Local Laws

CRIMINAL PENALTIES: While you are traveling in Mozambique, you are subject to its laws even if you are a U.S. citizen. Foreign laws and legal systems can be vastly different than our own. In some places you may be taken in for questioning if you don’t have your passport with you. In some places, it is illegal to take pictures of certain buildings. In some places, driving under the influence could land you immediately in jail. These criminal penalties will vary from country to country. There are also some things that might be legal in the country you visit, but are still illegal in the United States, and you can be prosecuted under U.S. law if you buy pirated goods. Engaging in sexual conduct with children or using or disseminating child pornography in a foreign country is a crime prosecutable in the United States. If you break local laws in Mozambique, your U.S. passport won’t help you avoid arrest or prosecution. It’s very important to know what’s legal and what’s not wherever you go.

Persons violating Mozambican laws, even unknowingly, may be expelled, arrested, or imprisoned. Penalties for possession, use, or trafficking in illegal drugs in Mozambique are severe, and convicted offenders can expect long jail sentences and heavy fines.

Arrest notifications in Mozambique: While some countries will automatically notify the U.S. embassy if a U.S. citizen is detained or arrested in a foreign country, that might not always be the case. To ensure that the United States is aware of your circumstances, request that the police and prison officials notify the U.S. embassy as soon as you are arrested or detained overseas.

SPECIAL CIRCUMSTANCES: Mozambican law requires that all persons carry an identity document such as a passport when out in public and that they present it to police upon request. Notarized copies of both the biographic page of a passport and a valid Mozambican visa are acceptable forms of identification, although police will occasionally demand original documents. There are certain areas in Mozambique where pedestrian traffic is prohibited and the ban is strictly enforced. These areas include the front of the presidential offices located north of the Hotel Polana on the seaside of Avenida Julius Nyerere and the Praça dos Herois on Avenida Acordos de Lusaka near the airport, both in Maputo.

We caution visitors who attempt to import weapons and/or artillery, even if just transiting the country briefly. We recommend contacting the Embassy of Mozambique in Washington, D.C., prior to taking any weapons or firearms into Mozambique. With or without proper documentation, permission, and a local handling agent, weapons/artillery importers could face detention by local officials. For further information about customs regulations, please read our Customs Information page.

It is against the law to destroy Mozambican currency; offenders can expect a jail sentence or fine. The limit for an undeclared amount of U.S. dollars one can take out of the country is $5,000. The maximum amount of local currency one can take out is 500 metical, which is less than 20 U.S. dollars. Some U.S. travelers have reported having difficulties cashing traveler’s checks and have relied instead on ATMs and credit cards for money withdrawals in Mozambique. Travelers have reported that banks in Mozambique will only accept new U.S. bills. Outside of the major hotels and restaurants, credit cards are not widely accepted in Mozambique. The South African rand and U.S. dollar are sometimes accepted as legal tender, although this is more common in the southern part of the country or in tourist areas; all transactions must have a local currency (metical) payment option.

All U.S. citizens are prohibited, by U.S. federal law, from patronizing any businesses located within the Maputo Shopping Center. This shopping center is owned by Mohamed Bachir Suleman (MBS), a notorious drug baron, who, on June 1, 2010, was designated by the White House as a “Drug Kingpin.” This makes any U.S. citizen who frequents his businesses subject to the Kingpin Act. Penalties for violations of the Kingpin Act range from civil penalties of up to $1 million per violation to more severe criminal penalties, to include up to 10 years in prison, and fines pursuant to Title 18 of the United States Code, for criminal violations of the Kingpin Act.

WOMEN TRAVELER INFORMATION: Systematic or traditional abuse against women is not common in Mozambique including practices such as forced marriage, female genital mutilation/cutting (FGM/C), sexual assault, and or domestic violence. However, crime is a serious threat in all parts of the country and sometimes women are targeted as victims. Please take all necessary precautions to insure your safety.  If you are a woman traveling abroad, please review our travel tips for Women Travelers.

LGBT RIGHTS: Mozambique is a very tolerant society. Consensual same-sex relations are not criminalized and there is increasing space in public conversation regarding LGBT issues. There remains, however, some societal stigmatization and room for progress in terms of full equal treatment, such as in the registration of LGBT groups.  For more detailed information about LGBT rights in Mozambique you may review the State Department’s annual Country Reports on Human Rights Practices.  For further information on Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) travel, please read our LGBT Travel Information page.

ACCESSIBILITY: While in Mozambique, individuals with disabilities may find accessibility and accommodation very different from what you find in the United States. Although the government legislatively mandates access to public buildings, transportation, and government services for persons with disabilities, few buildings are accessible. In general, restaurants, hotels, and residential buildings have stairs at the entrance without wheelchair ramps, except perhaps at a few major hotels and retail areas. Pedestrian paths and transportation are extremely difficult for persons with disabilities. Sidewalks are not commonplace and, if they exist, are poorly maintained and dangerous to walk on at night. Pedestrian crossings are infrequent and drivers seldom obey traffic signals. Buses and taxis do not have special accommodations for disabled persons.