MAPUTO CORRIDOR INFORMATION

UPDATED MARCH 2024

FOR OTHER BORDERS AND FURTHER INFORMATION CLICK HERE

FOR MORE BORDER INFORMATION - CLICK HERE

FOR KOMATIPOORT ACCOMMODATION CLICK HERE

Land Ports Operating Hours – Festive Period:

Airport Operating Hours – Festive Period:

Please take note that normal Border Post operating times are in effect except for the extended hours as per the periods stipulated above.

We would like to advise all our readers who will be travelling between South Africa and Mozambique to plan their trips carefully to avoid the long queues.

OPENING HOURS

Ressano Garcia  06H00 - 00H00

Namaacha           07H00 - 22H00

Ponta do Ouro   08h00 - 17h00

Machipanda       06H00 - 18H00

Cuchamano       06H00 - 18H00

Zobwe                06H00 - 18H00

Milange            06H00 - 18H00

Mandimba        06H00 - 18H00

Giriyondo        gates according to Kruger National Park Gate Times \

According to Barbara Mommen, CEO for the Maputo Corridor Logistics Initiative (MCLI):-

Crossing the border from South Africa - Komatipoort Border Post(Lebombo) to Mozambique - Ressano Garcia:

"Lebombo/Ressano Garcia 24 Hour Festive Season Operations"

For Further Enquiries Please Call the Following Numbers: 013 7937029 (Lebombo RSA) and +258 21 550 010 (Ressano Garcia Moçambique)
Source: Lebombo BCOCC RSA and Mozambique Border Authorities

Enter the gate and you will be given your gate pass which includes: your car registration and number of people in your vehicle
Park your vehicle in the designated parking areas and enter the building, complete a vehicle temporary export document and gate pass, have them both stamped.

If you have any questions go to the Customer Services Help Desk.
Proceed to immigration, with your passports, where they will be stamped.
If you have any export goods to declare, go to the Customs desk where your original invoices must be stamped
Proceed to the Vehicle Registration desk (You should have all your vehicle registration documents) and collect the DA341
Complete the DA341 form and have it stamped with your gate pass by the official.
Proceed to Immigration desk along with your passport and gate pass and have your passport stamped.
If you are not a South African citizen and want to reclaim VAT, present the goods and original invoices at the VAT counter for a VAT refund
Return to your vehicle and give your gate pass to the official at the gate, at this stage a Customs Official may ask to search your car.
Proceed to the Mozambique border post

At Mozambique Border:
You will receive a gate pass on entering Mozambique, make sure that you obey the directions and signals of the border officers and that you stop or park where they show you. Proceed to the immigration building.

Do NOT to let the locals, help you, with the paperwork. Customs officials are not allowed to receive money, but helpers are, so they work together.
This means that together they will go through your belongings, to find something, to make you pay for, where as the customs officials on his own is less likely to go through your belongings.

FOREIGN EXCHANGE

Do not use the private individual people alongside the road. Not only is this illegal but you stand a good chance of being ripped off.

All passengers plus the driver must personally go through passport control at the immigration desk on the right as you walk in. in order to be allowed to enter Mozambique.

You will have to pay R17.50 cash, per passport request a receipt.
The driver will take the gate pass and temporary export permit to the customs desk across the room get them stamped and pay road tax MTn 26.50 (+- R7.00) at the Vehicle Registration desk (Rands not accepted). You must have 3rd party insurance and road tax paid, this is R160,00 per vehicle.

Normal cameras and personal goods do not need to be declared, although if you are uncertain, ask.
If you are taking anything of high value or electronic equipment through. declare the items.
Items like laptops must be declared AND TAKE NOTE, fill in a separate form for each person. I have had an experience where I entered Mozambique with a friend and we declared our two laptops on one form. I exited 3 days before my friend from Kosi Bay border post,with no problem and he exited from Ressano Garcia 3 days later. When he went through customs they asked him where the other laptop was and no amount of explanations sufficed.
They stated that he had sold the other laptop and was liable for R5000,00 duty. It cost him a bribe of R100,00 to avoid this blatant manipulation and threat.

Very important -make sure that you have your 3rd party insurance.
Exit the building and find a customs official, usually dressed in a blue uniform, with orange pull-over, he will check your vehicle to see that no forbidden goods or plants are being brought into Mozambique.

He will sign your gate pass which you hand to the officer at the gate, who will then allow you through into Mozambique.

Note: You may be stopped for a control inspection along the N4.

Should travellers encounter difficulties with traffic police or other authorities en route to their destinations, particularly if these officers are attempting to illicit bribes or are threatening, you are advised to do the following:

1. South Africa - SAPS and Customs

2. South African - Customs

3. South Africa – Immigration (DHA) counters

NB. Please check with your embassy or immigration if you require a Visa to travel to Mozambique.

4. South Africa - VAT Refund Administrations (VRA)

NB. Vat Refund to be submitted to Vat Refund Office ( 4) within 90 days from the date of declaration and exportation.

5. South Africa - SAPS, Custom; Immigration

• Hand in your gate pass and proceed to check point 6.

6. Mozambique Check point Customs/Alfandega

• Alfadenga to issue a gate pass.

• Subject to search by Alfandega

• Proceed to 7

7. Mozambique Border Police / Guarda Fronteira Policia

• No travellers will be allowed to cross without a valid passport.

• Subject to search by the police.

• Proceeed to 8

8. Mozambique immigration

• All travellers to carry a valid travel document/Passport.

• Immigration will validate and process the travelling document and stamp both the passport and the gate pass.

• Please collect your processed passport / travel document and the gate pass.

NB Please check with your embassy or Mozambique Immigration if you require a Visa to travel to Mozambique.

• Proceed to 9

9. Mozambique customs counters

• Declare all goods in your vehicles

• Pay all the duties at Taxes due to Customs. NB Your declaration documents will be used as proof to claim VAT refund in South Africa.

• Proceed to 10 (Mozambique Department of Health) and 11 (Mozambique Department of Agriculture). 10 and 11 to regulate and control movement of people and goods and animals.

• Please insure that your vehicles has third partY insurance from 12 before proceeding to the Check point 13

13. Mozambique - Check point

• Subject to search by all (Customs, Border Police, Agriculture and Health)

NB. Vat Refund may be claimed after going through customs border formalities in Mozambique

• Hand in gatepass and enter Mozambique. Non- Mozambican residents remember the duration of your stay to avoid paying administration fines.