Introduction
Despite its dark past of civil wars, Angola is currently considered one of Africa’s fastest-growing economies. This nation claims the title of the 2nd largest oil and diamond producing country in Sub-Saharan Africa.
Although rich in mineral resources, Angola also has the potential to be a spectacular tourist destination. Its fascinating landscapes, breathtaking views, waterfalls, and a plethora of beaches have attracted thousands of tourists from all around the world to her shores.
Perhaps, you wish to visit Angola for tourism or business/work-related activities. Whatever the case may be, this guide will take you through the processes involved in applying for a visa to visit Angola.
Do I need one?
Nations from all over the world implement policies that oversee the entry/exit of people through their borders.
A nation may grant citizens of other countries rights to visit its territory without the use of a visa. For Angola, this list is relatively small as only eleven (11) countries are granted this right. They are:
- Botswana
- Mozambique
- Namibia
- Cape Verde
- South Africa
- Seychelles
- Mauritius
- Singapore
- Rwanda
- Zambia
- Zimbabwe
Visitors from either of the listed countries holding a valid passport can visit Angola visa-free for up to 30 days. However, visa application was difficult for individuals without an Angolan embassy in their country of residence. This led to the development of an electronic visa application platform in 2018 to remedy this situation.
Nevertheless, only 59 countries are eligible to use the e-visa platform. For a list of these 59 countries, click here.
Note: the e-visa platform offers pre-application processes. It is still mandatory for applicants to appear in person at an Angolan consulate before a visa is issued.
If your home country doesn’t fall on any of these lists, you need to apply for your visa the old-fashioned way. Let’s keep the ball rolling.
Angola Visa Categories Available
All visa types issued by an Angolan consulate or diplomatic mission fall under the broad categories of
- Short-stay visa
- Long-stay visa.
Angolan short-stay visa
Holders of this visa are allowed entry to Angolan territory for up to 30 days (with the exception of transit visas). This duration can be extended once for another 30 days. Visa issued for this purpose must be used within 60 days of the issue date. Else, it will become invalid.
Under this category, we have:
- The Angolan visa for tourists
Individuals with intentions of visiting the country for recreational, cultural, or sports events are issued this travel permit. You can not apply for a residence permit or be involved in any paying activity with this visa. However, you are allowed single or multiple entries.
- Transit
Holders of this permit can make a brief stop at an Angolan international airport to visit a third country.
- Business visa
Foreigners seeking to visit Angolan territory for business-related purposes are granted this visa. To obtain this permit, the applicant needs to provide documents that justify his/her purpose of visit.
Angolan long-stay visa
Visitors with intentions of staying in Angola for an extended period are issued this visa. The visit’s purpose may be work-related, study, or just a desire to gain permanent residence in Angola. Examples of this type of visa include:
- Study visa
Students seeking to pursue an educational degree in Angola do so with this permit. The permitted duration ranges from 1-year and above, depending on the course of study.
- Work visa
Foreigners offered employment in Angola or seeking to start a trade-in Angola are granted this permit. They are permitted to indulge in activities that pay them while they live in Angola.
Others
Depending on your purpose of visit, other visa types could be issued. Reasons for the visit could be medical treatment, transit, family reunion, and so on.
Documents needed for Official use
The papers you may be required to bring differs based on your purpose of visit.
For Tourism/Business purposes
Applicants are required to provide the following items in addition to an appropriately filled Application Form:
- A national passport, with a minimum of two blank pages, with a validity of at least six months beyond your expected departure date.
- Two standard passport-sized colored photographs. The image background should be white, and applicants should be in casual wear. Applicants’ names should be written at the back of each copy when submitting.
- Travel itinerary. It is required that you provide details on your travel routes or plane tickets showing your expected dates of entry and exit.
- An internationally recognized Certificate of Vaccination.
- A letter of invitation written in Portuguese by a sponsor with an Angolannotarization should be addressed to the embassy handling your application. This letter should be valid for 3 months.
- Provide evidence of secured accommodation. This could be hotel reservations or accommodation provided by a sponsor.
- Provide proof of finances. A visitor must be able to take care of his/her financial needs while in the country. Bank statements could be provided, or a sponsor may be responsible for it.
For Study purposes
Applicants are required to provide the following items in addition to an appropriately filled Application Form:
- A letter of purpose addressed to the Angolan consulate in your country of residence. It should state your reasons for wanting to visit the country.
- Provide a valid vaccination certificate (yellow fever must be included)
- Provide a medical report. This should state that you’re healthy and must be issued by an accredited Doctor.
- A letter of acceptance from an Angolan educational institute.
- A valid national passport with a minimum of nine (9) months validity and at least two pages blank.
- Three recent passport-sized photographs.
- Provide evidence that shows financial sustainability and secured accommodation to cover an entire period of stay.
- A declaration, written in Portuguese stating you will obey all Angolan laws.
The items required may differ depending on the consulate handling the application. Also, your purpose of the visit may require additional items. For more information on items needed, please contact the Angolan embassy in your country of residence.
Application Procedures for Angolan E-visa
As stated earlier, the E-visa does not substitute appearing in person at an Angolan consulate. It helps facilitates the process. The process involves:
- Providing the required information to begin the application process on the SME Portal
- Filling an online application form
- Uploading documents
- Appearing in person at a consulate
- Printing approved visa.
For those not eligible to use this platform, the consulate in your country of residence should be contacted for their application procedures.
Payment of Fees
The amount charged for an e-visa is the same for all fifty-nine (59) eligible countries. However, the price of other visas may differ depending on the consulate handling the process. The table below gives the amount charged:
| Type | Amount ($) |
| E-visa | 120 |
| Transit | 50 |
| Work | 700 |
| Tourist | 140 |
| Temporary Stay | 1,200 |
Covid-19 Guideline Intending Travelers to Angola must Follow
Flights from other nations to Angola and from Angola to others have resumed, but it is limited. On the 26th of December 2020, flights to or from the UK, South Africa, Nigeria, and Australia were suspended.
To be allowed into Angolan territory, you need to provide a negative PCR test result issued not longer than 72 hours before departure.
Irrespective of where you are coming from, even with a negative result, you still need to self-isolate for seven (7) days, after which another PCR test will be conducted.
For individuals enable to quarantine themselves at home, they are facilities put in place by the government to house persons during the quarantine period.
Interstate travel within the country is still restricted. The use of face masks and the practice of social distancing is enforced. Failure to adhere to covid-19 regulations may attract fines.
Some Questions Frequently Asked
As a citizen of the UK, do I need to apply for a visa?
Yes, citizens of the united kingdom need to provide an approved visa before they are allowed into Angola. However, UK citizens are eligible for the Angola eVisa.
Do citizens of the United States need a visa to visit Angola?
Yes, citizens of the United States need to provide an approved visa before they are allowed into Angola. However, US citizens are eligible for the Angola eVisa.
Can I get a visa on arrival?
Yes, countries eligible for thee-visa can be issued a pre-applied visa upon arrival.
How long does it take a process a visa?
The average processing time is dependent on the type of travel permit sought after. For short-stay permits, it may take from 3-10 working days. While long-stay permits like the work visa may take up to 3 months to process.
When am I required to pay the required fees?
All fees are to be paid at the beginning of the application before submissions are made.
How can I obtain an Angolan work visa?
To be granted a work visa, you need to be invited by a sponsor or company. Then you need to apply for a visa to grant you a brief stay in Angola so you can obtain your work visa.