CONTENT|CONTENU

TRAVEL REPORT
Mozambique

1. RECENT UPDATES

Section 2 has been updated (demonstrations).

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2. WARNINGS AND RECOMMENDATIONS

There is no Official Warning for this country.

Mozambique

Exercise normal security precautions

Exercise high degree of caution

Avoid non-essential travel

Avoid all travel

You are advised to exercise a high degree of caution in the country. Travellers should maintain a high level of security awareness at all times.

Violent demonstrations are occurring in Maputo. Canadians are reminded to avoid large public gatherings and demonstrations. They should also monitor the media with regards to the whereabouts of such demonstrations and follow the advice of local authorities at all times. Transport may be disrupted.

Heavy rains have the potential to cause sudden flooding throughout the country.  Evacuations, casualties and damage to infrastructure have been reported. The damage could also affect the provision of essential services. Canadians residing in or travelling to affected areas should exercise caution, monitor local news and weather reports, and follow the advice of local authorities.

OFFICIAL REGISTRATION RECOMMENDATION: We offer a registration service for all Canadians travelling or living abroad. This service is provided so that we can contact and assist you in an emergency abroad, such as a natural disaster or civil unrest, or inform you of a family emergency at home. Registration can be done on-line or by contacting a Canadian government office abroad. For more information, see our FAQs on Registration of Canadians Abroad.

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3. SAFETY AND SECURITY

The decision to travel is the sole responsibility of the traveller. The traveller is also responsible for his or her own personal safety. The purpose of this Travel Report is to provide Canadians with up-to-date information to enable them to make well-informed decisions.

Crime

Violent crime is the most significant threat to visitors. Frequent crimes include armed robbery, armed carjacking and home burglaries. Carjacking is common in Maputo and on roads to Mutare, Zimbabwe and South Africa. Petty crime, such as muggings, purse snatching, and pick-pocketing is particularly prevalent in Maputo, and on the increase in other urban and rural areas. Pedestrians and joggers have been frequently targeted, even during daylight hours.

Crime increases significantly during the Christmas and New Year season.

Demonstrations

Demonstrations can occur and can turn violent without notice. In February 2008, spontaneous demonstrations errupted in Maputo in response to increases in transporation and food prices. Road blocks and rioting paralyzed the city for 24 hours, and numerous acts of violence were reported during this period. Exercise caution, monitor local news reports, and avoid large crowds and gatherings.

General Safety Information

Mozambique occasionally experiences fuel shortages. Canadians should always maintain stores of fuel on hand and plan all overland travel in advance.

Visitors should carry identity documents at all times and be aware of the rules governing their entry visas. Urban streets are patrolled by police who frequently carry automatic weapons and require visitors to produce identity and travel documents. Checkpoints are frequent thoughout Mozambique.

There are certain areas in the city of Maputo where pedestrian traffic is not tolerated, most notably in front of the presidential palaces.

Facilities for tourism in Maputo are steadily improving, but remain limited in other areas. Communications are generally good in Maputo, but poor in rural areas.

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4. ENTRY/EXIT REQUIREMENTS

It is the sole prerogative of each country or region to determine who is allowed to enter. All countries or regions have special requirements for persons intending to reside for extended periods (usually more than 90 days) or who plan to work, study, or engage in non-tourist activities. To obtain information on specific entry requirements, contact the nearest diplomatic or consular office of the destination(s) to be visited. Violations of entry and exit requirements may result in serious penalties.

The following information on entry and exit requirements has been confirmed with the Mozambican authorities. However, these requirements are subject to change at any time. It is the traveller's responsibility to check with the Embassy of the Republic of Mozambique, based in Washington, DC (USA), for up-to-date information.

A valid Canadian passport is required for Canadians intending to visit Mozambique. The passport must be valid for at least six months beyond the date of your expected departure from the country. Canadians must also be in possession of a visa. Ensure your passport has at least one blank page for a visa stamp. Amendment pages are not acceptable.

Tourist Visa: Required
Business Visa: Required
Student Visa: Required
Residency/Employment Visa: Required
Transit Visa: Required

Visitor visas can be purchased from the Embassy of Mozambique in Washington, DC, or at ports of entry to Mozambique including airports and border crossings. Single- and multiple-entry visas are available ranging from 30 days to 6 months; however, even with a 6-month multiple-entry visa, a stay cannot exceed 30 days during any one visit. It is possible to obtain consecutive single-entry visas upon departure and re-entry to Mozambique. Mozambican authorities impose a fine (1,000 meticais or approx. US$40 per day) for each day since a traveller's visa has expired. 
 
Since September 2006, a single-entry tourist visa can be obtained for a fee of US$25 (cash payment only). Business, student and transit visitors should obtain their visa before leaving Canada. Although the visa procurement policy has remained relatively unchanged in recent years, regulations are not always consistently applied at all visa-issuing locations. For instance, Mozambican embassies around the world may charge different prices and offer visas of varying durations.

Arriving travellers should ensure that all their paperwork (visas, passports, etc.) has been properly dealt with/stamped before leaving the airport in order to avoid fines at a later date.

An airport tax is charged upon departure.  For international flights this amount is 750 meticais or US$30.

Travellers are required to carry evidence of a yellow fever vaccination if they are arriving in Mozambique from areas where yellow fever is endemic.

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A Certificate of Canadian Citizenship is not a travel document. A Canadian passport is the only reliable and universally accepted travel and identification document available to Canadians for the purpose of international travel. Canadian citizens returning to Canada who present other documents, such as a Certificate of Canadian Citizenship, birth certificate, provincial driver’s licence, or foreign passport, instead of a Canadian passport, may face delays or be denied boarding by transport companies.

Selling, altering, or allowing another person to use your passport is a criminal offence. It could lead to the laying of charges and imprisonment if convicted. It could also lead to the denial of future passport services.

Special and diplomatic passport holders should verify all visa requirements for this and other destinations, as they may differ from those that apply to regular passport holders.

Any adult travelling with children may be required to show evidence of parental/custodial and/or access rights. Foreign and Canadian authorities may also require evidence that the adult has the consent of the parents, legal guardian, and/or the court to travel with the children. Some countries or regions may not permit children to enter or, in some cases, leave the country or region without proper documentation such as a letter of consent or a court order.

Although same-sex marriages are legal in Canada, many countries or regions do not recognize them. Attempting to enter as a same-sex married couple may result in refusal by local officials. For more information, contact the foreign government office accredited to Canada.

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5. CANADIAN GOVERNMENT CONTACTS

You can obtain consular assistance and further consular information at the following address:

Mozambique - MAPUTO, High Commission of Canada
Address: Kenneth Kaunda Avenue, Maputo 1138, Mozambique
Postal Address: P.O. Box 1578, Maputo, Mozambique,
Tel.: 258 (21) 492-623
Fax: 258 (21) 492-667
E-Mail: mputo@international.gc.ca
Internet: http://www.canadainternational.gc.ca/mozambique/

For emergency assistance after hours, call the Operations Centre in Ottawa at 613-996-8885. You may also call the High Commission of Canada in Maputo and follow the instructions.

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6. TRAVEL HEALTH

The Public Health Agency of Canada and the World Health Organization (WHO) report on disease outbreaks that occur throughout the world. For the latest travel health advisories and related information, visit the Public Health Agency of Canada’s Travel Health Web site.

Dengue fever is a viral disease spread to humans by mosquitoes. It can cause flu-like symptoms and in some cases lead to dengue haemorrhagic fever, which can be fatal. Travellers should protect themselves from mosquito bites. There is no vaccine or medication that protects against dengue fever.

Malaria is a serious and occasionally fatal disease. It is caused by a parasite which is spread to humans by infected mosquitoes. There is no vaccine available against malaria. Travellers can reduce their risk by following the Public Health Agency of Canada’s recommendations.

The Public Health Agency of Canada strongly recommends that your travel plans include contacting a travel medicine clinic or physician six to eight weeks before departure. Based on your individual risk assessment, a health care professional can determine your need for immunizations and/or preventive medication and advise you on precautions to avoid disease. Travellers are reminded to ensure that their routine (childhood) immunizations (e.g., tetanus, diphtheria, polio, and measles) are up to date.

Standards of medical care may differ from those in Canada. Treatment may be expensive, and payment in advance may be required. Travellers are advised to arrange for medical insurance prior to departure. Prescription medications should be kept in the original container and packed in carry-on luggage.

The Public Health Agency of Canada also recommends that travellers who become sick or feel unwell on their return to Canada seek a medical assessment with their personal physician. Travellers should inform their physician that they have been travelling or living outside of Canada.

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7. ADDITIONAL HEALTH INFORMATION

Medical facilities and supplies of medicine are limited throughout the country. Only basic medical care is available locally and any serious condition necessitates an evacuation to South Africa. Physicians and hospitals expect immediate cash payment for medical care.

The risk of cholera outbreaks is particularly high during the rainy season.

To avoid food-borne and water-borne gastrointestinal diseases, travellers are advised to use good personal hygiene practices and take all necessary precautions; boil all drinking water or drink bottled water, and avoid ice cubes as well as raw and undercooked food.

As the level of HIV/AIDS infection in Mozambique is high, you should be cautious about any activity involving the transmission of bodily fluids.

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8. LAWS AND CUSTOMS

You are subject to local laws. A serious violation may lead to a jail sentence. The sentence will be served in local prisons.

Canadians arrested or detained have the right to contact the responsible Canadian government office (embassy, high commission, etc.) listed in Section 5 above. Arresting officials have a responsibility to assist you in doing so. Canadian consular officials can provide a list of local lawyers upon request.

The procedures required in legal proceedings or police investigations may be different from the procedures in force in the Canadian legal system. Canadians wishing to undertake such proceedings can expect to face long delays and additional efforts in order to resolve their case. The Government of Canada cannot intervene in ongoing legal proceedings in other countries or regions, unless requested to do so by local authorities. Such requests are rare.

Common sense and discretion should be exercised in dress and behavior. Respect religious and social traditions to avoid offending local sensitivities.

Penalties for possession, use, or trafficking of illegal drugs are strict, and convicted offenders can expect jail sentences and heavy fines. It is also against the law to destroy Mozambican currency.

Government facilities should not be photographed without permission.

Homosexual activity is illegal.

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9. TRAVEL AND CURRENCY

Traffic drives on the left. Travel in convoy is recommended. Overland travel after dark is not recommended. Third-party insurance is required and may be obtained at ports of entry.

Due to residual landmines, overland travellers are advised to remain on well-travelled roads or seek local information before going off-road outside of Maputo and other provincial capitals. Overland travel should be undertaken during daylight hours. Contact the High Commission of Canada in Maputo (see Section 5 above) for the latest security and travel information.

A four-wheel-drive vehicle is required for most travel outside Maputo due to poor road conditions and is also recommended during the rainy season (November to March). This presents an additional security risk to travellers as these vehicles are frequent targets of carjackings. Bandits are active in border areas and in rural regions, particularly on routes to Mutare, Zimbabwe, and to South Africa (especially in Moamba).

Checkpoints are common and travellers should obey police when asked to stop. Police have been known to solicit bribes.

Public transportation is very limited. Domestic rail service is overcrowded, slow, uncomfortable and inefficient, except for the Johannesburgh-Maputo line in first class.

An International Driving Permit (IDP) is required.

See our FAQ on transportation in order to verify if national airlines meet safety standards.

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Since January 2007, the old currency is out of circulation and no longer accepted. The new currency is called the new metical (MZM). Currency should only be exchanged at locations authorized by the government.

The import or export of local currency is prohibited. Travellers should state the amount of foreign currency in banknotes, cheques and traveller's cheques brought into the country. Only U.S. dollars or South African rand can be exchanged easily in banks or legal secondary exchange bureaus. U.S. dollar traveller's cheques can be changed only in certain banks in Maputo and only for local currency (not U.S. dollars). Credit cards are widely accepted in Maputo, but rarely accepted elsewhere. Most businesses accept payment in meticals, U.S. dollars, or South African rand. Hotel bills must often be paid in foreign currency.

Canadian currency and traveller's cheques are not widely accepted worldwide. Check with your bank for information on automated banking machine (ABM) services outside Canada. You can also check the VISA ATM locator page or the MasterCard ATM locator page for the addresses of ABMs around the world. Verify with your financial institution whether your bank card can be used with ABMs abroad. Some countries use chip and/or personal identification number (PIN) technology for credit cards. Check with your bank to find out if your credit card will be accepted abroad. Credit cards and debit cards should be used with caution due to the potential for fraud and other criminal activity. ABMs should be used during business hours inside a bank, supermarket, or large commercial building. Leave copies of your card numbers with a family member in case of emergency.

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10. NATURAL DISASTERS AND CLIMATE

The rainy season extends from November to March. During this period, rainfall is abundant and may result in localized flash flooding. Roads may become impassable in flood-affected areas. Cyclones may also occur along the coastal area. Travellers should keep informed of regional weather forecasts and plan accordingly. Canadians may contact the High Commission of Canada in Maputo (see section 5 above) for information and regular updates.

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11. ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Returning to Canada

Traveller's Checklist

Health and Travel Insurance: Do not rely on your provincial health plan to cover all expenses if you get sick or are injured while abroad. It may cover nothing or only a portion of the costs. Understand the terms of your supplementary insurance policy. Some credit cards offer their holders health and travel insurance. Do not assume the card alone provides adequate coverage. Carry details of your insurance with you. Also, tell your travel agent, a friend or relative, and/or travelling companion how to contact your insurer. Get a detailed invoice from the doctor or hospital before you return to Canada. Always submit original receipts for any medical services or prescriptions received abroad. Most insurance companies will not accept copies or faxes.

Cancelling a scheduled trip abroad could cost you money. Before cancelling a scheduled trip, you should discuss the matter with your travel agent, your travel insurer, or the airline. The decision to travel is the sole responsibility of the traveller.

Adoption: Provincial and territorial authorities in Canada are responsible for authorizing international adoptions. If you are thinking of adopting a child abroad, you must first obtain information about the adoption regulations of the province or territory in which the child will reside. While adoption is a provincial/territorial responsibility, Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) is responsible for allowing an adopted child entry into Canada. Entry can be refused if the child does not hold the appropriate immigrant visa. A visa may be denied, even if the adoption has already been completed. For more information contact CIC at 1 888 242-2100 (in Canada only), check the CIC Web site or contact your provincial or territorial government.

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12. ANNEX

N/A

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