Mozambique Tourist Information
Political Instability
All travellers should keep abreast of the political situation in Mozambique. Since 2012 there have been a number of incidents of innocent victims usually travelling in Sofala or Manica Provinces. Since December 2016 the truce has held true but remain up to date. Beginning in 2017 and through 2018 and into 2019 there has been political instability in the area around Mocimboa da Praia, Macomia, and Palma in Northern Cabo Delgado.
PUBLIC HOLIDAYS
Public Holidays
1 January New Year's Day
3 February Heroes' Day
7 April Woman's Day
1 May Workers' Day
25 June Independence Day
7 September Lusaka Agreement Day
25 September Armed Forces Day
4 October Peace Day
25 December Family Day
City Specific Public Holidays
05 February Matola
21 March Tete
17 Julho Chimoio
12 August Inhambane
20 August Beira
21 August Quelimane
22 August Nampula
23 September Lichinga
7 October Xai Xai
18 October Pemba
10 November Maputo
VISA INFORMATION
VISA WARNING!
Border visas are only processed for people coming to Mozambique for tourism purposes. There have been cases of people being refused entry and sent home - especially those who are apparently coming to work but are requesting tourism visas at the airport or border.
If you intend to get a tourist visa at the border it helps to have available to show any accommodation reservations you have or onward plane tickets
For a list of Mozambican Embassies, High Commissions, and Honorary Consuls, click HERE
TOURISM INFORMATION
FESTIVALS & MOZAMBIQUE CULTURAL EVENTS
February
Canhu Festival (Haula Mudzenco or Amarula Festival) [Marracuene & Gaza Province]
Carnaval [Quelimane, Maputo & Xai Xai]
April
Festival TropicalZouk [Maputo]
May
Azgo [Maputo]
Strab [Ponta Malongane]
July
Tambo International Art Camp and Festival [Pemba]
August
Festival M'saho (Timbila Festival or Festival dos Marimbeiros de Zavala) [Quissico]
September
Dockanema [Maputo]
October
Festival On´hipiti [Ilha de Moçambique]
Festival Umoja [Maputo]
Mozambique Wine Festival [Maputo]
November
Festival da Praia da Zavala [Praia da Zavala]
December
Kinani Contemporary Dance Festival [Maputo]
Tourist Visas for 30 days can now be issued at 44 different entry points into Mozambique (see article) including International airports and Border Posts and cost $50 USD. Despite stating that they are valid for one entry they allow for a second entry if used within their 30 days validity.
Decreto 03/2017 below shows that any traveller can apply for a border visa upon arriving in Mozambique.
Countries exempted from requiring a visa include most SADC countries (Botswana, Malawi, Mauritius, South Africa, Swaziland, Tanzania, Zambie, Zimbabwe). Business visas cannot be applied for at borders irrespective of SADC citizenship or not
Multiple entry visas can only be applied for in the traveller's home country, the government announced that the new $50 visa (2017) would also be double-entry but in practice this has not proved to be 100% trustworthy. The new visa appears to allow people to go on short trips to Kruger or Swaziland for example.
Renewing Tourist Visas by doing a "border run" is no longer recommended. Many travellers are forced to spend five days outside of Mozambique before being allowed to re-enter on a tourism visa. If you already have two or three tourism visas you will likely be denied. Extensions can be extended at immigration offices in major cities for visas obtained outside of Mozambique. Tourist Visas obtained upon arrival cannot be extended.
Photos are not required when entering the country to process visas - your photo will be taken at the point of entry upon filling out the form, and payment of visa application
Empty Passport pages are required (at least two) for visa processing
Passport validity must be for at least three months after date of entry
NB for bus travellers: Many bus companies who transport passengers from Johannesburg to Maputo, and Durban to Maputo, will insist that travellers have visas before being allowed to enter the bus, this is due to buses being held up in the past because of slow visa processing times. This "rule" is now relaxing a little with many bus companies - check before travelling. A small trick is to buy a bus ticket to Komatipoort - the last South African town before the border. During the journey you can tell the bus host that you would like to go to Maputo but you still have no visa, often they will wait for you. If not, there are constant small local buses leaving from the Mozambican side of the border (100mtn, or 35Rand). BE CAREFUL OF MEN OFFERING TO EXCHANGE MONEY AT THE BORDER.
