Expat insurance and health insurance in Mozambique

Mozambique has a public healthcare system, the Serviço Nacional de Saúde (SNS), created by law No. 25/91 and organised into four levels of care (primary, secondary, tertiary, quaternary), aiming for universal access. In practice, this public network is among the most underfunded in southern Africa: recurring shortages of medical staff and supplies, limited technical facilities outside Maputo and significant waiting times. No mandatory or contributory health insurance scheme of the NHIF type has been identified for Mozambique: SNS funding relies on the state budget and support from international donors. Non-governmental organisations and international agencies (Médecins sans frontières, WHO, bilateral cooperation) play a significant role in care provision, particularly for certain public health programmes (HIV, malaria, maternal health), in addition to a public system with limited resources.

The private sector, notably more developed, remains concentrated in Maputo and primarily serves expats, the diplomatic community and the most affluent Mozambicans. For the capital, France Diplomatie recommends the Instituto do Coração (ICOR), the Hospital Privado in the Sommerschield II district (Maputo Private Hospital, South African group Lenmed) and the Clínica de Sommerschield / Policlínicas de Moçambique. The Hospital Central de Maputo, around 1,500 beds, remains the public sector's reference and the university hospital attached to Eduardo Mondlane University. For major or planned procedures, foreign residents most often turn to South Africa (Johannesburg), the only transfer destination recommended for serious cases, as Mozambique has no comparable technical facilities.

• Mandatory e-visa for any stay, to apply for online on the official portal evisa.gov.mz, ideally 5 to 7 days before departure ("visto de turismo" or "visto de negócio"). Cost: around 40 € (650 MZN visa fee + 2,400 MZN service fee). Documents requested: passport copy, ID photo, return ticket, proof of paid accommodation and proof of resources.
• Passport valid for at least 6 months after the planned departure date and with at least 2 blank pages, a condition strictly checked by Mozambican authorities.
• For a family or private visit: a visa to apply for before departure with a Mozambican representation, then the host's registration with the National Immigration Service (SENAMI) within 5 days of arrival, under penalty of a fine of 1,000 MZN per day of delay.
• France Diplomatie notes that health services, insufficiently present across the territory and under-developed, have limited capacity, and recommends taking out an assistance contract covering hospitalisation, surgery and medical evacuation/repatriation — costs being in no case covered by the embassy.
• Yellow fever: vaccination not required for a direct flight from France, but mandatory for any traveller arriving from or transiting more than 12h through one of the 42 countries at risk of transmission; without a valid certificate on arrival at Maputo airport, on-site vaccination may be required (around 50 USD).
• Malaria: transmission risk present year-round across the whole territory, including in Maputo and on the tourist islands (Bazaruto, Benguerra, Quilalea); suitable malaria prophylaxis is strongly recommended before departure.
• Recommended vaccinations: updating universal vaccines (diphtheria, tetanus, polio, whooping cough, measles) and, depending on profile and length of stay, hepatitis A and B, typhoid fever, rabies.

No bilateral social security agreement between France and Mozambique has been identified. CLEISS lists only 16 African countries and territories that have an agreement of this kind with France (Algeria, Benin, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Congo, Côte d'Ivoire, Gabon, Madagascar, Mali, Morocco, Mauritania, Mayotte, Niger, Senegal, Togo, Tunisia) — Mozambique isn't among them, and no dedicated country page exists on the CLEISS website for Mozambique. With no agreement at all, there's no coordination for sickness, maternity, old age or family benefits between the two schemes.

• No form for maintaining French rights applies in Mozambique.
• Registering with the CFE or taking out international private insurance are the only routes to cover recognised by a French system, whatever the profile.
• Access to the Serviço Nacional de Saúde, when open to foreign residents, is neither cover recognised in France nor a substitute for repatriation or medical evacuation.

• Before departure, whatever the reason: apply for the e-visa on evisa.gov.mz and take out insurance or an assistance contract covering hospitalisation and medical evacuation/repatriation, given the complete absence of France-Mozambique coordination.
• Check the passport's validity (6 months after the planned departure date) and that it has at least 2 blank pages before finalising the visa application.
• Before departure: medical consultation/vaccination centre visit to assess the need for yellow fever vaccination (depending on origin and transit), hepatitis A and B, typhoid fever, rabies, and malaria prophylaxis, as malaria risk is present year-round across the whole territory.
• For a family or private visit: make sure the host registers with SENAMI within 5 days of arrival.
• For an extended stay or a professional activity: start work and residence permit procedures well in advance with the relevant authorities.
• Voluntary registration with the CFE recommended given the complete absence of sickness coordination.
• Within 6 months of arrival: register with the roll of French nationals living abroad, at the French embassy in Maputo.