Mozambique customs rules & duty-free allowances

Last reviewed October 1, 2026·Official source

Mozambique's customs service is small and under-resourced, and Maputo's Mavalane airport is known for hands-on bag inspections — the green channel is not a free pass, and officers routinely open luggage on the spot. The single biggest trap is foreign currency: the metical is not freely convertible, and undeclared cash above the threshold is seized outright with a fine, not just taxed. These allowances apply to non-resident adults arriving from abroad; returning Mozambican residents are treated differently.

Duty-free allowances

Alcohol
1.0 L
1 litre of spirits or other alcoholic beverages exceeding 22% ABV, OR 2 litres of wine, beer or other beverages not exceeding 22% ABV. Travellers must be 18 or over. Anything above the allowance is charged duty at the applicable tariff rate plus 16% VAT on the duty-inclusive value.
Tobacco
200 cigarettes
or 50 cigars / 250 g
Cash to declare
$10,000
The declaration threshold is 640,000 MZN (about USD 10,000) in cash or negotiable instruments. Declare on the customs declaration form handed out on the aircraft or at the arrivals hall before you reach the channel. There is no legal limit on how much you may bring in — only a reporting duty — but undeclared excess is seized and a penalty of up to the value of the undeclared amount can be imposed.
Goods duty-free
$800
Personal effects and gifts up to a value of about 51,000 MZN (roughly USD 800) per adult traveller are admitted free of duty, provided they are for personal use and not for resale. Above that, duty is assessed on the excess at the normal tariff rate for the goods category, plus 16% VAT. Commercial quantities always require a declaration and a customs broker.

Prohibited — banned from import

  • Narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances, including cannabis in any form — penalties are severe and include long prison sentences
  • Ivory, rhino horn, and any other protected wildlife products or live endangered species (CITES-listed)
  • Counterfeit currency, counterfeit branded goods and pirated media for commercial use
  • Pornographic material and anything deemed offensive to public morals
  • Unlicensed firearms, ammunition, explosives and military equipment
  • Fresh meat, poultry and unpasteurised dairy products from regions with animal disease outbreaks

Restricted — allowed with a permit or declaration

  • Firearms and ammunition — require a prior import permit from the Ministry of Interior and must be declared on arrival
  • Live animals and pets — require a veterinary import permit and a valid health certificate; dogs need a rabies vaccination record
  • Plants, seeds and fresh agricultural produce — require a phytosanitary certificate from the country of origin
  • Drone cameras and satellite phones — require authorisation from the communications regulator (INCM) and may be held at customs until cleared
  • Prescription medicines containing controlled substances — require prior authorisation from the Ministry of Health

Arriving: red vs green channel

Mozambique uses a red/green channel system at Maputo (MPM), Beira and Nampula, but the green channel is not a guarantee of a walk-through — officers conduct random and targeted searches, so keep receipts for high-value items. A paper customs declaration form is normally distributed on the flight or available in the arrivals hall; fill it in before you reach the channel. If you have nothing to declare, walk through the green channel with the completed form; if you are carrying cash over the threshold, alcohol or tobacco over the allowance, commercial goods, or anything restricted, use the red channel and present the form to the officer.

Bringing medication

Bring personal medication in its original pharmacy packaging with the prescription or a doctor's letter showing your name, the drug and the dose. A reasonable personal supply (generally up to 90 days) is accepted without a permit. Mozambique classifies narcotics and psychotropic substances under Law 3/97; codeine-containing medicines, strong opioid painkillers, benzodiazepines and ADHD stimulants such as Ritalin and Adderall require prior authorisation from the Ministry of Health and should be declared. Do not carry medication for anyone else.

Food, plants & animal products

All meat, poultry, dairy, fresh fruit, vegetables, seeds, plants, soil and cut flowers must be declared and are generally prohibited or subject to a phytosanitary certificate. Mozambique has strict controls to keep out foot-and-mouth disease, avian influenza and plant pests. Commercially packaged, shelf-stable foods in sealed tins or jars are usually fine in small personal quantities. If in doubt, declare it — undeclared food is confiscated and can trigger a fine.

Rules worth knowing

The metical is not convertible — bring USD or ZAR, not MZN

You cannot legally buy or sell meticais outside Mozambique, and banks will not exchange them back. Bring US dollars or South African rand in clean, untorn notes, and change only what you need. Declare any cash over the equivalent of USD 10,000 on arrival.

Expect a physical bag search at Maputo

Mavalane International Airport has a reputation for hands-on inspections, particularly on flights from South Africa, Ethiopia and the Gulf. Officers may open bags even if you use the green channel. Keep receipts for laptops, cameras and phones bought abroad so you can prove they are personal effects and not imports for resale.

Travelling with children changes the allowance

Duty-free allowances are granted per adult traveller. Children under 18 do not get their own alcohol or tobacco allowance, and goods allowances for minors are limited to personal effects. Do not pool a family's alcohol into one adult's allowance — officers treat this as an attempt to evade duty.

Domestic flights and overland crossings are checked too

Customs posts exist at the South African border (Ressano Garcia), the Zimbabwe border (Machipanda) and the Eswatini border (Namaacha), and officers there enforce the same allowances. If you are driving in, expect the vehicle to be searched and declare any goods you are leaving in Mozambique.

Frequently asked questions

Not without paperwork. Drones are treated as restricted communications equipment and require prior authorisation from INCM, Mozambique's communications regulator. In practice, many travellers have drones confiscated at Maputo and held until departure. If you must bring one, arrange the permit before you fly and declare it on arrival.
There is no legal maximum, but you must declare anything worth the equivalent of USD 10,000 or more (about 640,000 MZN). Undeclared amounts are seized and can be fined up to the value of the cash. Declare on the customs form before you reach the channel — there is no separate currency form.
Yes, if you are arriving from a country with yellow fever transmission — including most of West and Central Africa and parts of South America. The certificate must be presented at the health desk before customs. Travellers from South Africa, Europe and North America are not normally asked for it.
No. All meat products, including biltong, droëwors and vacuum-packed ham, are prohibited from entering Mozambique because of foot-and-mouth disease controls. They will be confiscated at the border, and you may be fined. Eat it before you cross or leave it behind.
You pay duty on the excess at the applicable tariff rate plus 16% VAT. For a bottle of spirits over the 1-litre limit, expect to pay roughly 40–60% of the bottle's value in total charges. It is usually cheaper to buy spirits after arrival — local rum and imported brands are widely available in Maputo.
No. Mozambique has no VAT refund scheme for tourists. VAT is 16% and is charged on purchases and on any duty payable at customs. You cannot claim it back at the airport or after you leave.
Only with prior authorisation from Mozambique's Ministry of Health. Stimulants such as Ritalin and Adderall, strong opioids and benzodiazepines are controlled under Law 3/97. Carry the original prescription and a doctor's letter, declare the medication, and expect delays if you have not arranged the permit in advance. Codeine-containing medicines are also controlled.

Official source

Autoridade Tributária de Moçambique (Mozambique Revenue Authority) — Customs

For guidance only. Customs allowances and prohibited-item lists change without notice — always confirm with Autoridade Tributária de Moçambique (Mozambique Revenue Authority) — Customs before travelling.