Is It Safe to Travel to Mozambique in 2026?
Mozambique - Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution
Last updated: · Source: U.S. Department of State
Mozambique, officially the Republic of Mozambique, is a country located in Southeast Africa bordered by the Indian Ocean to the east, Tanzania to the north, Malawi and Zambia to the northwest, Zimbabwe to the west, and Eswatini and South Africa to the south and southwest. The sovereign state is separated from the Comoros, Mayotte, and Madagascar through the Mozambique Channel to the east.
Is It Safe to Travel to Mozambique in 2026?
Mozambique is currently rated Level 2 — Exercise Increased Caution by the U.S. Department of State. Exercise increased caution when traveling to Mozambique due to health issues, crime, civil unrest, and terrorism. Unplanned protests remain possible throughout the country and can quickly become violent. Violent crime, such as mugging, is common, and Mozambique’s health infrastructure is weak.
Key concerns cited in the advisory:
- health
- crime
- civil_unrest
- terrorism
Traveler Impact
Solo travelers face a significant risk of violent crime, including mugging, particularly in urban areas where crime rates are elevated.
Business travelers may encounter delays due to civil unrest and should be cautious of violent crime in urban settings, but can rely on established hotel security and transport services.
Families with children face heightened risks due to weak healthcare infrastructure and the potential for violent crime, making travel with young ones particularly challenging.
Remote workers may find decent connectivity in urban areas but should avoid travel to high-risk regions and be prepared for health-related issues.
Data on this page comes from the U.S. Department of State, the CDC, the World Bank Worldwide Governance Indicators, and Freedom House. All sources are updated regularly and cross-referenced to provide a composite safety picture for Mozambique.
Regional Safety Breakdown
Do Not Travel Zones
The U.S. State Department advises against all travel to the following areas due to extreme risk:
- Cabo Delgado Province
- Niassa Special Reserve
- Nampula Province
▶Level 4 — Do Not Travel3 regions
▶Cabo Delgado Province
Do Not Travel due to terrorism.
▶Nampula Province
Do Not Travel due to terrorism.
▶Niassa Special Reserve
Do Not Travel due to terrorism.
Mozambique has 3 distinct regions with varying advisory levels. Risk conditions differ significantly by area.
▶Safety and Stability Ratings
Threat Severity (0-10 scale)
Mozambique has an overall threat severity of 4.5 out of 10. Crime risk is rated 6.0/10, terrorism risk 5.0/10, and kidnapping risk 0.0/10.
Governance Indicators (World Bank, percentile)
Political Stability▶
Measures the likelihood that the government will be destabilized or overthrown by unconstitutional or violent means, including politically-motivated violence and terrorism. Higher percentile means greater stability.
Rule of Law▶
Captures perceptions of the extent to which agents have confidence in and abide by the rules of society, including the quality of contract enforcement, property rights, the police, and the courts, as well as the likelihood of crime and violence.
Control of Corruption▶
Captures perceptions of the extent to which public power is exercised for private gain, including both petty and grand forms of corruption, as well as capture of the state by elites and private interests.
Government Effectiveness▶
Captures perceptions of the quality of public services, the quality of the civil service and the degree of its independence from political pressures, the quality of policy formulation and implementation, and the credibility of the government's commitment to such policies.
Regulatory Quality▶
Captures perceptions of the ability of the government to formulate and implement sound policies and regulations that permit and promote private sector development.
Voice & Accountability▶
Captures perceptions of the extent to which a country's citizens are able to participate in selecting their government, as well as freedom of expression, freedom of association, and a free media.
Data from World Bank Worldwide Governance Indicators (2023).
Freedom Status: Partly Free — scored 44/100 by Freedom House (2024). View full freedom profile →
▶Entry Requirements and Health
Entry Information
Visa
Check embassy for details
Currency
Metical (MZN)
Language
Portuguese
Notable restrictions:
- drug possession illegal including medical marijuana
- e-cigarettes prohibited
Vaccinations
Required:
- Yellow Fever: Vaccine is not recommended. Vaccine is required for travelers ≥1 year old coming from countries with risk for YF virus transmission.
Recommended:
⚠ Malaria Risk: moderate
Recommended medications: Atovaquone-proguanil, doxycycline, mefloquine, tafenoquine
Active health notices:
- watchGlobal Measles: Measles cases are rising in many countries around the world. All international travelers should be fully vaccinated against measles with the measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine, according to CDC's measles vaccination recommendations for international travel.
Vaccination data sourced from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Consult a travel health professional before your trip.
Common Questions About Traveling to Mozambique
▶What is the current travel advisory level for Mozambique?
▶Is it safe to travel to Mozambique right now?
▶Do I need a visa to visit Mozambique?
▶What vaccines do I need for Mozambique?
▶Is Mozambique safe for solo travelers?
▶How bad is crime in Mozambique?
More Mozambique Data
Partly Free — 44/100 on the Freedom House index.
Governance indicators including rule of law, corruption control, and regulatory quality.
View all 195 countries color-coded by advisory level.
Read the full advisory on travel.state.gov.
Access this data programmatically. Free tier available.
On-demand country risk PDFs from 6 government sources.