Mozambique suspends e-travel approval for new visa-waived visitors from South Africa, Canada, the EU and Asia – Travel Update 2025

Thursday, May 22nd, 2025

Mozambique temporarily suspends its recently introduced travel restrictions. This required visitors from Visa-exempt countries to register online before entering the country. The move will particularly affect travelers from countries such as South Africa and other visa-free countries. The outage comes after authorities encountered unresolved technical issues with the Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA) system, which was planned as an essential prerequisite for travel.

The National Migration Services in Mozambique (Senami) issued a statement confirming the immediate outage of the ETA system, explaining that technical constraints are blocking normal access and preventing travelers from their ability to submit the necessary information. Senami has shown that a halt is necessary to protect travellers' rights while efforts are being made to restore and stabilize the system.

The planned policy required travelers to complete online registration through Mozambique's ETA system at least 48 hours prior to departure, marking significant changes from previous entry processes for those who did not require a visa. This outage therefore reflects the challenges governments often face when delaying the implementation of this new protocol and digitizing border control procedures.

This situation highlights the broader trends across the travel and tourism industry towards the integration of electronic and automated systems to manage international arrivals, a movement motivated by the need to enhance security, streamline input processes and collect data more efficiently. However, the technical difficulties experienced by Mozambique suggest that such systems require substantial testing and infrastructure support prior to full deployment.

Countries affected by Mozambique's ETA system

The ETA system was intended to be applied to travelers from a wide range of countries across multiple continents, including several in Africa, Asia, Europe and North America. In particular, visa-free travelers from South Africa had to follow alongside nationals from other countries listed.

Africa:

Asia:

Chinaindonesiaisraelieljapansaudi Arabiasingaporesuth Koreaunited Arab Emirates nation

Europe:

Belgiumdenmarkfinfinlandfrancegermanyirelanditallandslandssnorwayportugalrussiaspainswedenswitzerlandukraineunited Kingdom

North America:

The wide range of affected countries demonstrated Mozambique's intention to modernize and regulate traveler influx on a wide international scale, potentially improving both security and management efficiency at its borders.

Specific entry requirements for South African travelers

Visitors in South Africa do not need a visa for tourist visits to Mozambique, but there are still important travel documents and procedural requirements that need to be observed. These requirements include, as outlined by Mozambique authorities and related travel recommendations:

Valid Passport: Travelers must maintain a valid passport for at least six months, exceeding the scheduled return date to South Africa. Unknown birth certificate to South Africa: This document is mandatory for all minors traveling with their parents or parents. A must-have three months before your trip. Permit (if the vehicle is funded): Travelers driving the funded vehicle must ensure written permission from the financial institution that allows the vehicle to travel to Mozambique. Travelers can purchase this insurance online through providers like Hollard, but they will need to carry a printed copy when crossing Border.temporary Import/Export Documents. Border authorities will provide guidance on the forms necessary for temporary import or export of vehicles and goods.

Tax-free allowance for travelers entering Mozambique

Travelers entering Mozambique are permitted to bring certain items across the border without any customs duties, subject to defined quantity restrictions. These allowances aimed at addressing personal use and typical travel needs include:

Cigarettes: Up to 200 cigarettes, or 100 cigarillos, or 50 cigars. Alcohol: 1 liter of spirit and 2.25 liters of wine. It is important to note that travelers under the age of 18 are not given alcohol allowances.

These allowances reflect Mozambique's efforts to balance traveller convenience with regulatory oversights on imports, and aim to promote tourism while preventing misuse and illegal trade.

Mozambique's decision to suspend new ETA travel registrations highlights several important dynamics related to the global travel and tourism industry. The introduction of electronic travel approval systems is a global growth trend as they seek to modernize border control procedures in response to rising security concerns, public health considerations (particularly after the pandemic), and the rise in international travellers.

For airlines, travel agents and tourism operators, such policies require rapid adaptation to new digital processes. The need to educate travelers about changing requirements, ensure compliance and integrate visa and travel permitting procedures into booking and pre-trip preparation can have a significant impact on operational workflows and customer experience.

Technical challenges such as those experienced by Mozambique's ETA systems illustrate the risks inherent in the digitization of perimeter management without a fully functional infrastructure. These issues can lead to confusion, travel disruption, and if not resolved quickly, they could undermine the country's reputation as a tourist-friendly destination.

Meanwhile, when fully operational, ETA systems can provide travelers with a smoother entry experience, faster processing time at borders, and improved data accuracy for immigration authorities. It can also facilitate better epidemiological tracing. This is an important consideration in an era that is increasingly defined by concerns about the global pandemic.

(News source: Escape)