Authorities enforcing new restrictions on border-issued visas

IMPACT – MEDIUM

What is the change? Immigration authorities in Mozambique are now strictly enforcing limits on border visas that took effect last year.

What does the change mean? Under the law, border visas that are purchased upon arrival are limited to foreign nationals entering for purposes of tourism and whose home country does not have a Mozambique consular post.

• Implementation time frame: Immediate and ongoing
• Visas/permits affected: Border visas, business visas, work visas, tourist visas.
• Who is affected: Foreign nationals who do not fall into a visa-exempt category.
• Impact on processing times: More travelers will have to apply for visas ahead of travel.
• Business impact: Business travelers cannot obtain a business visa at the border and they risk being turned away upon arrival.
• Next steps: Travelers who have relied on border visas should confirm that they are still eligible under the new rules before they plan travel to Mozambique.

Visa exemptions: Under the recent legislation, foreign nationals must obtain a visa before travel if they are coming from a country where Mozambique maintains an embassy or consulate that issues visas. Additionally, anyone traveling for business or work purposes must obtain a visa before travel and will not be issued a business visa upon arrival. In urgent circumstances, exceptions may be granted for travelers coming from countries without a Mozambique consular mission who did not have time to obtain a visa, but the decision is discretionary.

BAL Analysis: Up until now, authorities have been relaxed in their enforcement of border visa restrictions. Travelers who are not visa-exempt should leave time to apply for the appropriate business, work or tourist visa before traveling.

This alert has been provided by the BAL Global Practice group and our network provider located in Mozambique. For additional information, please contact your BAL attorney.

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