Work Permit Mozambique: Foreign Worker Quotas & Regimes

If you want to get a work visa in Mozambique, the right question isn't "can I work here?", but "under which scheme and through what process?". A work visa is what authorizes a foreign national to work in the country, and there are four routes to get one.

Since 17 December 2024, the process is governed by Decree 88/2024, the regulation that rules the hiring of foreign workers. The routes are: short-term work, the quota scheme, Government-approved investment projects, and work authorization outside the quota.

In almost all cases, you apply for the visa at a consulate before entering the country. This guide explains how it works, the current quota table, and where to apply for each option—without unnecessary jargon.

What is a work visa in Mozambique, and who issues it

It is the document that allows a foreign national to work in Mozambique, whether paid or unpaid. It covers technicians, corporate employees, religious personnel, and volunteers. It is neither a tourist visa nor a job-seeker visa.

The consulate or embassy in your home country issues the visa. It is only granted after both parties sign the contract and MITESS confirms and validates the legal basis for the recruitment.

The National Directorate of Migratory Labour handles the labour aspects, while requests to extend a stay beyond 30 days must be submitted to the National Migration Service.

There is a fundamental principle behind all of this: the State protects the local workforce. Foreign workers are only brought in when a specific skill or qualification is unavailable—or unavailable in sufficient numbers—within the country. This preference for national workers runs through all four frameworks and is key to understanding the quota system.

The four legal mechanisms for hiring foreign workers

The law provides four general pathways, each with a different purpose. Choosing the right one saves you weeks of red tape and prevents your application from being rejected.

Short-term work (up to 90 days per year)

This is the simplest regime and does not count towards your company's quota. It applies to one-off, unpredictable services requiring high scientific or technical-professional expertise, for up to a maximum of 90 days per year, consecutive or non-consecutive. The employer notifies the authority overseeing labor affairs before the professional enters the country, and confirmation is usually issued within five business days.

A common use case is the training of local technicians by a parent company abroad, or providing support for complex operations requiring skills not yet available in the country. Because it does not count against your quota, it is the right path even when your company has already filled all its slots.

Quota regime — the current table

Under this regime, the permitted number of foreign nationals depends on how many local workers the company employs. The larger your Mozambican workforce, the more flexibility you have to bring in professionals from abroad. The process does not require prior approval from the Ministry; it only requires notification within 15 days of the worker's entry.

The current table, harmonised with the new Labour Law, is as follows:

• Micro-employer, up to 10 workers: 15% of the total.
• Small employer, 11 to 30 workers: 10%.
• Medium employer, 31 to 100 workers: 8%.
• Large employer, over 100 workers: 5%.

The percentage applies to the total workforce; in the first year of activity, the count is taken as of the start date. A key change in 2024 is the classification of micro-employer, which did not exist before and now grants 15%—the highest percentage on the table. Very small companies with fewer than 10 workers can always rely on hiring at least one foreign national.

Government-approved investment projects

An investment project approved by the Government can have a higher quota than the general threshold. This framework covers large-scale projects exceeding MZN 13.5 billion, land occupancy over 10,000 hectares, or forestry concessions over 100,000 hectares, as well as cases with political, social, or environmental impact, which are reviewed individually.

APIEX guides the investor, and financial flows must be registered with the Bank of Mozambique.

Work authorization (out-of-quota)

When a company needs more foreign workers than allowed by the quota or the investment framework, the option is the out-of-quota work authorization regime. You submit an application to the Minister, meeting three criteria: a fully justified business need, certified academic or professional qualifications, and proof that there are no qualified Mozambicans—or not enough of them—available for the role.

This regime covers specialized technical assistance: work for foreign non-governmental organizations, scientific research, and teaching, as well as—new in the 2024 regulations—education, medicine, nursing, and civil aviation piloting. An out-of-quota authorization does not consume the company's quota, but applications are reviewed on a case-by-case basis and may take longer than the official processing times.

How to apply in practice: the essentials in 6 steps

Once you have the legal context in place, here is how the process works:

1. Define the regime: short-term, quota, investment, or authorization.
2. Gather the signed contract, proof of qualifications, and, where applicable, evidence that no qualified local candidate is available.
3. Notify MITESS: before entry for the short-term regime; within 15 days after arrival for the quota regime.
4. Apply for the work visa at the consulate before the professional enters the country.
5. After arrival, any extension beyond 30 days goes through the National Migration Service.
6. When the contract ends, report the termination of employment within five days.

On the employer side, the same rule applies: a foreign professional can only start working after approval is granted. If you are looking for a specific job in Mozambique, start with the job openings on Inademy and then adapt the work regime to the role you will take on. Whoever fills the position can also review the practical list of workers' rights.

Special regimes by sector and zone

Some sectors and zones have their own rules outside the general framework. The oil and mining sector has its own regulations. Special Economic Zones and Free Zones follow the investment framework. The Rovuma Basin Liquefied Natural Gas project in Areas 1 and 4 also operates under a special regime. Meanwhile, public sector hiring is governed by a separate legislation altogether.

If you work in energy, construction, or logistics linked to these sectors, it pays to start with the specific framework, such as the career guide to energy, oil, and gas. Foreign worker rules fit into the broader employment law framework, which you can review in our article on what changed under Labour Law 13/2023.

What changed with Decree 88/2024

In force since 17 December 2024, the regulation introduced several adjustments to the previous framework. Here are the key changes:

• It repeals the previous regulation (Decree 37/2016, as amended by Decree 43/2022) and has been in force since its publication date.
• It aligns the quota table with the new Labour Law and introduces a micro-employer category with a 15% quota.
• It removes the requirement to submit the previous year's staff list during the notification process.
• It allows private employment agencies to hire workers for user enterprises, provided the host company has an available quota.
• It reduces the deadline to notify the termination of an employment relationship from fifteen to five days.
• It creates a framework for diplomatic and consular relations: spouses and children of diplomatic and consular staff can be hired under bilateral agreements and on a reciprocal basis.

To see how this fits into the wider labour framework, you should also read about types of employment contracts and probationary periods. You can find details on contributions and protection in our INSS (Social Security) guide, and reference values in the official minimum wage table.

The ongoing review: what is under debate in 2026

In 2026, the CTA and the International Labour Organization (ILO) are discussing a package of labour reforms in Mozambique. The regulations on hiring foreign nationals are part of this package.

Because this process is still ongoing, make sure to confirm all deadlines, fees, and amounts mentioned here with MITESS and the Official Gazette (Boletim da República) at the time you apply. What is currently under debate is not yet law, and Decree 88/2024 remains the regulation in force today.

Frequently asked questions

Can a foreign national work in Mozambique without a work visa?

No. You must apply for a work visa at the consulate before entering the country. An employment contract alone does not replace a visa, and professionals cannot start work without approval under the relevant scheme.

How many days is the short-term work scheme valid for?

Up to 90 days per year, consecutive or non-consecutive, for specific specialized services. It does not count towards the company quota and works well for technical training and support on complex operations.

What is my quota with 40 national workers?

With 40 workers, your company falls into the medium-sized category (31 to 100 employees), with an 8% quota of the total workforce. That works out to about three positions, though you should confirm with MITESS how rounding applies to your specific case.

What if a company has used up its quota but needs a technician for a repair?

You have two options: the short-term scheme, for up to 90 days of specialized emergency work; or work authorization outside the quota, which requires an application to the Ministry justifying the lack of a qualified national candidate.

Is a work visa the same as a job-seeking visa?

No. A work visa authorizes you to carry out professional activity in Mozambique; it is neither a tourist visa nor a job-seeking visa. Each has its own requirements and processing times at the consulate.

How many times can a foreign worker's contract be renewed?

Current regulations limit the duration of contracts for foreign nationals—in practice up to two years, renewable—and prevent conversion into permanent employment contracts to restrict permanent stay. You should check the exact timelines for your specific case with MITESS.

Sources

• Boletim da República — Decree No. 88/2024, of 17 December (Regulations on the Mechanisms and Procedures for Hiring Foreign Citizens), text on the MITESS portal, mtgas.gov.mz.
• JICA and APIEX — "Hiring foreign citizens in Mozambique", reference for investors.
• Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Mozambican consulates — work visa procedures.
• Confirmations as of date: MITESS and the National Migration Service.

The essentials in 30 seconds

In short: four regimes — short-term, quotas (15, 10, 8, and 5% based on company size), investment projects, and authorization outside the quota. You apply for a work visa at the consulate before entering. The current regulation is Decree 88/2024, with a revision under debate for 2026. Always confirm deadlines and fees with MITESS when you are ready to act.

Official source: Law No. 13/2023 (Labour Law) is available as a PDF on the website of Mozambique's Supreme Court (Tribunal Supremo): official text (PDF).