1. Main Visa and Work Permit Types

These are the principal types covered by this guide and are not an exhaustive list of all Mozambican visa categories.

1. Short-Term Tourism and Business Visits

Visa-free entry, e-visa, or pre-registration requirements for tourism and business visits should be confirmed according to the applicant’s passport and actual purpose of entry.

Facilitated entry does not replace an in-quota foreign-employee notification, out-of-quota work authorization, or dedicated project visa.

Whether an activity qualifies as a business visit should be assessed according to the work actually performed, not merely the itinerary name or where salary is paid. Equipment installation, repairs, training, and on-site client services require particular confirmation as to whether work authorization or a specific exemption is needed.

2. In-Quota Notification or Out-of-Quota Work Authorization

This pathway applies where a genuine Mozambican employer notifies the hiring of a foreign national within the statutory ratio, or explains the employment need and applies for individual authorization outside the quota.

Mozambique’s current employer classifications and foreign-employee ratios are:

Quota calculations must also comply with the local employee register, no-rounding requirements, and special rules for micro enterprises. The permitted number of foreign employees cannot be inferred from the percentage alone.

For out-of-quota authorization, the employer must demonstrate that a suitably qualified person cannot be obtained locally in Mozambique. After labor authorization is granted, the employee must still separately satisfy the applicable entry-visa and residence requirements.

A foreign employment contract is generally valid for up to two years at a time and may be renewed through a new application, but repeated renewals do not automatically convert it into an indefinite-term employment contract.

Labor approval, the entry visa, and DIRE residence must each remain valid. If employment-contract terms change or the employee is transferred to another work location, the legally required notification or other applicable procedure should be completed.

After the employment relationship ends, the employer must notify the labor and immigration authorities in writing within no more than five days and coordinate the employee’s departure or transition to another lawful status.

3. Dedicated Work Visa for Oil and Gas Projects

The dedicated oil and gas project work visa applies to foreign nationals working on projects covered by the special regime.

The applicant must be supported by an eligible oil and gas project entity and have project or labor authorization together with documents specifying the duties and duration. The employee’s role and actual activities must remain consistent with the declared project.

The visa provides the following multiple-entry validity options:

The period actually issued is subject to approval by the competent authority. Publicly available pages do not set out uniform renewal conditions, so the project entity should verify the specific requirements before expiry.

If the project, employer, or position changes, the existing visa cannot continue to be used. The appropriate status-closing arrangements should be completed before the project ends or the status expires.

2. Entry, Dependants, and Other Arrangements

1. Entry and Status Coordination

Visas, labor approvals, and residence documents should match the applicant’s actual activities, and their validity periods should be coordinated.

A pending application, employment contract, or invitation letter does not by itself prove that entry, residence, or work has already been authorized.

2. Accompanying Family Members

Family members of foreign employees covered by an in-quota notification or out-of-quota work authorization must apply through a separate visa or residence pathway. A family member intending to work in Mozambique must obtain separate labor authorization.

A dedicated oil and gas project work visa does not automatically create residence eligibility or work rights for family members.

Family, study, transit, and other personal statuses must each meet their own conditions. The principal applicant’s permit cannot be used directly as a family member’s entry or employment document.

3. Renewals, Changes, Termination, and Status Maintenance

Mozambique’s labor authorization, entry visa, and DIRE residence must be maintained separately. When the employer, position, work location, contract, or project changes, the employment and immigration requirements should be checked together.

4. How sailglobal Can Support You

If a company plans to send personnel to Mozambique for a business visit, local employment, in-quota or out-of-quota hiring, oil and gas project work, or accompanying-family arrangements, sailglobal can help clarify the applicable pathway and application requirements based on the individual’s status, employer size, job duties, project circumstances, and travel arrangements.

Visa, work permit, and residence applications are independently reviewed by the competent Mozambican authorities. sailglobal does not guarantee an approval outcome or a fixed issuance date.