Moving to Mozambique: Your Essential Legal Checklist 

Moving for Work to Mozambique: Your Essential Legal Checklist

Relocating to Mozambique for employment is an exciting opportunity, but successfully navigating the bureaucratic system requires rigorous adherence to a specific legal checklist. The process is often described as complex and confusing, and expats must maintain strict compliance to avoid fines, deportation, and administrative delays.

The most critical distinction for any foreign worker is that permission to work is granted via three separate, mandatory authorizations: Labour Authorization, the Work Visa (for entry), and the Residency Permit (DIRE) (for residence).

Phase I: Pre-Arrival Authorization Checklist

The entire work authorization process must be initiated by the employer and finalized before the employee enters Mozambique.

1. Employer Secures Labour Authorization (Quota Compliance)

Your sponsoring Mozambican company must first obtain approval to hire you from the Ministry of Labour (MITESS).

• Quota System Check: The company must prove it complies with the foreign worker quota, which is based on company size:
  • Large companies (over 100 employees): Limited to 5% foreign employees.
  • Medium companies (10–100 employees): Limited to 8% foreign employees.
  • Small companies (fewer than 10 employees): Limited to 10% foreign employees.
• Quota Status Impact: If the company is within its quota, the application is relatively straightforward. If the company has exceeded its quota (above the quota), authorization is much more difficult, requiring the employer to justify that the applicant possesses unique skills unavailable locally.
• Processing Time: Applications within the quota typically take 1 to 3 weeks. Applications above the quota can take 4 to 6 months.
• Documentation Required from Employer: Proof of compliance with Tax (Finance Ministry Certificate) and Social Security (INSS) obligations.

2. Work Visa Application (Overseas)

Once the Labour Department issues the formal letter authorizing you to work, you must apply for the Work Visa at a Mozambican embassy or consulate abroad.

• Location: You must apply for your work visa outside Mozambique.
• Duration: The entry Work Visa is generally valid for 30 days after your date of entry. It permits a stay of up to one year, renewable.

II. Essential Documentation Checklist

The following critical documents, or notarized copies thereof, must be prepared and authenticated (translated) before the visa application is submitted overseas.

Document Category Required Documentation Source Data
Immigration & ID Valid Passport (minimum 6 months validity and 3 blank pages).
Completed Work Visa Application Form (in English, Portuguese, or French).
Two recent passport-sized photos.
Employment/Labour Work Contract (must be fixed-term, maximum two years).
Work Permit or Authorisation Letter (issued by the Ministry of Labour).
Letter from the Contracting Company requesting the visa.
Background & Health Criminal Record Certificate (from country of origin, no older than 3 months).
Medical Certificate (confirming good health, valid for at least 3 months).
Term of Responsibility (guaranteeing accommodation, health, and substance).
Legal Compliance Sponsoring company's Business License (Alvara).
Tax (Finance Ministry) and INSS (Social Security) Certificates.
Language & Legalization All foreign documents must be translated into Portuguese by a sworn translator and notarized/authenticated.

IV. Family, Financial, and Health Legalities

Expat Dependants

Spouses, life partners, and minor children may apply for an Accompanying Spouse/Dependants Visa or Temporary Stay Visa to join the principal applicant.

• Entry: Family members typically enter on a Tourist Visa and then apply in-country for the accompanying permit.
• Work Restriction: Dependants of a foreign national holding a Temporary Residence Permit are not allowed to work in Mozambique without specific approval.

Financial and Tax Compliance

• Taxpayer ID (NUIT): All individuals engaged in income-generating activities, imports, or financial transactions must obtain a Unique Tax Identification Number (NUIT) from the Autoridade Tributária de Moçambique (AT).
• International Banking: Accounts are available in MT, USD, ZAR, and EUR currencies. However, transferring funds abroad, which is regulated by the Exchange Law, often requires a Certificate of Tax Payment/Discharge (Certidão de Quitação) from the Tax Authority.
• Social Security: Expatriates must register for Social Security (INSS) unless they can prove they are covered by a comparable foreign social security scheme and obtain a formal exemption from the INSS.

Health, Housing, and Safety

• Accommodation Contracts: Leases are typically signed on a one-year basis. The lease agreement is generally written in Portuguese, and you should use a bilingual friend or professional translator to ensure you understand the terms, as Mozambique has very few laws protecting tenants.
• Mandatory Carry: As a foreigner, you must always carry your passport when out in public, as police checkpoints are common.
• Health Preparedness: Expats are not entitled to public healthcare and rely on private facilities, mostly in Maputo. International health insurance is absolutely essential due to the high cost of private care and the significant chance of needing medical evacuation (often to South Africa). Mozambique is a high-risk malaria zone, and anti-malarial medication is strongly recommended. You should not drink tap water due to the threat of bilharzia and cholera.