Importing Personal Effects into Mozambique: Documents & Customs Rules

Source: FIDI Customs Guide · Updated 2023 · Download the Mozambique Import Guide (PDF)

Household Goods

• Incoming Expatriates (non-Diplomatic)
• Mozambique Tax Number Certificate (NUIT)
• Signed Valued Inventory, in USD, in Portuguese (max. value 50 KUSD for Import otherwise a 0.85% levy is charged)
• Letter from Mozambican Employer Entity in Portuguese, Signed and Stamped
• Valid Passport copy
• Most recent Moz. Border Stamps in the Passport
• Work Contract with Mozambican Employer Entity in Portuguese, Signed and Stamped
• Work Permit from Mozambique Ministry of Labor
• Work & Residence Visa in your Passport
• Incoming Foreign Diplomats
• Copy of your Diplomat Card issued after your arrival by MINEC
• Mozambique Tax Number Certificate (NUIT)
• Signed Valued Inventory, in USD, in Portuguese (max. value 50 KUSD for Import otherwise a 0.85% levy is charged)
• Letter from Mozambican Employer Entity in Portuguese, Signed and Stamped
• Valid Passport copy
• Most recent Moz. Border Stamps in the Passport
• Mozambican Nationals (non-Diplomatic)
• Confirmation of stay abroad issued by the Mozambican Embassy or Consulate in your country of residence (or nearest one)
• INACE statement issued by INACE/MINEC in Maputo
• Copies of your valid Passport
• Most recent Moz. Border Stamps in the Passport
• Copies of your ID
• Signed Valued Inventory, in USD, in Portuguese (max. value 50 KUSD for Import otherwise a 0.85% levy is charged)
• NUIT Certificate or NUIT Card
• Returning Mozambican Diplomats
• Letter from MINEC
• Passport copy
• Most recent Moz. Border Stamps in the Passport
• Mozambique Tax Number
• Signed Valued Inventory, in USD, in Portuguese (max. value 50 KUSD for Import otherwise a 0.85% levy is charged)
• Mozambique Citizen ID Card
• Incoming Foreign Cleric
• Letter of Assurance from the Ministry in Charge of Religious Affairs (MJCR)
• Passport copy
• Most recent Moz. Border Stamps in the Passport
• Mozambique Tax Number
• Signed Valued Inventory, in USD, in Portuguese (max. value 50 KUSD for Import otherwise a 0.85% levy is charged)
• Copies of the visa in your Passport

• It is not required - under normal circumstances- by Customs to be present in person during the clearance process of your goods, however, Customs requires proof that you have arrived in the country (Passport stamps) and some shipping lines require your signature on the B/L.
• Only used household goods which are owned for mor than 2 years, are eligible for Duties exemption. No imported goods may be sold, leased or otherwise disposed of for 24 months from their date of entry, unless customs duties are paid.
• Customs may refuse to grant the Duties exemptions – even for Diplomats - on goods which are not deemed to be Household goods (Construction material, IT equipment, anything motorized that rolls, floats or flies, Alcoholic beverages, Food processing machinery, Food in large quantities, Security equipment such as CCTV or fencing, Art in large quantities, etc.).
• Diplomatic shipments must be imported within six months after the time of the diplomat’s arrival.
• Generally, the files are submitted to
• Customs as copies only. However, Customs officials may at times request to consult the original documents.
• A shipment valued at more than 50’000 USD, will be charged a fee of 0.85% of its CIF value, regardless of the Importer’s status as Diplomat or not.
• Importers are eligible to Duties exemption for 1 Sea import and 1 Air import (or Road Import) within the first 6 months of their arrival. Additional Imports with the same mode of transport, or made later than 6 months after one’s arrival, will likely not be granted Duties exemption.
• Workers and Missionaries of Religious institutions recognized by the Ministry in charge of Religious Affairs (MJCR) are eligible to import Duties exemption.
• Duties on the Import of Vehicles in Mozambique range generally from 80% to 130% of the value of the vehicle.
• Please ask a simulation to your FIDI representative in Mozambique, before sending a vehicle.
• Assuming all documentation has been received more than a week in advance:
• the Customs clearance process by Sea takes 4-5 business days after container reflects on customs extranet.
• the Customs clearance process by Air takes 3-4 business days after Cargo arrives at the Airport (Maputo).

• All personal effects and household goods must be imported within two months after the returning resident’s time of arrival.
• All personal effects and household goods must be imported within three months after the date of the work or resident permit has been granted to an immigrant.
• For diplomatic shipments, the diplomatic card (Cartão Diplomatico, or “CD”) is required for Destination Agent’s green light.
• The CD can only be requested by your diplomatic mission after your arrival in the country and is issued 2-3 weeks after request.
• Any holder of Diplomatic Status will be handed a Diplomatic Card and treated the same way, regardless of whether the person is a career (Civil servant) Diplomat representing a Nation, or not.
• Any Diplomat, regardless of its seniority, prestige and stature, or nationality, is treated the same way by Mozambican Authorities.
• FIDI Guidelines prohibit bribing and
• facilitation payments and requests to proceed this way will not be considered by your local FIDI representative.
• Additional Household Goods to be imported as a consequence of a spousal reunion (Whether Expatriate or Diplomat), can be granted a Duties Exemption.
• Kindly contact your FIDI representative in Mozambique for more information.
• Hiding vehicles such as motorbikes or sailboats, in shipments, through dismantling is not legal and requests of this nature can cause major issues to your local FIDI representative.
• Vehicle import via the Ro-Ro terminals, comprise notable risks of extra charges and extra costs due to the very high parking fee at the Ro-Ro terminals (Maputo in Particular).
• Mozambique Customs does not publish an official list of the documents requested. The list is informal. Therefore, Customs are entitled to ask for additional Documents from the Importer, if they wish to.
• Mozambique NUIT (Tax number), is required from everyone, including Foreign Diplomats. It can be obtained after your arrival in Mozambique and usually takes 2 weeks to be issued.
• If a Diplomat imports large quantities of Alcoholic Beverages, Customs may, or may
• not, grant full Duties Exemption.

Specific cases

• For the Import of the following into Mozambique, please contact your FIDI representative in Mozambique:
• Pet (Live Animal) import
• Returning Deceased Person’s remains
• Commercial goods
• Animal remains or ornaments
• Guns / Firearms
• Medicines, Hospital equipment
• Sailboats
• Import of other motorized vehicles (floating or flying)
• Etc.

• Motorized Flying and Floating vehicles are subject to a previous authorization to import and to specific legalization process
• Medicines and hospital equipment are subject to previous authorization by the relevant authority

• Pets are subject to import control and the process is relatively straightforward for Cats, Dogs and Horses. It may be more complex for other animals.
• Applications should be made to the Director of Veterinary Services.
• There is no FIDI Agent working on imports of Animals in Mozambique but the Mozambique FIDI members can suggest you a reliable one.

Prohibited Articles

• Drugs, narcotics.
• Pornographic materials.
• Offensive weapons.
• Forged documents.
• Animal remains of any kind.
• Counterfeit money.

Other Useful Information

• Customs clearance for household goods arriving in Sea containers normally takes 5-7 working days.
• Customs clearance for vehicles arriving in Sea containers normally takes 7-10working days.
• Customs clearance for vehicles arriving by Ro-Ro normally takes 7-10 working days.
• Customs clearance for household goods arriving by Air normally takes 4-5 working days.
• In most cases, Customs may request BL originals in Mozambique.

• Citrus fruits, seeds, and deciduous plants may not be imported unless an import licence has been obtained in advance from the competent agricultural authorities.
• Persons visiting who are 18 years or older may import up to a maximum of 3 bottles of alcoholic beverages into Mozambique.
• Firearms may be imported with a special permit from the Ministry of interior.
• For precious metal jewellery, customs duty may be required to be deposited.
• For new furniture and household goods, freight charges apply, and invoices are required.
• For inheritances, no duties are payable provided the following documents are presented:
• Copy of the will
• Death certificate
• Letter from the executor

Exporting Personal Effects from Mozambique: Documents & Customs Rules

Source: FIDI Customs Guide · Updated 2023 · Download the Mozambique Export Guide (PDF)

Removal Goods-HHG/PE

• Departing Expatriates (non-Diplomatic)
• Mozambique Tax Number Certificate (NUIT)
• Signed Valued Inventory, in USD, in Portuguese
• Letter from Mozambican Employer Entity in Portuguese, Signed and Stamped
• Valid Passport copy
• Most recent Moz. Border Stamps in the Passport
• Work Contract with Mozambican Employer Entity in Portuguese, Signed and Stamped
• Work Permit from Mozambique Ministry of Labor
• Work & Residence Visa in your Passport
• Departing Foreign Diplomats
• Copy of your Diplomat Card issued after your arrival by MINEC
• Mozambique Tax Number Certificate (NUIT)
• Signed Valued Inventory, in USD, in Portuguese
• Letter from Mozambican Employer Entity in Portuguese, Signed and Stamped
• Valid Passport copy
• Most recent Moz. Border Stamps in the Passport
• Departing Mozambique National
• Copy of your Work contract in your destination country
• Mozambique Tax Number Certificate (NUIT)
• Valued Inventory, signed by you, in USD
• Valid Passport copy
• Most recent Moz. Border Stamps in the Passport

• Export of Household goods by Sea or Road is generally straightforward in Mozambique and little difficulty is expected.
• Export of Household goods by Air is controlled by a number of Authorities and is more sensitive.
• Presence of the exporter in the country at the time of Export clearance is not required in Mozambique.

• The Export by Air is very restricted and very controlled.
• Restrictions or prohibitions apply to the following:
• Powders of any kind, Liquids of any kind, Lithium-ion batteries, Drones, Gun-shaped toys, Food, Wooden pieces of any kind, Medicine, Artwork of any kind, Items not considered Household goods, etc.
• Please consult with your local FIDI representative.
• Moving companies issue a Packing list after the end of the packing operation, while the (Valued) Inventory list must be drafted and signed by the owner of the goods.
• Assuming all documentation has been received:
• the Customs clearance process by Sea takes 4-5 business days after container sealing.
• the Customs clearance process by Air takes 2-3 business days after Cargo submission at the Airport (Maputo).

Vehicles

• Customs documents for vehicle Export (Diplomats)
• Letter from your Employer
• Copy of your Diplomat Card issued after your arrival by MINEC
• Valid Passport copy
• Invoice
• NUIT from the owner of the vehicle / Mozambique Tax Number Certificate
• Modelo 75 Filled and approved by MINEC
• Vehicle register cancellation certificate
• License plate cancellation certificate
• Interpol Police Clearance
• Customs documents for vehicle import (Diplomats)
• Letter from your Employer
• Copy of the Customs Import process
• Valid Passport copy
• Invoice (max. 50 KUSD for Import)
• NUIT from the owner of the vehicle / Mozambique Tax Number Certificate
• Modelo 75 filled and approved by MINEC
• Vehicle register cancellation certificate
• License plate cancellation certificate
• Interpol Police Clearance

• In Mozambique, the Vehicle Export process requires to previously cancel the car registration and papers (license plate).
• Mozambique Road authority INATRO keeps the original documents, therefore you will not get them back after you begin the license plate cancellation process.
• License plate cancellation process is not reversible. The car will be considered as exported.

• Vehicle Export is a lengthy and cumbersome process in Mozambique.
• It is recommended to start the vehicle register cancellation process well in advance in order to avoid that this process delays your move.
• Hiding vehicles such as motorbikes or sailboats, in shipments, through dismantling is not legal and requests of this nature can cause major issues to your local FIDI representative.

Mozambique Moving Guide: Documents, Duties & Shipping Notes

Source: IAM Country Guide · Updated 2026-09-05 · Download the Mozambique Country Guide (PDF)

Documents

Documents required for importing used household goods, personal effects, and related shipments.

• Valid passport copy with most recent Mozambican border entry stamps
• Work and residence visa in passport
• Work permit issued by the Mozambican Ministry of Labor
• Work contract with Mozambican employer, in Portuguese, signed and stamped
• Letter from Mozambican employer entity, in Portuguese, signed and stamped
• Signed valued inventory in USD, in Portuguese. Shipments valued above USD 50,000 are subject to an additional levy of 0.85% of the CIF value regardless of the importer's status.
• Mozambique Tax Number Certificate (NUIT). The NUIT can be obtained after arrival in Mozambique and typically takes approximately 2 weeks to issue.

• Copy of Diplomat Card (Cartao Diplomatico / "CD") issued by MINEC after arrival in Mozambique. The CD can only be requested by the diplomatic mission after arrival and is issued 2 to 3 weeks after the request.
• Valid passport copy with most recent Mozambican border entry stamps
• Letter from Mozambican employer entity, in Portuguese, signed and stamped
• Signed valued inventory in USD, in Portuguese (same 50,000 USD threshold applies)
• Mozambique Tax Number Certificate (NUIT)

• Confirmation of stay abroad issued by the Mozambican Embassy or Consulate in the country of residence (or nearest one)
• INACE statement issued by INACE/MINEC in Maputo
• Copies of valid passport with most recent Mozambican border entry stamps
• Copy of Mozambican Citizen ID Card
• Signed valued inventory in USD, in Portuguese (same 50,000 USD threshold applies)
• NUIT Certificate or NUIT Card

• Letter from MINEC
• Passport copy with most recent Mozambican border entry stamps
• Mozambique Tax Number (NUIT)
• Mozambican Citizen ID Card
• Signed valued inventory in USD, in Portuguese (same 50,000 USD threshold applies)

• Letter of Assurance from the Ministry in charge of Religious Affairs (MJCR)
• Passport copy with most recent Mozambican border entry stamps
• Mozambique Tax Number (NUIT)
• Copies of the visa in passport
• Signed valued inventory in USD, in Portuguese

• Copy of the will
• Death certificate
• Letter from the executor

Specific Information

Only used household goods owned for more than 2 years are eligible for duty exemption. No imported goods may be sold, leased, or otherwise disposed of for 24 months from their date of entry unless customs duties are first paid.

Importers are eligible for duties exemption on 1 sea import and 1 air import (or road import) within the first 6 months of arrival. Additional imports using the same mode of transport, or imports made more than 6 months after arrival, will likely not be granted duties exemption.

All personal effects and household goods must be imported within 2 months of the returning resident's arrival. For immigrants who have been granted a work or resident permit, goods must arrive within 3 months of the date the permit was granted. Diplomatic shipments must be imported within 6 months of the diplomat's arrival.

Additional household goods imported as a consequence of a spousal reunion (whether for an expatriate or diplomat) may qualify for duties exemption. Contact the destination agent for details.

Customs does not publish an official list of required documents. The list is informal, and Customs officials are entitled to request additional documents at their discretion.

Shipment valuation levy: Any shipment with a CIF value above USD 50,000 will be charged a fee of 0.85% of its CIF value, regardless of the importer's diplomatic or exempt status.

Resale restriction: Imported goods may not be sold, leased, or otherwise disposed of for 24 months from the date of customs entry unless duties are paid at that point.

ISPM 15: All wooden packing materials must comply with ISPM 15 phytosanitary standards. Confirm requirements with the destination agent before packing.

Customs clearance times: Sea container household goods typically take 5 to 7 working days to clear. Air freight household goods typically take 4 to 5 working days after cargo arrives at Maputo Airport. Original Bills of Lading are required in most cases; express and telex releases are generally not accepted.

Prohibited & Restricted Items

The following items are prohibited from import into Mozambique:

• Narcotic drugs and controlled substances
• Pornographic materials
• Offensive weapons
• Forged documents and counterfeit money
• Animal remains of any kind (including ornaments and by-products from species listed on the OIE diseases list, up to 6 months after the latest outbreak)
• Left-hand drive vehicles intended for commercial use
• Vegetable and plant products listed in Annex 1 of Decree No. 5/2009
• Endangered species and products derived from CITES-listed wildlife *(CITES)*
• Firearms without a valid permit from the Ministry of Interior *(Permit Required)*
• Pharmaceuticals and pesticides without prior import authorisation *(Permit Required)*

Traveller allowances (hand-carry only): Persons 18 years of age or older may import, free of duty: 400 cigarettes or 250 grams of tobacco; 1 litre of spirits and 2.25 litres of wine; and 50 ml of perfume. Persons under 18 may not carry alcohol or tobacco. Total value of duty-free goods must not exceed USD 200. Visitors may carry up to 3 bottles of alcoholic beverages.

Alcohol in shipments: Alcohol and spirits should not be included in household goods shipments. They should be hand-carried within the above limits. Customs may or may not grant full duties exemption to diplomats importing large quantities of alcoholic beverages.

Firearms and ammunition: Import requires a special permit from the Ministry of Interior. Firearms must be accompanied by appropriate authorisation from the territorial administration. See Prohibited Items for relevant restrictions.

New furniture and household goods: Freight charges apply and invoices are required. Duties will be levied on new goods included in a removal shipment.

Medicines and hospital equipment: Subject to prior authorisation by the relevant health authority before import.

Precious metal jewellery: Customs duty may be required as a deposit.

Plant material and meat products: Subject to restrictions and, in most cases, require an import licence. Citrus fruits, seeds, and deciduous plants require advance import licences from agricultural authorities. A ban on the import of chicken meat has been in force since 2017.

Consignment Instructions

Recommended: Contact the destination agent to ensure all requirements have been met prior to import, especially for differences regarding air / sea / road shipments.

Inventory: All inventories must be in Portuguese, signed by the owner, dated, and valued in USD. Shipments with a CIF value above USD 50,000 will incur a 0.85% levy on the full CIF value regardless of exemption status.

Bills of Lading: Original Bills of Lading are required in most cases. Express release and telex release are generally not accepted. The OBL for vehicles must state chassis number, engine number, cubic capacity, year of manufacture, make, and model.

Document timing: Documents must be received by the destination agent at least 1 week before shipment arrival for household goods. Vehicle documents should arrive with the same lead time, and the Modelo 75 approval process for diplomatic vehicles can take 2 to 6 weeks. Factor this into the shipping timeline.

Customs clearance times: Sea container household goods: 5 to 7 working days. Air freight household goods: 4 to 5 working days after arrival at Maputo Airport. Vehicles by sea container: 7 to 10 working days. Vehicles by Ro-Ro: 7 to 10 working days (with additional parking fee risk at Maputo's Ro-Ro terminal).

NUIT (Tax Number): Required from all importers, including foreign diplomats. It can be obtained after arrival in Mozambique and typically takes 2 weeks to issue. Ensure the NUIT process is initiated immediately upon arrival.

Unpredictable expenses: Customs officials may request original documents even when copies have been submitted. They may also request certified translations of documents not in Portuguese or English. Additional charges, storage fees, and delays should be anticipated if documentation is incomplete on arrival.

Principal port of entry: Maputo Port is the primary entry point for sea shipments. Beira and Nacala ports are also operational and generally comparable in cost and process, but the destination agent should be consulted before routing through those ports.