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International Travel > Learn About Your Destination > Mozambique International Travel Information
Reissued with obsolete COVID-19 page links removed.
Exercise increased caution in Mozambique due to health issues, crime and terrorism. Some areas have greater risk. Read the entire Travel Advisory.
Do Not Travel To:
Reconsider Travel To:
Country Summary: Violent crime, such as mugging, is common.
Terrorist groups in northern Mozambique continue to be active. Public areas may be attacked with little or no warning.
Mozambique’s health infrastructure is limited: there are only three doctors per 100,000 people, frontline health providers are often poorly trained, and medicine shortages are common. More than 1.2 million people in Mozambique have HIV/AIDS, representing a sizable population with compromised immune systems. In the event of a public health emergency, access to an ICU and ventilator support is highly unlikely.
Read the country information page for additional information on travel to Mozambique.
If you decide to travel to Mozambique:
Certain districts in Cabo Delgado Province – Level 4: Do Not Travel
Terrorists continue to conduct and plot attacks on government forces, villages, and key supply routes in the districts of Ancuabe, Chuire, Ibo, Macomia, Meluco, Metuge, Mocimboa da Praia, Mueda, Muidumbe, Nangade, Palma, and Quissanga in the northern province of Cabo Delgado.
Pemba, Capital of Cabo Delgado Province – Level 3: Reconsider Travel
Terrorist attacks in multiple districts in Cabo Delgado Province present the possibility that the provincial capital of Pemba is vulnerable to attack due to the proximity of violent extremist forces and their increasing sophistication.
Visit our website for Travel to High-Risk Areas.
6 months from entry into Mozambique.
2 for visa and entry/exit stamps.
No, for those traveling to the country and not residing with a citizen or resident of Mozambique (i.e., hotel, guest house, or lodge). Yes, for those visiting a citizen or resident of Mozambique .
Yellow Fever if endemic country recently visited (although sometimes applied more broadly to travelers from other places).
USD $5000 and 10,000 Mozambican Meticais (without declaration).
USD $5000 and 10,000 Mozambican Meticais (without declaration).
U.S. Embassy Maputo
Avenida Marginal, 5467
Maputo, Mozambique
Telephone:+(258) 84-095-8000
Emergency After-Hours Telephone:+(258) 85-591-1911
Email: MaputoConsular@state.gov
*** Due to technical issues on the Mozambican e-visa website, U.S. citizen travelers wishing to obtain a visitor visa are advised to follow the guidance below related to tourism and business travelers until further notice. Please note an invitation letter is still required.***
Vaccinations:
Please read the full Travel Advisory for Mozambique.
Road travel outside the city after dark is dangerous. U.S. government personnel are prohibited from traveling outside the major cities after dark by car, and are encouraged not to travel outside the city alone. You should be vigilant when you travel in Mozambique and if you travel to/from South Africa, as both countries have high crime rates.
Crime: Street crimes, including mugging, purse-snatching, and pick-pocketing are common in Maputo and in secondary cities. Carjackings are rare, but still occur.
Johannesburg International Airport:
Landmines: Mozambique was declared free of all known landmines in 2015; however, there could remain unknown mines in very rural areas. Seek local information before going off-road outside major cities.
Information about specific safety and security issues can be found on the U.S. Embassy Maputo’s website.
Victims of Crime:
Report crimes to the local police and contact the U.S. Embassy at +258 21-49-0723. Local authorities are responsible for investigating and prosecuting crimes.
See our webpage on help for U.S. victims of crime overseas.
We can:
Domestic Violence: U.S. citizen victims of domestic violence may contact the Embassy for assistance.
Fraud: The U.S. Embassy in Maputo has received reports of scams which originate online, and involve promises of large inheritances that require international travel. Victims of this type of scam are asked to deliver suitcases from one location to another, and become unwitting narcotics traffickers. Be skeptical about financial promises made by an online contact, and never carry anything that you did not pack yourself.
See the Department of State page for more information on scams.
Tourism: The tourism industry is unevenly regulated and safety inspections for equipment and facilities do not commonly occur. There is some tourism infrastructure, often operated by expatriates, but the host government has limited capacity to regulate. Hazardous areas/activities are not always identified with appropriate signage, and staff may not be trained or certified, either by the host government or by recognized authorities in the relevant field. In the event of an injury, appropriate medical treatment is typically available only in/near major cities. First responders are generally unable to access areas outside major cities to provide urgent medical treatment, especially outside normal working hours. U.S. citizens are encouraged to purchase medical evacuation insurance.
Criminal Penalties: You are subject to host country laws. If you violate local laws, even unknowingly, you may be deported, arrested or imprisoned. It’s very important to know what’s legal and what’s not wherever you go.
Arrest Notification: If you are arrested or detained, ask police or prison officials to notify the U.S. Embassy immediately. See our webpage for further information.
Faith-Based Travelers: See the Department of State’s International Religious Freedom Report.
LGBTI Travelers: Mozambique is a very tolerant society. Consensual same-sex relations are not criminalized and there is increasing space in public conversation regarding LGBTI issues. There remains, however, some societal stigmatization and room for progress in terms of full equal treatment, such as in the registration of LGBTI groups. See our LGBTI Travel Information page and section 6 of our Human Rights report for further details.
Travelers Who Require Accessibility Assistance: Although the government legislatively mandates access to public buildings, transportation, and government services for persons with disabilities, few buildings are accessible.
Students: See our Students Abroad page and FBI travel tips.
Women Travelers:
Consult the CDC website for the Mozambique prior to travel.
Medical facilities are rudimentary, and most medical providers do not speak fluent English. Medications are not always available. Public and private medical facilities exist in the city of Maputo and most provincial capitals.
Medical Insurance: Make sure your health insurance plan provides coverage overseas. Most care providers overseas only accept cash payments. See our webpage for more information on insurance coverage. We strongly recommend supplemental insurance to cover medical evacuation.
Vaccinations: Be up-to-date on all vaccinations recommended by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Further health information:
Road Conditions and Safety: The EN4 toll road between Maputo and South Africa is well-maintained. The road network connecting provincial capitals is in fair condition, but can be riddled with potholes and other obstacles. Vehicles on certain sections of the EN1 roadway in Sofala and Manica provinces and the EN6 between Beira and Chimoio have been shot at and the Government of Mozambique has instituted convoys on some stretches of the road. U.S. Embassy officials are restricted from traveling in Sofala or Manica on the EN1 between the Save River (in the south) and the city of Caia (in the north) and on the EN6 between Beira and Chimoio. Restrictions are also in place on the EN7 from Nova Vanduzi to Luenha.
Accidents Serious traffic accidents are one of the greatest threats to U.S. citizens in Mozambique. Accidents involving drivers and pedestrians are common and sometimes fatal. The potential for accidents increases at night due to unseen holes and obstructions, poor lighting conditions, pedestrians on the highways, and other vehicles driving without headlights. If a serious accident occurs or if a driver hits a pedestrian, crowds quickly gather.
Traffic Laws: Drivers should obey police signals to stop at checkpoints, which are common throughout Mozambique. Foreigners visiting Mozambique for more than 90 days are required to have an International Driver’s License or to obtain a Mozambican driver’s license.
Public Transportation: The U.S. Embassy advises U.S. citizens not to use “chapas” (local minibuses) as a method of transportation due to frequent, often fatal accidents involving these vehicles.
See our Road Safety page for more information. Visit the website of Mozambique’s national tourist office.
Aviation Safety Oversight: As there is no direct commercial air service to the United States by carriers registered in Mozambique, the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has not assessed the government of Mozambique’s Civil Aviation Authority for compliance with International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) aviation safety standards. Further information may be found on the FAA’s safety assessment page.
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