If your company is planning to expand to Mozambique, you probably won’t have much trouble finding qualified employees who are willing to make the move. But before they can start working in Mozambique, they’ll need to obtain the relevant visas and work permits.
Types of Work Visas in Mozambique
There are several visas available to individuals who wish to travel to Mozambique. These visas include:
- Diplomatic visas
- Tourist visas
- Student visas
- Business visas
- Courtesy visas
- Transit visas
- Work visas
International workers who plan to relocate to Mozambique for employment will need to obtain a work visa.
Requirements to obtain Mozambique work visas
Mozambique has a quota-based system for issuing work permits to international employees. For individuals applying within the quota, the following documents are required as part of the work permit application process:
- A completed work permit application form addressed to the Minister of Labour
- A copy of the applicant’s passport or residence permit (if applicable)
- Three copies of the employment contract
- A business license
- A certified document listing the company’s employees for the previous year, which should indicate the total number of employees and their salaries and positions
- Authorization of the investment project, if applicable
- A statement issued by the tax authority declaring that the company is compliant with its duty to pay the relevant taxes
- A statement from the National Institute of Social Security (INSS) confirming the company’s compliance with any applicable regulations for social security contributions
- Evidence of payment for the application fee
- Proof of deposit of 12% of the salary declared in the contract in the account belonging to INEFP
- A certificate demonstrating the applicant’s professional or academic qualifications
- A record with details regarding the applicant’s relevant professional experience
- A certificate of equivalence
If the application falls outside of the prescribed quota for work permits, additional documentation may be required from the applicant, including an opinion of the company’s Trade Union Committee.
Application process
Like many other countries, Mozambique has regulations in place to prevent international applicants from filling job positions that could be occupied by qualified Mozambican nationals. The work permit application process can be quite lengthy, so employers and employees should begin to complete the steps as early as possible to avoid operational delays.
The main steps to obtaining a work permit in Mozambique are as follows:
- Obtain a certificate of equivalence from the Mozambique Ministry of Education.
- Apply for work authorization, submitting the relevant documents to the Mozambique embassy or consulate in the applicant’s country.
- Apply for a work visa, with permission to work issued by the Mozambican Ministry of Labour.
- Enter Mozambique.
- Apply for the residence permit while inside of the country.
Before working in Mozambique on a long-term basis, the employee will need to acquire a residence permit as well as a work visa. Applicants must submit the following documents:
- A completed application form
- A passport valid for a minimum of 6 months
- 3 passport-size photos
- Medical report
- Copy of the company charter and the last payment to the Ministry of Finance
- A copy of the employment contract
- A notarized copy of the applicant’s work permit issued by the Ministry of Labour
- A police clearance from the applicant’s country of residence
- Proof of payment of any applicable fees
To request a work permit, the application must be submitted to either the Provincial and Maputo City Delegations or the Employment Centers of the National Institute of Employment and Vocational Training in the area where the company is located. The decision will be communicated to the company within a maximum period of 15 days. Upon approval of the residence permit and work permit, employees may begin working in Mozambique.
Other important considerations
Companies planning to relocate team members to Mozambique should also be aware of the process for employees who wish to bring family members along. In Mozambique, entry visas and residence permits may be granted to international spouses, young children, and incapacitated persons related to the residence permit holder, upon request of the individuals concerned. However, any spouses or dependents who plan to work in Mozambique will need to apply for their own work permit.
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