Mozambique (MZ)
Portuguese-speaking East African country with 2,500 km of Indian Ocean coastline, extraordinary marine parks, growing LNG energy sector, and low cost of living for expats in Maputo.
Digital Services
Digital ID, e-government and essential apps in Mozambique.
NUIT — Número Único de Identificação Tributária
The NUIT is Mozambique's unique tax identification number, used for all interactions with the ATM (tax authority), employer IRPS withholding, business registration, and government transactions. It is the closest equivalent to a national digital identity for financial and tax purposes.
How to get it: Register at any ATM (Autoridade Tributária de Moçambique) office — main office in Maputo at Praça 25 de Junho. Bring your valid passport, DIRE residence permit, and proof of Mozambican address. Individual NUIT registration is free. Business NUIT for a company: applied for as part of company registration at CREL.
E-Government Portal
https://www.portaldogoverno.gov.mzMozambique's e-government infrastructure is developing. Many services that are listed as "available online" still require an in-person visit to finalise or submit original documents. The e-visa portal (evisa.gov.mz) is the most functional and fully online service. ATM online tax filing is functional for registered businesses. The DIRE online appointment system reduces waiting times significantly but does not eliminate in-person requirements. Expect frequent system maintenance and downtime — power cuts and internet outages affect government servers. Always have backup plans for in-person visits.
Essential Apps
ExpatCheapRent
FreeExpat-focused cheap rental finder at expatcheaprent.com — compares listings across major rental portals to help newcomers find affordable apartments.
Facebook Marketplace
FreePrimary channel for apartment and house rentals in Maputo, Beira and Nampula — most landlords and expat networks advertise available accommodation through Facebook Marketplace and local groups.
M-Pesa (Vodacom)
FreeMozambique's dominant mobile money platform. Used for paying utility bills, sending money, paying domestic workers, buying goods at markets, and transferring funds. Requires a Vodacom SIM. Set up in your first week — it is essential for daily life.
inDrive
FreePrimary ride-hailing app in Maputo. Passengers propose their fare; drivers accept or counter. Far safer than street taxis. Available in Maputo and increasingly in Beira. Essential for safe evening transport.
Bolt
FreeSecondary ride-hailing app in Maputo. Good coverage in city centre and Polana area. Download both inDrive and Bolt for availability.
The primary communication platform in Mozambique. Used for business communication, expat community groups, landlord contact, domestic staff coordination, and everything else. A local SIM (Vodacom) for WhatsApp is essential.
Vodacom Mozambique App
FreeManage your Vodacom SIM, mobile data bundles, M-Pesa transactions, and airtime top-up. Also shows network status and nearest Vodacom stores.
BCI Mobile Banking
FreeBCI bank mobile app for account balance, transfers, and ATM locator. Requires a BCI account. Functional but limited compared to European banking apps.
Millennium BIM App
FreeMillennium BIM mobile banking for account management and transfers. Comparable functionality to BCI Mobile.
LAM Airlines App
FreeBook LAM (Linhas Aéreas de Moçambique) domestic flights between Maputo, Beira, Nampula, Pemba, Tete, Quelimane, and Inhambane. Useful for travel within Mozambique.
Google Maps
FreeMost reliable navigation app for Mozambique. Works offline (download the Maputo region). Street-level accuracy in Maputo is reasonable; outside the capital it is less reliable. Good for finding businesses and landmarks.
XE Currency
FreeReal-time MZN (Mozambican Metical) exchange rates against USD, EUR, ZAR, and other currencies. Essential for understanding the real cost of MZN prices.
iSOS / SOS International
PaidInternational SOS app for medical and security assistance. If your employer or insurance provider has SOS International coverage, this app gives you access to 24/7 emergency assistance, including medical evacuation coordination.
VPN (ExpressVPN or NordVPN)
PaidA VPN is useful in Mozambique for: accessing home-country streaming services (BBC iPlayer, Netflix home region), securing public Wi-Fi connections, and occasionally bypassing intermittent content restrictions.
Internet connectivity in Mozambique is improving but remains unreliable outside Maputo. Home fibre (Liquid Telecom, Vodacom Fibre) is available in Maputo with speeds of 20–100 Mbps but is subject to disruption during power cuts. A UPS (uninterruptible power supply) for your router is essential. Mobile 4G LTE (Vodacom) is the best connectivity option in Maputo for reliability — carry sufficient data bundles. Outside Maputo, Movitel has the best rural coverage. VPNs are useful but not required. E-government services work best on desktop browsers — mobile apps are not available for most government portals.