Mozambique work visa

Any foreigner taking up employment in Mozambique needs a work visa; tourist and business eVisas do not allow employment. Law 23/2022 changed the work visa so that it allows a stay of up to one year, extendable for an equal period, replacing the earlier rule under Decree 108/2014 that tied the stay to the end of the contract. As with other visas granted by missions, SENAMI's prior authorisation is required.

For work in the oil and gas sector the SENAMI portal offers a specific category for stays of 90 days or more. It is issued for 90, 180 or 365 days, single or multiple entry depending on the itinerary and project. Payment is by card or bank transfer online.

The oil and gas work eVisa requires a letter to the Director General of SENAMI requesting the visa, the visa application form (provided by the migration service after proof of the bank deposit), the employment contract, a criminal record certificate from the country of residence, proof of payment, a letter from the concessionaire confirming its contract with the subcontractor, a work certificate (atestado de trabalho) and the business licence (alvará). SENAMI states that submitting all documents is mandatory under Law 23/2022, and documents not in Portuguese need a sworn translation.

Outside the oil and gas category, the work visa is requested from a Mozambican embassy or consulate. Under Article 19 of Law 23/2022 the mission needs SENAMI's prior authorisation, so the file is sent to the immigration authorities in Mozambique before the visa is issued. The Embassy in Washington, for example, takes the application by email as a single PDF and warns that this review can take one to two weeks before the passport and originals are handed in.

For a work visa the Washington embassy lists a copy of the authorisation letter from the Ministry of Labour (or the Ministry of Justice and Religious Affairs), a health certificate valid for three months, the Mozambican work contract, a police clearance from the current country of residence (valid three months, legalised), a letter from the company, its alvará (business permit), a copy of the employer's Mozambican ID, and flight and hotel bookings. The work visa it issues is single entry. Confirm the exact list with the mission you apply to.

Under the law the work visa can be extended in Mozambique for a period equal to the original one-year stay. Apply to SENAMI before the current stay ends.