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.

Capital: Maputo

Region: Africa

Language: Portuguese

Currency: MZN (MT)

Cost of living: Very affordable (index 20)

Emergency: 119

Jobs & Work Permits

Everything you need to find work and get authorised to work in Mozambique.

INEFP — Instituto Nacional de Emprego e Formação Profissional

INEFP

Visit the nearest INEFP office with your passport, residence permit, and qualifications. Register in person. Limited online services available.

Services offered:

✓Job placement and referral for registered candidates
✓Vocational training and skills development programmes
✓Labour market information and statistics
✓Employer registration for the foreign worker quota system
✓Apprenticeship and internship programme coordination

Expat eligibility: Expats with a valid work permit can register with INEFP but international job opportunities are rarely listed. More useful for understanding the local labour market and for companies needing to demonstrate compliance with the 5% foreign worker quota (Law 23/2007).

Visit INEFP — Instituto Nacional de Emprego e Formação Profissional

💼 Work Permits

EU Citizens

EU citizens require a work permit (Autorização de Exercício de Actividade) just like all other foreign nationals. There is no EU free movement in Mozambique. The employer must apply to MITESS and DIRE — processing takes 4–8 weeks. The 5% foreign worker quota applies.

Non-EU Citizens

All non-Mozambican nationals require a work permit. The employer submits the application to MITESS (Ministry of Labour) with a DIRE immigration component. Required documents: valid passport, police clearance (apostilled, translated to Portuguese), educational qualifications, employment contract, employer company registration. Initial permit: 1 year, renewable annually. Fee: MT 5,000–15,000. The 5% foreign worker quota (Law 23/2007) applies unless the role qualifies for exemption (senior management, specialist technical, mining/petroleum sector).

EU Blue Card

Mozambique has no EU Blue Card equivalent.

Freelancer Visa

Self-employment and freelancing as a foreign national requires specific authorisation and is not straightforward. Most foreign freelancers operate via a registered Mozambican LDA (company) or work under contract through an employer with a valid permit. The Investor Visa via CPI (Investment Promotion Centre) is an alternative pathway for self-employed investors.

⏱️ Work Culture

Typical hours 08:00–12:00 and 14:00–17:30 (with a 2-hour lunch break). The long lunch break is a Mozambican tradition — many people go home. International organisations often operate stricter 09:00–17:00 schedules.

Annual leave 24 working days per year (minimum under Labour Law 23/2007). Additional days may be negotiated in expat packages.

Sick leave Full salary for up to 30 days sick leave per year. Medical certificate required from day 1 for absences in formal employment. INSS provides longer-term sickness benefit after 30 days (70% of salary).

Trial period 60 days for general professional roles; 180 days for senior management positions. Either party can terminate without cause during the trial period.

Notice period 30 days for employees with up to 5 years service; 60 days for employees with more than 5 years service.

Salary range Oil & gas engineer (expat package): USD 8,000–20,000/month. NGO programme manager: USD 3,000–7,000/month. International school teacher: USD 1,800–3,500/month. Bank manager (local contract): MT 80,000–180,000/month. Civil engineer (local contract): MT 50,000–120,000/month. Administrative officer: MT 20,000–50,000/month.

Pay frequency Monthly. Salary paid at end of month. 13th and 14th month bonuses are not statutory but common in expat packages and some sectors.

Contract types

·Contrato por Tempo Indeterminado (permanent/open-ended)
·Contrato a Prazo (fixed-term, max 2 years renewable once)
·Contrato de Prestação de Serviços (service/freelance contract)
·Expat package contract (home-country plus Mozambique allowances)

🔍 Job Boards

The primary platform for professional roles in multinationals, NGOs, banking, oil & gas, and technology sectors operating in Mozambique.

ReliefWeb

International NGO, UN, and humanitarian sector roles in Mozambique. Essential for development sector job seekers.

Devex

International development sector platform covering NGO, donor, and UN positions in Mozambique.

Oil & Gas Job Search

Oil, gas, and energy sector roles including positions with TotalEnergies, ENI, and contracting companies operating in Mozambique.

INEFP Job Board

Government and public sector roles. Primarily Mozambican nationals but occasionally lists international positions.

🌍 Expat-Friendly Resources

🌍

AmCham Mozambique (American Chamber of Commerce)

Business networking and occasional job listings. Useful for US-connected companies operating in Mozambique.

🌍

Expats in Mozambique (Facebook Group)

Active expat community group. Informal job leads, recommendations, and local knowledge shared regularly by the expat community.

🌍

TotalEnergies Mozambique Careers

Major LNG employer. Senior technical and project management roles based in Maputo and (pending restart) Afungi in Cabo Delgado.

🌍

World Bank / UNDP Mozambique

International development organisations recruiting expat professionals for advisory, policy, and implementation roles.

📝 Application Tips

CV format: Portuguese-language CV (Curriculum Vitae) for local companies and government. English CV acceptable for international NGOs, multinationals, and oil & gas companies. European-style: 2 pages maximum, chronological, professional photo optional. Always include Portuguese language level honestly.

Cover letter: Expected

Language: Portuguese is the working language of Mozambique and essential for all local employment. English is used in international organisations, oil & gas sector, and senior NGO positions. French is useful for southern African regional work. Changana and other local languages are a social asset in Maputo.

Interviews: Formal and relationship-focused. Arrive on time (even if the interviewer runs late). Exchange business cards at first meetings. Small talk before business is expected. Dress formally. Demonstrate awareness of Mozambique's development challenges and the role of your sector.

🤝 Networking Tips

→AmCham Mozambique events are the primary business networking venue in Maputo
→Embassy social events (US Embassy, British High Commission, German Embassy) are excellent for professional networking
→Oil & gas sector networking happens largely through TotalEnergies, ENI, and Anadarko alumni networks
→The NGO/development sector networks heavily through UN coordination meetings and INGC disaster management forums
→InterNations Maputo hosts regular expat networking events
→LinkedIn is increasingly used even in Mozambique — connect with Mozambican professionals in your sector before arriving
→The Maputo Business Club (Clube de Empresários) holds regular events for senior business professionals

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