Mozambique’s new visa measures, part of President Nyusi’s package of economic acceleration measures – PAE (“Pacote de medidas de aceleração econômica” in Portuguese), launched in August 2022, has been proving to be a success among travelers.
According to official figures, since it took effect on May 1st until June 30th, 2023, 12,325 foreigners have entered the country as a result of the measure. The leading nationalities entering Mozambique visa-free during the initial 60-day period were the United States of America (3,020 visitors), Portugal (1,509 visitors), China (1,332 visitors), the United Kingdom (1,327 visitors), Germany (739 visitors), and France (831 visitors).
According to Decree No. 10/2023 dated 31st March, the 29 countries exempted from visas due to this measure are Canada, Switzerland, UAE, Israel, United States of America, Russian Federation, Japan, Saudi Arabia, Belgium, Denmark, Spain, Norway, Sweden, Netherlands, United Kingdom and Northern Ireland, South Korea, Ivory Coast, Finland, Indonesia, Ireland, Singapore, Ghana, Senegal, Germany, France, Italy, People’s Republic of China, Portugal, and Ukraine.
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A Change of Perspective
Mozambique’s tourism industry holds vast potential for growth. With its stunning landscapes, cultural richness, and the visa waiver program, the country is attracting increasing interest from international travelers and investors. The untapped possibilities of eco-tourism, adventure tourism, and cultural experiences promise a bright future for the industry, fostering both economic growth and environmental conservation.
Historically, business visas have led the number of foreigners visiting the country; however, the visa exemption is rapidly shifting the statistics toward a growing tourism trend. While visa waivers are only valid for either tourism or business visits, 9,532 foreigners entered Mozambique as tourists.
According to industry observers, there has been a noticeable influx of tourists in key areas catering to leisure visitors, and positive feedback both from national and international operators as hotel reservations and flights are forecasted to grow in the upcoming months.
An Inclusive Strategic Move
While the list of countries exempted from visas is limited, Mozambique has also deployed an e-Visa platform on December 1st, 2022. The platform, which allows prospective visitors to get pre-approval to visit the country, has also experienced staggering numbers in the same period, showing that both the waiver and the e-visa are creating significant improvements in the flow of foreigners into the country. From January 1st until June 30th, 2023, 15,894 visas were approved on the online platform, with citizens from India leading the list with 1,215 visas.
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Enhancing Mozambique’s Business Environment
The measures for the revision of the visa regime to travel to Mozambique aim to improve the business environment while increasing the country’s competitiveness in attracting foreign direct investment, leisure, and business tourism. According to the economic acceleration measures (PAE) website, the visa exemption was introduced for citizens of countries with low risk of immigration.
As part of the measures, Mozambique is also granting investment visas with longer periods to foreigners holding investments in the country. The PAE package contains a total of 20 reform measures aimed at delivering a path for a more competitive and more accessible country to visitors and investors alike. The stimulus package implementation is coordinated by a delivery unit created for this purpose under the country’s Ministry of Economy and Finance.
