Modernizing Mobility: How Mozambique's new eVisa system accelerates tourism growth, boosting the Visit Mozambique Vision

Siddharth Mehra, Chief Operating Officer – Médio Oriente, África, Türkiye e Azerbaijão na VFS Global"

When governments digitize borders, two questions tend to arise: who pays, and what do citizens and travelers gain in return?

Mozambique's updated eVisa and ETA (Electronic Travel Authorization) platform, available through a single, fully digital portal, addresses both needs through a public-private partnership (PPP), allowing travelers from 183 countries worldwide to apply online. Crucially, the platform enhances the attractiveness and visibility of the destination for tourism—promoting the national Visit Mozambique initiative—from the outset, by making access faster, more predictable, and globally visible from the initial planning phase.

The platform transfers the initial investment and daily operational risk out of the government, at no cost to the state, while simultaneously expanding access, security, and service quality. The discussion should be framed not in terms of budget items, but rather in terms of results: more arrivals and greater traveler confidence, along with a more reliable and inclusive experience for both travelers and authorities.

Since establishing our presence in Mozambique 15 years ago, VFS Global has contributed to the local economy through sustained job creation and capacity building. We manage operations for governments such as the UK, Portugal, the Netherlands, and Italy, bringing global standards to our centers in Maputo, supported by a strong team of Mozambican nationals who handle high volumes of visa applications every year. This enduring presence demonstrates that we are a reputable and long-term partner, deeply committed to service quality, compliance, and capacity building in Mozambique. The eVisa project will further support local employment and skills development, expanding service accessibility for travelers, operating at no cost to the Government under a robust PPP model.

Tourism Development and the Visit Mozambique Vision

A modern visa system is ultimately a catalyst for national development, and nowhere is this more evident than in Mozambique's ambitions to raise its global tourism profile. The updated eVisa and ETA platform is not just an administrative improvement; it is a strategic enabler of the “Visit Mozambique” initiative, positioning the country as more accessible and competitive — reflecting the country's strong appeal for beach, safari and nature tourism, and signaling a new dynamism for the tourism sector towards 2026.

By anticipating tourist visibility through digital touchpoints, support centers, and clearer travel routes, the system helps convert interest into arrivals and tourist spending.

With a unified digital portal, supported by advanced automation, secure payments, and ongoing multilingual assistance, the system signals to global travelers and the sector that Mozambique is open, prepared, and future-oriented, providing airlines and tour operators with clearer demand signals and strengthening the destination's ability to convert interest into arrivals.

To provide a traveler-centric digital solution for the Government of Mozambique.

For travelers, Mozambique now offers a complete eVisa and ETA system, with a simple process adapted to digital devices: online application, secure document upload, digital payment, and pre-travel authorization before departure. The platform integrates a secure international payment portal, a robust security architecture, and passport and document capture using OCR technology. Intelligent automation and quality checks before submission reduce avoidable errors, while 24/7 multilingual support (contact center, live chat, email, and AI-assisted channels) ensures accessible guidance across different time zones. Airlines and tour operators benefit from greater predictability at check-in and on arrival, improving the end-to-end travel experience.

For the Government, daily transfers, real-time dashboards, and transparent performance reports enhance revenue assurance and planning. Migration agents focus on processing applications—rather than resolving administrative issues—thanks to the higher quality of submitted applications. VFS Global funds and operates the platform at no cost to the Government, assuming the commercial, operational, and technological risks.

Digital transformation also requires human support. In strategic source markets, dedicated Support Centers offer in-person guidance to candidates less familiar with the digital environment, help ensure that forms are correctly completed on the first attempt, and serve as trusted international points of contact, reinforcing Mozambique's credibility as a destination. This in-person layer broadens access and reduces rework.

Governance, Transparency and Clear Lines of Accountability

In a well-structured administrative PPP, applicants finance enhanced services through a user-pays model that operates without cost to the government, while the state retains full authority over policies and decisions. This model reflects a consolidated global practice: the government defines policies, fees, and eligibility criteria, while the private partner provides administrative services, technology, and customer support.

In this case, VFS Global assumes the operational and commercial risks — technological upgrades, cybersecurity, demand fluctuations, cost increases, and service level compliance — at no cost to the Government, protecting public budgets and ensuring the stability of essential services.

The separation of functions is deliberate. Public policy matters, such as eligibility criteria and base fees, remain the prerogative of the Government. VFS Global manages the administrative workflow, platform reliability, and customer support channels, ensuring daily fee settlement, real-time reporting to government entities, and quality checks before application submission. The Government of Mozambique retains exclusive authority over visa decisions, preserving sovereignty along with higher service standards. The final fee charged to the applicant remains at the sole discretion of the Government.

A modern framework designed for long-term success.

Mozambique has introduced a purpose-built digital entry framework—secure, automated, available 24/7, and supported by assistance in the origin markets. The benefits are concrete: greater security robustness, more efficient processing, increased applicant satisfaction, and a system capable of scaling as demand grows. These characteristics reflect the distinguishing elements of a mature PPP in citizen services: clear accountability, transparent financial flows, and continuous improvement integrated into the operating model.

Modernizing Mozambique's eVisa and ETA is not about paying more for the same thing. It's about the decision to finance a different—and demonstrably more capable—digital ecosystem through a PPP that protects public budgets, transfers risk to where it can be best managed, and connects the country to the world with clarity and confidence.

This reflects the future of visa systems, offering clear benefits for travelers, the tourism economy, and the state.

2025/12/3