Mozambique has many land border crossings with a range of countries. The procedures and setup vary from border to border and country to country. But there are some basic principles that will help you through all border crossings.
The basics
Every border crossing has two sides and two administrations to deal with. There is the country you are leaving and then Mozambique. On arrival at the border you must stamp out of the country you are leaving, cross the border and then stamp into Mozambique. The setup is slightly different at every border, but the principles are always the same. Stamp out of the country you are leaving and stamp into Mozambique. Ensure you check the stamps they give you are correct as this can cause issues for future border crossings if they are not (especially check the date is correct).
Bribery
Please do not pay bribes at borders. Wait your turn and get your passport stamped. Refuse any offers to give extra pay, cold drinks or whatever else may be asked for. Ensure all of your dealing at borders are with official border staff. Ignore any “hangers on” or runners who seem to gather at the more popular borders to try and help you cross. Ensuring you know what documents you require to enter the country will help to avoid issues at the border.
What do I need to enter Mozambique?
This depends on why you are entering and where you are coming from. You can read about this here
Crossing with cars
This is an easy way to cross the border but there are some rules you must follow when entering Mozambique with a car. The first is that you must have 3rd party car insurance that is valid in Mozambique; fully comprehensive insurance issued in your country of origin is not acceptable; it must be Mozambican issued third-party insurance, available online. The Mozambican police can, and probably will, stop and ask you for proof of this insurance. Some of the busier borders (such as Rassano Garcia from South Africa) have this available at the border. Others do not, so it is best to arrange this before you arrive. Ensure you have a paper version of the proof of insurance with you in the car at all times. You also must then temporarily import your car into Mozambique. There is a form that you need to fill in for this. Where you get the form varies from border to border. But do ensure you fill it in. This process is free. Do not make any payment for this process. Your car may only stay in the country for 30 days maximum. Those moving permanently to Mozambique need to get a locally registered car.
Make sure you take a look at the article on driving in Mozambique to ensure you know the essentials of driving in this beautiful country. This will ensure you keep safe and legal on Mozambique’s roads.
Crossing on Foot
There is no problem crossing borders into Mozambique in foot except for the issue as to what are you going to do next? There is only really the chappa network (local minibuses) from most border crossings and these are not really a safe form of transport for foreign visitors.
The language
All border guards will speak Portuguese and a local language. Some may speak English, but not all will and the prevalence of English speaking will vary from border to border. At some borders you may speak to a Mozambican border officer who is very keen to practise his or her English. In other places the officers will only speak Portuguese. Having a basic understanding of Portuguese will make your experience easier at the border.
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