Residency Permit Process - DIRE

The DIRE Demystified: Navigating the Residency Permit Process in Mozambique

For expatriates intending to live and work in Mozambique for longer than a short visit, the single most critical document is the Residency Permit, known locally by its acronym: D.I.R.E. (Documento de Identificação e Residência para Estrangeiros).

The process of obtaining a first-time DIRE is notoriously complicated and confusing. It cannot be done in a single step; rather, it is a multi-phased journey that ensures the applicant has the right to enter, the right to work, and finally, the right to reside in Mozambique.

The Three-Phase Pathway to Residency

Obtaining a first-time DIRE requires completing three major, mandatory stages, always starting outside of Mozambique:

Phase 1: Labour Authorization (In Mozambique)

The first step is for the sponsoring company in Mozambique to secure the necessary authorization to employ a foreign worker. This internal process confirms that the company is within its expatriate worker quota. Once approved, the Labour Department issues a formal letter authorizing the applicant to work.

Phase 2: Work Visa (Overseas Entry Authorization)

Once the authorization letter is secured, the foreign employee must apply for a Work Visa at a Mozambican embassy or consulate overseas.

• Purpose: The Work Visa is strictly an entry mechanism; it is not the final residency permit.
• Validity: The entry work visa is generally valid for 30 days after the date of entry.
• Requirement: The Work Visa must be obtained overseas. This applies even if the expat is from a country with a visa exemption for visits, because a residency visa is specifically required for residence.

Phase 3: The DIRE Application (Post-Arrival Conversion)

The Work Visa only grants permission to enter; the permit that grants the right to legally reside in Mozambique beyond 90 days is the Temporary Residence Permit (DIRE). This process involves converting the Work Visa into the DIRE at the National Immigration Service (SENAMI).

Critical Compliance Deadlines Upon Arrival

The post-arrival phase is highly time-sensitive, and strict adherence to deadlines is mandatory to avoid severe penalties.

1. Immigration Registration (Within 5 Days): Within 5 days of arrival in Mozambique, you must register your arrival at an immigration office. This is a rigorously enforced requirement.
   • Failure to register incurs a fine of 1,000 meticais for every day of delay.
   • This registration is necessary to obtain the "Boletim Individual de Alojamento" (Individual Certificate of Housing).
2. DIRE Application (Within 30 Days): From the date of entry (Day 1), you have only 30 days to apply for your DIRE.
   • Exceeding this 30-day deadline incurs a fine of 2,000 meticais per day.
3. Travel Restriction: Once the process begins, you cannot leave Mozambique again until you obtain your DIRE.

Documentation Required for First-Time DIRE

The documentation required for the DIRE application is extensive, requiring originals, copies, and certified translations.

Passport & Identification Valid passport with at least six months validity remaining and three blank pages. Photocopies of main pages and entry stamp.

Health and Background Criminal Record Certificate issued by the country of residence (must be no older than 3 months). Medical Certificate confirming good health.

 Residency Proof "Boletim Individual de Alojamento" (Certificate of Housing) obtained from the National Immigration Service (SENAMI).

Work Authorization Copy of the Labour Authorisation issued by the Ministry of Labour (MITESS), including the attached work contract.

Sponsor/Company Documents Company's business license (Alvara). Finance Ministry and INSS certificates (must be within 3-month validity). A letter from the sponsoring company requesting the DIRE.

 Translations Foreign documents, such as marriage certificates or police clearances, must be translated into Portuguese by a sworn translator and notarised.

Residency Permit Duration and Renewal

The Mozambican immigration system offers different tiers of residency, none of which grant truly indefinite status; all must be renewed to maintain legal status.

Temporary Residence Permit (DIRE)

• Validity: This permit is generally issued for a period of one year, extendable for the same period.
• Renewal: Renewals are applied for within Mozambique at the immigration office. For renewals, Immigration generally won't process the application more than a week before expiry, and they will only issue the DIRE up to the date of the renewal of the fixed-term work contract, sometimes resulting in a validity of less than a full year.

Permanent Residence Permit

Permanent residence is the highest status but is difficult to attain:

• Eligibility: It is granted to a foreigner who has held Temporary Residence for over ten consecutive years.
• Validity: The Permanent Residence Permit is valid for five years and is renewable for equal periods.

Options for Families and Investors

Dependants (Accompanying Family Members)

Expats holding a valid Temporary Residence Permit or Work Permit can apply for their immediate family members to join them.

• Eligibility: Spouses, life partners, and children can be included in the application.
• Documentation: Partners need to provide a marriage certificate. All accompanying family members must submit their own application forms and supporting documents.
• Work Restriction: Dependants of a foreign national holding a temporary residence permit are not allowed to work in Mozambique, unless they are granted specific approval.

Residence Permit by Investment

This alternative pathway targets high-net-worth individuals and investors.

• Minimum Investment: Applicants must commit to an approved investment project of at least USD 500,000.
• Permit Duration: The Residence Permit by Investment is issued for five years, renewable for equal periods.
• Sectors: Priority sectors for investment include tourism, infrastructure, agriculture, and renewable energy.
• Path to Permanent Status: Like other paths, eligibility for this permit typically requires prior residence under a Temporary Residence Permit for a minimum of ten years.

The entire DIRE process can be likened to a multi-stage construction project: the Work Visa gets you through the front gate, but to live there long-term, you must follow strict deadlines for the internal inspection, permitting, and laying the foundation for your residence (the DIRE). Missing a deadline doesn't just halt the construction; it incurs immediate daily fines.