambican authorities' website is functional, but the naming of formalities (eTA, AVE, e-Visa, visa on arrival) can be confusing. Remember the simple rule: if your country is visa-exempt, you apply for an eTA; otherwise, you apply for an e-Visa. These two terms refer to distinct procedures with different processing times and fees.
02 · Eligibility
Mozambique grants visa exemption to nationals of 29 countries for tourist or business stays. These travellers must obtain an eTA before departure — an electronic travel authorisation that facilitates border crossing without replacing the passport or constituting a visa.
Europe: France, Belgium, Switzerland, Portugal, Germany, Italy, Spain, United Kingdom, Netherlands, Ireland, Sweden, Denmark, Finland, Norway, Ukraine, Russia.
Americas: Canada, United States.
Africa: Côte d'Ivoire, Ghana, Senegal.
Asia and Middle East: China, Japan, South Korea, Singapore, Indonesia, United Arab Emirates, Israel, Saudi Arabia.
Around fifteen African nationalities have no formality to complete at all: under the SADC framework and bilateral agreements, nationals of Botswana, Kenya, Rwanda and Tanzania may stay up to 90 days without a visa or an eTA, and those of Angola, Cape Verde, Eswatini, Lesotho, Malawi, Mauritius, Namibia, São Tomé and Príncipe, Seychelles, South Africa, Uganda, Zambia and Zimbabwe up to 30 days. The passport alone is enough at the border post.
If your nationality appears on neither of these two lists, you must apply for an e-Visa. This electronic visa is available to more than 183 nationalities via the same online platform, in 30, 60 or 90-day stay options.
| Regime | Who is concerned | Permitted stay | To do before departure |
|---|---|---|---|
| Full exemption | Botswana, Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania | 90 days | Nothing — passport is enough |
| Full exemption | Angola, Cape Verde, Eswatini, Lesotho, Malawi, Mauritius, Namibia, São Tomé and Príncipe, Seychelles, South Africa, Uganda, Zambia, Zimbabwe | 30 days | Nothing — passport is enough |
| eTA required | The 29 visa-exempt countries listed above (France, Germany, United Kingdom, United States, China…) | 30 days, renewable once | eTA online, before boarding |
| e-Visa required | All other nationalities (more than 183) | 30, 60 or 90 days | e-Visa online, 5 working days minimum |
Three distinct regimes coexist: identify yours before starting any procedure.
Since the new portal went live on 11 February 2026, airlines check the eTA or the e-Visa at boarding. The eTA is never issued on arrival: a national of a visa-exempt country turning up without one risks being denied boarding. Visa on arrival still exists in some cases for nationalities that fall under the e-Visa, but it should no longer be treated as a reliable fallback.
Nationals of Bangladesh, Eritrea, India, Pakistan, Somalia and Sri Lanka are in any event excluded from visa on arrival. In addition, since the platform overhaul, nationals of Bangladesh, Ethiopia, Nepal, Nigeria, Pakistan and Somalia cannot use the online portal: they must apply at the nearest Mozambican embassy or consulate.
03 · The procedure
Whether you are applying for an eTA or an e-Visa, the process takes place entirely online. Here are the main steps to follow in order to submit a complete application and maximise your chances of quick approval.
First determine whether your nationality entitles you to an eTA (visa-exempt countries) or whether you must apply for an e-Visa. This distinction determines the entire rest of the procedure.
Prepare your passport (valid for at least 6 months after your planned entry date), a recent passport-size photo, proof of sufficient financial means, a confirmed and paid hotel reservation, and a return flight ticket or proof of onward travel.
Access the official platform and fill in the application form. Check each piece of information carefully: an error in your name, date of birth, or passport number can lead to a refusal or additional delay.
Payment is made online at the time of submission. Fees vary depending on the formality requested: approximately 3,069.5 MZN €41.84 for the eTA, and approximately 12,256.5 MZN €167.09 for the e-Visa. Note that a processing fee may be added depending on the payment method.
For the eTA, the approval time is generally 24 to 48 hours (minimum regulatory deadline: 48 hours before the flight). For the e-Visa, allow a minimum of 5 working days. As a precaution, start the process at least one week before your departure.
Once approval has been received by email, print the document. Airlines and border agents often require a paper copy at check-in and on arrival (Maputo, Vilankulo, Beira). Also keep a PDF version on your phone as a backup.
Do not delay submitting your application: the authorities may carry out additional administrative checks that extend processing. Be careful not to apply too early, however: both the eTA and the e-Visa are only valid for 60 days from the date of issue in which to enter the country — that clock starts on the issue date, not on your travel date. The ideal window is 2 to 4 weeks before departure.
04 · Documents & conditions
An incomplete application is the main cause of refusals or extended delays. The Mozambican authorities require a precise list of supporting documents for each application, whether for an eTA or an e-Visa. Here is what you need to prepare.
Mozambique is strict about the protection of minors. Border authorities require an unabridged birth certificate naming both parents. If the child is travelling with only one parent, or with neither, a notarised parental consent affidavit signed by the absent parent(s) and no more than three months old is also required. Arrange a translation if the documents are in neither Portuguese nor English.
05 · Extension & prolongation
Both the initial eTA and the e-Visa are valid for a stay of 30 days. If you wish to stay longer, it is possible to apply for an extension directly in-country, without having to leave and re-enter.
This extension of 30 additional days is obtained from the Mozambican immigration services, known as SENAMI (Serviço Nacional de Migração). Offices are present in the country's main cities, notably Maputo (the capital), Vilankulo (gateway to the Bazaruto Archipelago) and Beira. It is recommended to carry out this process a few days before your initial authorisation expires to avoid finding yourself in an irregular situation.
The total length of stay, including the initial authorisation and any extension, must not exceed 90 days for travellers on a standard eTA or e-Visa.
06 · Before you go
Beyond the entry formalities, a few additional preparations will allow you to make the most of your stay in Mozambique — a destination still little visited by mass tourism, where advance planning makes a real difference.
Mozambique borders the Indian Ocean along more than 2,500 km of coastline. The Bazaruto Archipelago, a marine national park, is home to exceptional marine biodiversity. The wild beaches of Tofo are world-renowned for encounters with whale sharks and manta rays. Inland, Gorongosa National Park is one of the most spectacular examples of the regeneration of an African ecosystem. Mozambique Island, the former colonial capital listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, blends Swahili and Portuguese influences in a timeless atmosphere.
Northern Mozambique has been the scene of terrorist attacks since 2017, attributed to Islamic State in Mozambique (IS-Mozambique). Official advice is now targeted province by province, and even district by district.
United Kingdom (updated 20 August 2026): the FCDO advises against all travel to Cabo Delgado province — except Palma town and the area around Pemba and Afungi, where it advises against all but essential travel — as well as to the districts of Memba and Eráti (Nampula province) and Mecula and Marrupo (Niassa province).
France (updated 7 April 2026): all travel is formally advised against throughout Cabo Delgado province and in the eastern third of Niassa province; the rest of Niassa is advised against except for compelling reasons, following attacks on tourist infrastructure in the Niassa Special Reserve.
These areas concentrate risks of attacks and kidnappings targeting residents, tourists, aid workers and journalists alike. The south of the country (Maputo, Inhambane, Tofo) and the Bazaruto Archipelago are not covered by these restrictions. Whatever your country of residence, check your own government's travel advice on your departure date: the areas advised against differ from one state to another.
Mozambique is a destination accessible online from your sofa: eTA or e-Visa can be applied for in a few clicks, without visiting a consulate. The key is to correctly identify the formality that applies to you (visa exemption → eTA; other nationalities → e-Visa), to prepare a complete application from the outset, and to submit your request early enough — at least 48 hours before the flight for the eTA, 5 working days for the e-Visa. Once in-country, an extension of stay is possible at SENAMI in the main cities, providing welcome flexibility in this country of many faces.
Safety
The vigilance level recommended by five foreign ministries, on a shared scale.
Average level
Terrorism, crime, civil unrest and health risks; several areas are formally advised against.
US Department of StateAdvice dated August 21, 2026
Increased caution · Mozambique - Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution
Global Affairs CanadaAdvice dated September 9, 2026
Increased caution · Mozambique — Exercise a high degree of caution (with regional advisories)
German Federal Foreign OfficeAdvice dated April 17, 2026
Increased caution · Mozambique: Travel and Safety Information
UK Foreign Office (FCDO)Advice dated August 20, 2026
Reconsider travel · Mozambique travel advice
France DiplomatieAdvice dated September 15, 2026
Increased caution · Mozambique: Travel Advice
Levels published by the ministries cited, reproduced unchanged. Visamundi is a private agency with no ties to these administrations.
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