Mozambique introduces a new e-Visa: digital entry for travelers from 183 countries and a clear message to the tourism market
On February 11, 2026, in Maputo, Mozambique officially launched a modernized platform for electronic visas (e-Visa) and electronic travel authorization (eTA), moving the country's entry process to a single digital channel. According to official information, the system allows online applications for travelers from 183 countries and was presented as part of a broader program of digital transformation and border modernization, emphasizing greater efficiency, transparency, and security of the process. Simultaneously, the move is read as a signal to the international tourism and investment market: Mozambique wants to reduce administrative barriers while maintaining control over entry flows and capacity planning.
In practice, the change means that a large part of the process that previously required physical documentation or mediation is now handled in advance, online, before the trip. On the platform, the traveler completes an application, uploads the required documents, and pays the fees, after which preliminary approval is delivered electronically. The system is designed to facilitate travel planning and reduce uncertainty upon arrival, especially during periods when international traffic intensifies.
For travelers and the tourism industry in the region, this digitalization comes at a time when African destinations are competing increasingly aggressively for a share of the global market: from leisure travel to business arrivals, conferences, and specialized forms of tourism. Mozambique is playing several cards: a long Indian Ocean coastline, island archipelagos, marine biodiversity, cultural diversity, and a growing interest in experiential travel off the most saturated routes.
What is changing for travelers and tour operators
The new platform represents a single point for submitting requests, tracking status, and receiving confirmations, with the announcement of automation for part of the administrative steps and secure data processing in a cloud environment. According to published information, the system was implemented with technical support from VFS Global, while jurisdiction lies with the authorities of the Republic of Mozambique, specifically the National Migration Service, which is highlighted on the portal itself.
For travelers outside the region, accessibility is key: 183 countries are covered by digital access, which was emphasized in the project's communication as a way to position Mozambique as a modern and accessible destination. For domestic service providers and international partners, it is also an administrative relief: easier entry means easier package planning, fewer canceled trips due to procedural obstacles, and faster conclusion of business arrangements.
eVisa and eTA: two levels, different rules
It is important to distinguish between two terms that appear on the platform: e-Visa and eTA. e-Visa refers to the electronic visa issuance process for specific travel purposes, while eTA functions as a prior authorization for travelers from countries that have a visa waiver regime but must register their intention to enter before traveling.
According to documents and notices that have appeared in the public space in recent months, Mozambique has further tightened the obligation of prior registration for some travelers who previously entered without a visa, specifying an advance application deadline. One official notice refers to Decree No. 10/2023 of March 31, which defines the obligation to register the intention to enter at least 48 hours before departure for citizens of countries enjoying a visa waiver. This, along with facilitation, introduces a clearer entry control framework consistent with the trend of strengthening border management and pre-travel checks.
Why the digital visa is both a tourism and security measure
Modernization of the visa regime is often interpreted in public solely as a tourism tool, but in practice, it is a compromise between speed and control. Digital systems allow for earlier document verification, reduce improvisation at the border, and facilitate risk management, especially when arrival numbers change rapidly. The project communication emphasizes the security of data processing, automation of certain steps, and standardization of data and documents, which should reduce errors and speed up the administrative part.
At the same time, digital records help in planning infrastructure and capacity. If the state sees application trends and expected flows in advance, it is easier to organize capacities at border crossings and airports, but also to direct tourism activities towards areas that can absorb a larger number of visitors without a drop in service quality. This is particularly important for a country that wants to grow in tourism but simultaneously faces real infrastructural challenges: from transport connectivity to capacity in the hotel industry and public services.
If you are planning a trip or a business arrival, one of the practical steps is to secure logistics on the ground earlier, including
accommodation for visitors in Maputo or in coastal centers, as easier entry into the country often increases demand during peak times.
Political message: "digital transformation" as a framework for public policies
The launch of the platform was presented in the context of national digital transformation and border modernization, showing that the project is not seen as an isolated tourism measure but as part of a broader package of e-government and a more efficient public sector. Reports from the presentation also state that the platform was shown as a step towards attracting international visitors and investments and as part of an institutional shift toward digital services available 24 hours a day.
This is a message addressed to two audiences. The first is tourism: travelers, airlines, and tour operators for whom a stable, predictable entry process is one of the key criteria when choosing a destination. The second is investment: foreign investors and business people for whom the speed of administrative procedures often signals the breadth of reforms and the state's seriousness in modernization. In this sense, the e-Visa is an instrument of image, but also a real reform of the process.
Tourism as an economic opportunity: potential exists, but infrastructure decides
Mozambique has been looking for years for ways to more effectively monetize its natural and cultural resources through tourism, balancing growth and environmental preservation. Strategic tourism documents previously developed by institutions and partners emphasized tourism as a catalyst for economic growth and job creation, along with the need for investment in transport, services, and destination management. In practice, infrastructure often determines whether interest will turn into a stable influx of guests or remain an occasional wave driven by marketing campaigns.
The digital visa itself does not solve road connections, air lines, or quality of service on the ground, but it can remove one common obstacle: complex and unpredictable administration. Therefore, the move is expected to have the most visible impact in segments of short-term travel planning, business arrivals, and organized arrangements. It could especially benefit destinations already recognized by travelers but sensitive to bureaucratic complications.
In this context, visitors targeting coastal areas and island zones often look for a reliable base for arrival and movement, so it is useful to consider
accommodation offers near the event site or departure points from Maputo in advance, especially during school holidays and major local events.
Which types of travel does the system cover
The official portal highlights several categories and purposes of travel, including tourism and business entries, as well as specific categories linked to economic activities. Prominent examples include categories related to oil and gas, humanitarian aid, and other forms of entry that in practice often require additional documentation or invitation letters. This is a signal that the platform is not built only for the classic tourist, but for a wider spectrum of arrivals, from investment to project and professional.
For the tourism sector, this is an important message: the state wants to digitalize the "entire path" of entry, not just the simplest part. For travelers, this means that the difference between a fast and slow process will still depend on the category of travel and the documents to be attached, but the basic logic of the process should be uniform.
What this means for the region and competition in the African tourism market
African countries have been rapidly changing visa regimes in recent years to increase arrivals and revenues. In this environment, Mozambique positions itself among countries that want to combine openness and control through digital tools. The advantage lies in a clear message to the market: entry is simpler, the procedure is standardized, and the administration has a new channel that can scale with growing demand.
However, challenges remain. Success will depend on how stable the system is, how well customer support responds to inquiries, and whether the process at the border follows the digital part without delays. Also, some travelers will still enter via land crossings or regional routes, where the consistency of rule implementation is often crucial for the destination's reputation.
In any scenario, increased interest usually raises demand for services on the ground. Therefore, travel planning in practice will often include checking availability, for example,
accommodation for travelers in coastal cities and near transport hubs, to avoid sudden price changes and capacity limitations in high season.
First test: operational implementation and traveler trust
The introduction of the e-Visa usually has two test moments: the first is technical stability, and the second is user experience. Travelers expect clear instructions, a predictable processing time, and transparent fees. The tourism industry expects reliable verification and a minimum number of surprises upon boarding and entry. The state, on the other hand, expects better records and more secure supervision.
With the launch of the platform, Mozambique has chosen a model in which most of the administration is shifted before the trip, with a digital confirmation that, according to the portal's instructions, is downloaded and carried along. This moves the procedure from the border counter to an online application, a standard travelers have already adopted in many other destinations. If implementation is consistent, this will reduce pressure on border points in the long term and free up resources for control and services.
In a broader sense, this move is also an attempt to present Mozambique as a destination that keeps pace with global trends but remains authentic in its offer: from the urban energy of Maputo to coastal landscapes and island experiences. Whether digital gates will also lead to stable tourism growth will depend on a combination of factors: air connectivity, infrastructure, security perception, and service quality. However, the administrative entry barrier is now at least partially lowered, and that is a change the market usually feels quickly.
Sources:- Official portal of the Republic of Mozambique (National Migration Service) – information on eVisa/eTA applications, categories, and application methods (link)- VFS Global – media release on the launch of the official e-Visa platform (Maputo, February 11, 2026) and the context of border modernization (link)- Club of Mozambique – report on the presentation of the new platform in Maputo (February 11, 2026) and goals for accelerating entry procedures (link)- 360 Mozambique – details on platform functionality and statements from the digital transformation sector (February 2026) (link)- Official notice regarding mandatory prior registration (eTA) and reference to Decree No. 10/2023 (March 31) – rules for travelers from visa-exempt countries (link)
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