Investment Activity Visa

The Investment Activity Visa (Visto para Atividade de Investimento) is Mozambique's dedicated investor visa established under Lei n.º 23/2022, which replaced the former Lei n.º 5/93 and entered into force on 29 January 2023. Administered by the Serviço Nacional de Migração (SENAMI) within the Ministry of the Interior, with investment project approval handled by APIEX (Agency for the Promotion of Investment and Exports) or the relevant sectoral ministry, the visa targets foreign investors, their representatives, attorneys, and directors of investing companies seeking to implement approved investment projects worth at least USD 500,000. The visa grants multiple-entry rights and leads to residence authorization through the DIRE (Documento de Identificação e Residência para Estrangeiros — Foreign Identity and Residence Document). It operates within the broader investment framework established by Lei n.º 8/2023 (Private Investment Law), which guarantees foreign investors equal treatment, non-discrimination, property rights protection, capital movement freedom, and profit repatriation rights. The minimum investment threshold was reduced from USD 50 million to USD 500,000 in 2017, significantly broadening access to the investor visa. The Investment Activity Visa is one of 14 visa categories under Lei 23/2022 and is distinct from the Work Visa, which requires employer sponsorship, and the Business Visa, which permits only prospecting and meetings for up to 90 days without work or residence rights.

• Minimum investment of USD 500,000 in an approved investment project
• Investment project must be registered and approved by APIEX or the relevant sectoral ministry, and must demonstrate clear benefits to Mozambique's economy such as job creation, infrastructure development, or contributions to priority sectors including tourism, agriculture, and renewable energy
• Proof of investment funds with clear source of capital; a detailed business plan outlining the project and expected local economic benefits may be requested
• Valid passport with at least 6 months validity and 3 blank pages
• Criminal record certificate not older than 3 months, translated into Portuguese by a sworn translator, legalized by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and authenticated by the nearest Mozambican Embassy
• Medical certificate confirming good health, issued by a competent authority in the country of residence and valid for not less than 3 months
• Proof of sufficient financial means and round-trip airline ticket
• No formal education or professional qualification requirements; the applicant must be the investor, representative, attorney, or director of the investing company
• All nationalities are eligible subject to standard inadmissibility grounds

• Valid passport (6+ months validity, 3+ blank pages)
• Completed application form in English, Portuguese, or French
• Recent passport-sized photograph
• Investment project approval or Term of Authorization from the Council of Ministers or competent entity (APIEX or relevant sectoral ministry)
• Criminal record certificate (not older than 3 months), translated into Portuguese by a sworn translator, legalized by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the issuing country, and authenticated by Mozambican Embassy
• Medical certificate confirming good health
• Proof of sufficient financial means
• Round-trip airline ticket
• INSS clearance certificate and finance clearance certificate for the investing company
• Commercial license of the investing company

The application follows a multi-step process. First, the investor registers their investment project with APIEX or the relevant sectoral ministry and obtains formal project approval or a Term of Authorization from the Council of Ministers or the competent entity. APIEX has authority to approve projects between USD 25 million and approximately USD 40 million, while the Council of Ministers approves projects above this threshold. APIEX operates as a one-stop shop (Balcão Único) providing assistance with incorporation, business licensing, entrance visas, work permits, residence permits, land identification, and partner identification.

Once the project is approved, the investor applies for the Investment Activity Visa either through the eVisa portal (evisa.gov.mz), where scanned documents are uploaded in JPEG, PDF, or PNG format, or at a Mozambican embassy or consular mission abroad. The eVisa application should be submitted 3 to 5 days before travel, and applicants receive a preliminary approval letter to present upon arrival. Standard eVisa processing takes approximately 5 business days, while consular mission processing takes approximately 2 weeks.

Upon arrival in Mozambique, the visa holder must register with SENAMI within 5 days and apply for the DIRE at SENAMI within 30 days of entry. The DIRE process involves submitting the full document set including company documentation such as the INSS clearance certificate, finance clearance certificate, and commercial license. All documents not in Portuguese must be translated by a sworn translator with notarization confirming accuracy.

The visa is issued for up to 2 years for investments of USD 500,000 or more, and up to 5 years renewable for investments of USD 50 million or more. Multiple entries are permitted throughout the validity period. The initial visa must be used within 60 days of issuance. Temporary DIRE is issued for 1 year, renewable annually at SENAMI while investment conditions persist. Company documentation (INSS clearance, finance clearance, commercial license) must be current within 3 months at the time of renewal. After 10 consecutive years of temporary residence, the holder may apply for permanent residence, valid for 5 years renewable. Mozambican citizenship by naturalization requires habitual residence of 10 years.

Spouses and minor or incapacitated dependent children of investment visa holders may obtain a Temporary Stay Visa (Visto de Permanência Temporária) valid for 1 year renewable. Each family member requires a separate application with individual documentation including passport, photographs, and proof of relationship (marriage certificate for spouses, birth certificate for children). For minor dependants, notarized parental authorization translated into Portuguese is required. Dependant DIRE fees for non-CPLP citizens are 38,743 MT in normal mode. Dependants are generally prohibited from engaging in employment unless specific approval is granted.

Investment Activity Visa (1-90 days, urgent mode): 13,279 MT. eVisa portal processing fee at consular missions: approximately EUR 500. Authentication of criminal record: EUR 35. Temporary Residence DIRE fees for non-CPLP citizens: 45,640 MT (normal mode). Permanent Residence DIRE: 91,280 MT. Lifetime Residence DIRE: 91,280 MT. CPLP (Community of Portuguese Language Countries) citizens benefit from significantly reduced fees at 29,310 MT across all categories. Dependant DIRE fee for non-CPLP citizens: 38,743 MT. Fee schedules were updated under Ministerial Diploma No. 18/2024 of 22 February 2024.

Visa holders may manage and operate their approved investment project. The investment visa does not authorize general employment with third-party employers. Foreign labor hiring formalities under the Labour Law (Lei n.º 13/2023) must be observed for any employees hired, including adherence to expatriate workforce quotas.

Foreign investors must register with INSS (Instituto Nacional de Segurança Social) and maintain fiscal compliance including tax registration with the Autoridade Tributária de Moçambique. Changes in identification details must be notified to SENAMI within 30 days. Immigration registration failure incurs a penalty of 1,000 MT per day of delay, and DIRE application failure beyond 30 days incurs 2,000 MT per day. Multiple-entry visa holders must exit Mozambique within one month of each entry or face monetary penalties upon departure. The investor cannot exit the country until the DIRE is obtained.

Foreign investors receive equal treatment and non-discrimination with domestic investors under the Private Investment Law. Tax incentives are available under the Código de Benefícios Fiscais (Tax Benefits Code) for qualifying investment projects, including exemptions in industrial parks and special economic zones. Mozambique applies a progressive personal income tax (IRPS) and corporate income tax (IRPC) at a 32% standard rate. Double taxation treaties exist with select countries.

The 60-day visa usage window from the issuance date means investors must coordinate project approval, visa application, and travel timing carefully. The prohibition on exiting Mozambique before obtaining the DIRE can create complications for investors with multi-country obligations. The one-month exit requirement for multiple-entry visa holders between entries may not align with long-term project implementation needs, underscoring the importance of converting to DIRE residence authorization promptly. Company registration alone does not confer immigration rights; the investment project must meet the USD 500,000 threshold and receive formal approval to qualify for the investor visa pathway.