Mozambique
Corporate Guide

What are the requirements for obtaining a work permit in Mozambique?

Short-term work (for working time not exceeding 90 days per year, consecutive or interspersed).

A short-term work permit aims to enable the performance of punctual, unpredictable work involving scientific or highly specialised professional technical knowledge.

For the acquisition of a short-term work visa, it is sufficient that the employer notifies, duly substantiated, the entity that oversees the labour area in the province where the foreigner is going to work before the foreigner enters the country.

The notification must be submitted together with the following documents:

• an authenticated copy of the foreigner’s identification document;
• an authenticated copy of the company’s licence; and
• proof of payment of one minimum wage of the company's sector of activity.

Quota regime

To obtain a work permit under this regime, the employer, depending on the type of classification of the company, must have a quota available for hiring foreigners, based on the following:

• 5% of all Mozambican workers in large companies (companies that employ more than 100 workers);
• 8% of all Mozambican workers in medium companies (companies that employ more than 10 and fewer than 100 workers); and
• 10% of all Mozambican workers in small companies (companies that employ fewer than 10 workers).

Authorisation regime

To obtain a work permit under this regime, the employer must prove that there are no nationals with the required qualifications or that the number of nationals is not sufficient.

It is important to note that there is specific legislation governing work permits for the oil and mining sector (Decree No 63/2011, of 7 December).