Mozambique’s e-visa system, which had been applauded for being implemented rapidly by government in 2023, is causing entry difficulties for travellers to the country.

Last week, Tourism Update highlighted unlawful land travel practices hindering road transport to Mozambique. A recent press trip to the southern African country revealed another travel hindrance: despite extending its visa exemption list to include 29 new countries in May, and introducing an e-visa system, access to the country remains difficult for international travellers.

The exemption allows citizens of certain countries to visit Mozambique for 30 days. However, it requires registration on the country’s e-visa site at least 48 hours before departure at a cost of MZN650 (€9).

According to Director of Dana Tours Natalie Tenzer-Silva, complicated e-visa questions and e-commerce capabilities are burdensome for international passport holders wanting to visit Mozambique.

“The online form is a little bit onerous. For example, they ask what district you are visiting. Most Mozambicans don't know their districts, let alone foreign visitors. So, a few questions on the application need to be adjusted.”

Additionally, the visa exemption laws describe pre-approval and e-commerce processes for the tax applicable to visa-exempt travellers but these systems are currently not operating, according to Tenzer-Silva.

While these systems have been offline for the past eight months, visa-exempt travellers have paid the MZN650 (R179) tax on arrival at the border or airport , she explained.

Dana Tours assists travel groups with meet-and-greet services at Maputo International Airport (sometimes from the plane for VIPs), especially when travellers don’t speak Portuguese.

“By addressing these issues, Mozambique can ensure a welcoming environment for tourists, helping the country realise its full potential as a premier travel destination. With its natural beauty and cultural wealth, Mozambique deserves to be explored and enjoyed by visitors worldwide – free from fear of intimidation and extortion,” said Sarah Bezuidenhout, Travel Manager and Senior Consultant at Go 2 Travel Alliance.