International Guests

You are crossing oceans to be with us, and that means the world. This page walks you through the trip in order, from checking your passport to your first evening in Maputo. Tap a step to open it.

1. 1

   Passports & entry

   Six months on your passport, two blank pages, and an eTA or eVisa before you fly. ▾

   Passport rule

   Your passport must be valid for at least six months after the day you arrive, and have two blank pages. For this trip, that means valid until at least November 2027. If yours expires sooner, renew it now: it takes weeks.

   Which document do I need?

   • UK, Ireland, USA, Canada, Portugal and most of the EU: an eTA (Electronic Travel Authorisation), about US$48, for visits of up to 30 days. eTA
   • Australia, New Zealand, Brazil and most other countries: an eVisa, 6,250 meticais (about US$100) for 30 days. eVisa
   • South Africa, Eswatini, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Zambia, Malawi and several other African countries: no visa needed for a short visit. Visa-free

   Apply online as soon as your flights are booked. The official portal tells you which document your passport needs as you start. Use only evisa.gov.mz: look-alike sites charge extra for the same form.

   Have these ready at immigration

   • Your eTA or eVisa, printed as well as on your phone.
   • Your hotel booking, or our invitation letter if you are staying with family.
   • Your return or onward ticket.
   • A yellow fever certificate if your journey starts in, or connects through, a country with yellow fever risk, such as Kenya or Ethiopia. Check with your airline if you fly via Nairobi or Addis Ababa.
   • Travelling with children under 18? Bring their birth certificates, plus written consent from any parent who is not travelling.
   • Cash rule: declare 10,000 meticais or more, or foreign cash worth US$5,000 or more.

   Official eTA & eVisa portal UK travel advice Australian travel advice US travel advice Get an invitation letter
2. 2

   Flights

   Fly into Maputo (MPM), usually via Johannesburg or Lisbon. ▾

   Your airport

   Maputo International Airport, code MPM. It is in the city itself, about 20–30 minutes by car from most central hotels.

   Few cities fly straight to Maputo. Most guests connect in Johannesburg, about an hour away with several flights a day on Airlink and LAM, or in Lisbon.

   From the UK

   • London → Johannesburg → Maputo British Airways + Airlink
   • London → Nairobi → Maputo Kenya Airways
   • London → Addis Ababa → Maputo Ethiopian Airlines
   • London → Lisbon → Maputo TAP + LAM

   From Australia

   • Sydney / Melbourne → Johannesburg → Maputo Qantas + Airlink
   • Any city → Dubai or Doha → Johannesburg → Maputo Emirates / Qatar + Airlink
   • Adelaide → Sydney or Melbourne → connect above Domestic first
   • Any city → Lisbon → Maputo via LAM

   Book one ticket if you can

   Book the whole journey, Maputo leg included, on one ticket. If a delay makes you miss the connection, the airline must rebook you. On separate tickets a missed flight is yours to pay for, and in Johannesburg you have to clear South African immigration and check your bags in again, so leave at least three hours.

   We recommend arriving by Wednesday 28 April if you are joining the Welcome Dinner, or Thursday 29 April at the latest.

   Search for flights

   Search for MPM as your destination and compare two or three of these before you book. Late-April fares climb as the date gets closer.

   Google Flights Skyscanner KAYAK momondo
3. 3

   Landing & getting to your hotel

   Book a hotel pickup or use Yango or Bolt, and skip the touts in arrivals. ▾

   1. 1

      Immigration and bags. Show your passport, eTA or eVisa, and have your hotel booking and return ticket to hand.

   2. 2

      Cash and a SIM. Withdraw meticais from a bank ATM in arrivals and pick up a local SIM at the phone kiosks. Bring your passport to register it.

   3. 3

      Ride to your hotel. Pick one of the options below. The drive to central Maputo takes about 20–30 minutes.

   • Hotel pickup. Ask your hotel to arrange one when you book. After a long flight, it is the easiest option. Easiest
   • Yango or Bolt. The ride apps locals use. Install one before you fly. Yango lists airport-to-city rides from around 500 meticais. Good value
   • Airport taxi. Taxis have no meters, so agree the fare in meticais before you get in. Agree the fare first

   Watch out in arrivals

   Politely ignore anyone in arrivals offering a ride, help with your bags or to change money. With a ride app, check that the plate and driver match the app before you get in. Only hand your passport to officials; day to day, carry a photocopy.

   Yango in Maputo Bolt Airport on Google Maps
4. 4

   Where to stay

   Central Maputo, close to the Welcome Dinner. The wedding in Matola is a short drive away. ▾

   Stay in central Maputo. The Welcome Dinner is at Hotel Cardoso, a short drive from all of these. The wedding is at Vila Bonita in Matola, roughly 30–45 minutes west of the centre depending on traffic. We will share the Xiguiane location closer to the day.

   • Radisson Blu Maputo Hotel Map
   • Southern Sun Maputo Hotel Map
   • Hotel Avenida Hotel Map
   • Hotel Girassol Hotel Map
   • Hotel Gloria Hotel Map
   • Hotel Polana Hotel · on the pricier side Map
   • Indy Village Boutique · on the pricier side Map
   • Airbnb, with good options available across the city Self-catering

   Late April is busy on this coast, so book early and choose a rate you can cancel.

   Hotels on Booking.com Airbnb in Maputo Welcome Dinner venue Wedding venue
5. 5

   Renting a car

   Not needed for the wedding weekend. What to bring if you drive in Mozambique or South Africa. ▾

   You will not need a car for the wedding weekend. Ride apps and hotel transfers are cheaper and easier around Maputo. A car makes sense for a trip up the coast or into South Africa afterwards. If that is you, here is what to sort out.

   Before you leave home

   Get an International Driving Permit from your home country; you cannot get one once you arrive. Carry it with your normal licence. If you plan to rent in South Africa and drive into Mozambique, ask for a cross-border permit when you book: it cannot be added at the counter, and crossing without one voids your insurance.

   Renting in Mozambique

   • Documents: your licence and International Driving Permit, your passport, and a credit card in the main driver's name for the deposit.
   • Check the boot before you drive off: two red warning triangles and reflective vests are required by law, plus a spare tyre and jack. Required by law
   • Keep in the car: the rental agreement, vehicle papers, proof of insurance, your licence and permit, and copies of your passport and eTA or eVisa.
   • Police checkpoints are common. Stay calm and polite, show your documents, and offer a copy of your passport rather than the original. If you are fined, ask for an official receipt (recibo).
   • On the road: drive on the left, watch for low speed limits and radar through towns and villages, and avoid driving between towns after dark. Drive on the left
   • Fuel and cash: fill up whenever you can on long drives, and carry meticais, as many stations outside Maputo take cash only.
   • Sand needs a 4x4. A normal car is fine on the EN1, but not for Ponta do Ouro or the sandy tracks down to most beaches. 4x4 for sand

   Renting in South Africa (and driving to Mozambique)

   • Licence: a licence in English with your photo and signature is accepted. Otherwise you need an International Driving Permit, and you need one for Mozambique anyway.
   • Payment: most companies need a credit card, not a debit card, in the main driver's name.
   • Cross-border permit: not every company or car may enter Mozambique, and there is a fee. Confirm it in writing when you book. Arrange ahead
   • At the border (Lebombo / Ressano Garcia, about 1½ hours from Maputo): the rental company's letter of authority and a copy of the vehicle registration. You then buy Mozambican third-party insurance at the border and receive a temporary import permit for the car. Keep every paper until you leave.
   • The drive: Johannesburg to Maputo is about 550 km, roughly 6–7 hours on the N4, with toll plazas on both sides. Keep rand, meticais or a card handy.
   • In South Africa you also drive on the left. In cities, keep bags out of sight and doors locked at junctions. Fuel stations are full service, and a small tip for the attendant is customary.

   Johannesburg → Maputo route
6. 6

   On the ground

   Money, plugs, phones, weather and health at a glance. ▾

   Money

   Mozambican metical (MZN). Cards and contactless work in most Maputo hotels, restaurants and shops. Carry about 2,500 MZN in cash for taxis, markets and tips.

   Plugs

   Mozambique uses types C, F and M; South Africa mostly M and N. Both run at 220–230 V. Pack a universal adapter.

   Phone & data

   Roaming is usually expensive. Buy a Vodacom, Tmcel or Movitel SIM at the airport (passport needed), or set up an eSIM that covers Mozambique before you fly.

   Weather & packing

   Late April and early May are warm and sunny, typically 25–30°C by day and cooler in the evening. Pack light clothes, a layer for the evening, sunscreen and a hat.

   Health & insurance

   Maputo is in a malaria area. See your doctor or a travel clinic well before you fly, and pack insect repellent. Drink bottled water. Take travel insurance with medical cover.

   Time & language

   UTC+2 all year, with no daylight saving. Portuguese is the official language; English is spoken in hotels, less so elsewhere. A smile and an obrigado go a long way.