Mozambique Visa for Chinese Citizens in 2026: Do You Need One?

Quick answer: Chinese citizens travelling on ordinary passports generally do not need a conventional Mozambique visa for tourism or business stays of up to 30 days. However, China is included in Mozambique’s visa-exemption programme, which requires prior electronic travel authorisation before travel. The stay may be renewable for another 30 days with justification.

The official Mozambique portal recommends applying for an ETA at least 48 hours before departure. If your trip does not qualify for the visa-exempt tourist or business route—for example, because you plan to stay longer or have another travel purpose—you may need an eVisa instead. Standard eVisa processing takes approximately five business days after submission and payment.

Verification note: Last checked August 2026 — always confirm with official sources before travelling.

Visa types for Chinese citizens travelling to Mozambique

Mozambique’s entry requirement depends on your passport, travel purpose and intended length of stay. For Chinese travellers, the most important distinction is between the visa-exempt ETA route and a full eVisa.

Travel situation	Likely requirement	What the research confirms
Tourism on an ordinary Chinese passport	Prior ETA, not a conventional visa	Visa-exempt stay of up to 30 days; prior authorisation is required.
Business on an ordinary Chinese passport	Prior ETA, not a conventional visa	The visa-exemption programme covers business and tourism for up to 30 days.
Stay longer than 30 days	Confirm whether an eVisa or extension is required	The official high commission says a further 30 days may be renewable with justification.
Work, study, investment or another non-tourist purpose	Appropriate eVisa or consular visa	The official portal describes an eVisa as a full visa issued for a specific purpose and stay.

The High Commission of Mozambique in the United Kingdom lists China among the countries whose ordinary-passport holders may enter for tourism and business for 30 days. It also says that newly visa-exempt nationals must obtain prior authorisation before travelling. This is different from a full visa: the official portal explains that an ETA is a pre-travel authorisation for eligible visa-exempt travellers, while an eVisa is an actual electronic visa issued for the approved terms and duration.

Check the passport category carefully. The exemption described above concerns ordinary passports. Diplomatic, official, emergency or other travel documents may follow different rules, and the official portal should be used to determine the correct application route before booking non-refundable travel.

How to apply for Mozambique entry authorisation from China

Use the official Mozambique eVisa and ETA portal at evisa.gov.mz. The official High Commission states that Mozambique launched a new digital visa platform on 11 February 2026 and discontinued the previous platform. Applicants with an undecided application on the former platform are told not to submit a duplicate application, because updates should be sent to the email address used for the original application.

1. Select the correct travel purpose

Choose tourism if you are visiting Mozambique for a holiday, safari, beach trip or sightseeing. Choose business if you are travelling for commercial meetings or other business activity. The High Commission notes that the platform may not show a separate ETA option and instructs visa-exempt applicants to select tourism or business according to their purpose.

Do not select tourism merely because it is the simplest option. If you intend to work, study, undertake investment activity or remain in Mozambique beyond the permitted period, confirm the appropriate eVisa or consular category through the official portal. The portal lists eVisas as purpose-specific visas, with the permitted stay and conditions attached to the approval.

2. Prepare your passport and supporting information

The U.S. Department of State’s Mozambique travel information says that a passport should be valid for six months from the date of entry and have two blank pages for visa and entry or exit stamps. Confirm that your Chinese passport meets those conditions before submitting the application or travelling.

• Enter your name, passport number, nationality and dates exactly as they appear in your passport.
• Keep your accommodation details and travel itinerary available if the portal requests them.
• Prepare return or onward travel information if requested during the application or at the border.
• Use a current email address that you can access after submitting the application.
• Keep the application reference number, because the official portal uses it to track an application.

The exact document list can vary by application category. The official portal’s form and document prompts take priority over generic online checklists. A third-party visa guide mentions a passport scan, passport-style photo and return or onward ticket for Chinese applicants, but because the official portal can change its document requirements, confirm the current list during the application.

3. Upload a suitable photograph and documents

Upload clear files that match the portal’s current technical requirements. The available research does not establish a definitive official pixel size, file format or photo age limit, so confirm those specifications in the live application form rather than relying on an older checklist.

Make sure scans are readable and that names and dates are consistent across the application, passport and supporting documents. Incorrect or incomplete submissions can delay a decision. The official portal says that applicants whose documents are missing or incorrect may receive a preliminary rejection email and have five calendar days to upload corrected documents; failing to do so within that window results in automatic rejection.

4. Pay and submit

Review every field before submitting. The official portal states that payment is completed during the eVisa application and that the standard processing period begins after submission and completed payment. Save the payment confirmation and application reference number.

For an ETA, apply at least 48 hours before your planned departure. Applying earlier is sensible because an application may require corrected information, and airline check-in staff may ask for evidence of the authorisation before boarding.

Fees and payment for Chinese applicants

The current government fee should be confirmed on the official Mozambique portal before payment. The available official portal research confirms that an eVisa processing fee is payable online, but it does not provide a current fee amount. Do not rely on a fixed dollar figure shown by an agency or an older article.

Application route	Fee guidance	Payment information
ETA for an eligible Chinese tourist or business traveller	Confirm the current fee on the official portal	Payment is made online where required; apply at least 48 hours before departure.
Full eVisa	Confirm the current government fee on the official portal	Payment is completed during the online application.
Third-party agency service	May include a separate service charge	Compare the total carefully with the official government charge; use the official portal where possible.

Some non-government websites publish figures such as US$48 for an ETA or other amounts for eVisas, but the supplied official portal material does not confirm those amounts for August 2026. SafariFind therefore recommends confirming the current fee on the official portal before entering card details. A payment made to an unofficial website may include service charges and does not necessarily represent the Mozambican government fee.

Processing times, validity and permitted stay

Mozambique’s official portal gives two relevant timing instructions. ETA applicants are recommended to apply at least 48 hours before planned departure. Standard eVisa processing takes approximately five business days after the application is submitted and payment is completed.

These are processing estimates, not a guarantee that approval will arrive before a flight. Missing documents, incorrect information or a request for corrections can affect the timeline. If the portal asks you to correct documents, the official FAQ says you have five calendar days from the preliminary rejection email to upload them.

For Chinese ordinary-passport holders using the visa-exemption programme, the authorised tourism or business stay is up to 30 days. The High Commission says that this period is renewable for an additional 30 days upon justification. Because an extension is not automatic, contact Mozambique immigration or the relevant Mozambican diplomatic mission before the original 30-day period expires and obtain confirmation of the process.

Do not assume that an ETA grants the same conditions as an eVisa. The official portal describes an ETA as pre-travel permission for certain visa-exempt travellers, while an eVisa is issued for the specific duration and purpose approved by the government.

What happens on arrival in Mozambique?

Carry your Chinese passport and a printed or accessible copy of your approved ETA or eVisa. The supplied official sources confirm that the authorisation is linked digitally to the application and passport, but they do not specify whether every port of entry accepts a digital copy without a printed document. Keeping both digital and printed evidence reduces the risk of a check-in or border delay.

Immigration officers can check your passport, entry authorisation, travel purpose and compliance with the authorised stay. Your passport should meet the six-month validity and two-blank-page guidance published in the U.S. Department of State’s Mozambique travel information. Keep accommodation and onward-travel details available if requested.

An approved ETA is not a guarantee of admission. Final entry decisions are made at the border, and the conditions attached to the authorisation must match your actual trip. If your plans change from tourism to work or from a short visit to a longer stay, obtain advice before acting on the original authorisation.

Once your documents are in order, you can focus on the trip itself. Travellers comparing a beach-and-bush itinerary can review whether Mozambique is good for safari in 2026, then compare safari packages on SafariFind.

Transit, extensions and overstays

Transit

The available research does not set out a single transit rule for every airport, land border or connection involving Mozambique. Transit requirements can depend on whether you remain airside, pass immigration, collect baggage or enter Mozambique during a stopover. Confirm the rule with the airline and official Mozambican authorities for your exact itinerary.

If you leave the airport or pass through immigration, do not assume that an onward ticket alone removes the need for an ETA or visa. Use the official portal’s nationality and purpose assessment before departure.

Extensions

The official High Commission states that the 30-day visa-exempt stay for tourism and business may be renewable for another 30 days with justification. Apply or seek instructions before the first authorised period expires. The research does not confirm the extension fee, processing time, required documents or whether every entry point handles extensions, so confirm those details directly with Mozambican immigration.

Overstays

Do not remain in Mozambique after the date authorised by your ETA, visa or approved extension. The supplied sources do not specify current overstay penalties, so this article does not give a penalty figure. If illness, cancelled transport or another emergency prevents departure, contact Mozambican immigration promptly and retain evidence of the circumstances.

Common mistakes and rejection risks

• Confusing an ETA with a visa: Chinese travellers may qualify for the 30-day visa-exempt route but still need prior authorisation.
• Using the old platform: Mozambique’s High Commission says the previous digital platform was discontinued after the new platform launched on 11 February 2026.
• Submitting a duplicate application: Applicants with an unresolved application from the old platform are told not to submit a new one.
• Applying too late: The official guidance recommends at least 48 hours for ETA applications and approximately five business days for standard eVisas.
• Uploading inconsistent information: A passport-number, name or date mismatch can trigger a request for correction.
• Missing the correction deadline: The official FAQ gives five calendar days to upload requested corrected documents after a preliminary rejection email.
• Relying on an outdated fee: Confirm the current fee on the official portal before paying.
• Travelling with an unsuitable passport: Check the six-month validity and two-blank-page guidance before departure.
• Choosing the wrong purpose: Tourism, business and other activities may have different authorisation requirements. Use the category that accurately describes the trip.

For a typical Chinese tourist visiting Mozambique for no more than 30 days, the practical route is: confirm that you hold an ordinary passport, apply through the official portal for the tourism authorisation, submit accurate information, confirm the current fee, apply at least 48 hours before departure, and carry proof of approval. For longer or non-tourist travel, use the official portal to determine whether a full eVisa or another visa process applies.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do Chinese citizens need a visa for Mozambique?

Chinese ordinary-passport holders generally do not need a conventional visa for tourism or business stays of up to 30 days, but they must obtain prior electronic travel authorisation before travelling.

What type of Mozambique authorisation do Chinese tourists need?

Chinese tourists generally need an ETA under Mozambique’s visa-exemption programme rather than a full eVisa. The official High Commission says China is eligible for a 30-day tourism or business stay with prior authorisation.

How long can Chinese citizens stay in Mozambique without a visa?

The visa-exempt stay is up to 30 days for tourism or business. The High Commission says it may be renewable for another 30 days with justification, but an extension is not automatic.

How much does a Mozambique ETA cost for Chinese citizens?

Confirm the current fee on Mozambique’s official eVisa portal before payment. The supplied official portal information confirms that online payment may be required but does not publish a current fee amount.

How long does a Mozambique ETA take for Chinese travellers?

Mozambique recommends applying for an ETA at least 48 hours before planned departure. Apply earlier if possible because incomplete or incorrect information may require correction.

How long does a Mozambique eVisa take?

Standard eVisa processing takes approximately five business days after submission and completed payment. The period can be affected by missing or incorrect documents.

What documents do Chinese citizens need for Mozambique?

At minimum, travel with a Chinese passport that is valid for six months from entry and has two blank pages, plus the approved ETA or eVisa. The exact supporting-document list depends on the application category and should be confirmed in the official portal.

Can Chinese citizens apply for a Mozambique visa online?

Yes. Mozambique’s official digital platform handles ETA and eVisa applications online. The High Commission says the new platform launched on 11 February 2026 and replaced the previous platform.

Can I extend my 30-day Mozambique stay?

The official High Commission says the 30-day visa-exempt stay may be renewable for an additional 30 days with justification. Contact Mozambican immigration before the original authorised period expires to confirm the current procedure.

What if my Mozambique application is rejected because documents are missing?

The official portal says applicants may receive a preliminary rejection email and have five calendar days to upload missing or corrected documents. If they miss that window, the application is automatically rejected.