Starting February 10th, Mozambique applicants will be able to submit their Schengen Visa applications to a new application center that offers improved accessibility options, particularly for applicants with disabilities.
Local media said the location of the new visa application centre will remain the same. The capital of Mozambique, Maputo, has been moved to the Maputo Business Tower, Schengen reports.
The new Visa Application Center will have a wheelchair access lamp. Clients with disabilities or needing assistance are encouraged to bring someone to help someone through the application process. Elevators are also accessible when needed, and all staff will be available to assist clients with special needs.
Antonio Costa Moura, Ambassador to Mozambique in Portugal
The event was hosted at the sub-Saharan Africa level by Portuguese ambassador Antonio Costamura and Alock Sinhar, director of VFS Global Maputo.
Improved the Visa Application Center to slightly facilitate the application process
The process of applying for a Schengen visa can be long and stressful. On a subreddit for South Africans, Mozambique netizens expressed their dissatisfaction with the process.
Yes, I understand their reasoning to make it a difficult process. It makes it even more troublesome that it is very easy for Europeans to come to many African countries. I actually live in Mozambique, but until recently most European countries still had to pay between 50 and 100 euros, after undergoing the visa process. I will sometimes hear Europe and our people complain about it, and I will often remind them immediately of the process of visiting their country.
Netizens
By improving accessibility, the Schengen Visa application process is easier for some categories of people, allowing you to submit a visa request.
Mozambique is one of nine member states of the Portuguese-speaking country (CPLP) community. Portugal recently relaxed several rules regarding citizens of CPLP countries, which is sufficient for applicants in this country who must go through the application process and obtain a permitted visa to the Schengen region. Not that.
Mozambique applicants submitted over 20,000 Schengen visa applications in 2023
According to statistics released by Schengenvisainfo, the number of applications received in 2023 as a country of origin from Mozambique reached 20,313.
Portugal represents the main destinations of Mozambique applicants, with 66% or two-thirds of all applications being submitted to this country alone. This leads to 13,383 Portuguese visa applications.
Generally, Mozambique applicants only submitted their visa applications to seven out of 27 countries that received their visas. Portugal, Finland, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Spain. After Portugal, France and Spain are the second and third countries with the most applications from 1,930 and 1,713 Mozambique, respectively.
