Angola, located on the Atlantic coast of Southern Africa, is one of the continent’s largest and fastest-growing economies. Whether you’re visiting for tourism, business, or family reasons, understanding Angola’s visa policy before you travel is essential — the rules vary significantly depending on your nationality.

Visitors to Angola must obtain either a traditional visa in advance from an Angolan diplomatic mission, or an e-Visa (pre-visa) online, unless their country qualifies for a visa exemption. This guide covers every category of traveller and all nationalities.

1. General Entry Requirements

All visitors to Angola — regardless of visa status — must meet the following minimum passport requirements:

• Passport validity: At least 6 months remaining from the date of entry into Angola
• Blank pages: At least 2 blank pages in the passport

A tourist visa, once issued, must be used within 60 days of the issue date. It is valid for 30 days from entry, and this period can be extended once for an additional 30 days.

Transit without visa is permitted for passengers continuing their journey to a third country on the same or first connecting flight, provided they do not leave the international transit area of the airport and hold the documents required for their onward destination.

2. Full Visa Exemption (Bilateral Agreements)

The following countries have bilateral visa exemption agreements with Angola, meaning their citizens can enter Angola without any visa for short stays. Unlike the broader 30-day scheme below, these countries have individually negotiated agreements with Angola:

• Namibia
• Mozambique
• São Tomé and Príncipe
• South Africa
• Zambia

Citizens of these five countries may travel to Angola without obtaining a visa in advance. The specific length of stay permitted under each bilateral agreement may vary — travellers should confirm current terms with the nearest Angolan embassy.

3. Visa-Free Entry for 30 Days (Tourism — Up to 3 Times per Year)

Angola extended significant visa liberalisation in October 2023, granting visa-free tourism access to citizens of approximately 98 countries. Citizens of the countries listed below may visit Angola without a visa for up to 30 days per visit, with a maximum of three visa-free entries per calendar year.

⚠️  Important: Although Angola and Turkey signed a mutual visa-free agreement, it has not yet been formally ratified. Separately, Angola and Kenya agreed in October 2023 to work towards mutual visa-free access, though implementation steps were still being finalised at the time of writing. Travellers from Turkey and Kenya should verify the current status before departing.

3.1 European Union Member States

All EU member state passport holders qualify for 30-day visa-free entry. This includes citizens of: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, and Sweden.

3.2 Africa

The following African nations qualify for 30-day visa-free entry:

• Algeria
• Botswana
• Cabo Verde
• Equatorial Guinea
• Eswatini
• Lesotho
• Madagascar
• Malawi
• Mauritius
• Morocco
• Rwanda
• Seychelles
• Tanzania
• Zimbabwe

3.3 The Americas

The following countries from North America, South America, Central America, and the Caribbean qualify:

• Antigua and Barbuda
• Argentina
• Bahamas
• Barbados
• Belize
• Brazil
• Canada
• Chile
• Dominican Republic
• Grenada
• Guyana
• Haiti
• Jamaica
• Mexico
• Panama
• Saint Kitts and Nevis
• Saint Lucia
• Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
• Suriname
• Trinidad and Tobago
• United States
• Uruguay
• Vatican City

3.4 Asia & the Middle East

The following Asian and Middle Eastern nations qualify for visa-free entry:

• China
• Hong Kong (SAR)
• India
• Indonesia
• Israel
• Japan
• Qatar
• Russia
• Saudi Arabia
• Singapore
• South Korea
• Timor-Leste
• Turkey (agreement signed, ratification pending — verify before travel)
• United Arab Emirates

3.5 Europe (Non-EU)

The following non-EU European countries also qualify:

• Iceland
• Monaco
• Norway
• Switzerland
• United Kingdom

3.6 Pacific & Oceania

The following Pacific island nations and Oceania countries qualify:

• Australia
• Fiji
• Kiribati
• Marshall Islands
• Micronesia
• Nauru
• New Zealand
• Palau
• Papua New Guinea
• Samoa
• Solomon Islands
• Tonga
• Tuvalu
• Vanuatu

4. Diplomatic & Official/Service Passport Holders

In addition to the standard visa-free arrangements above, holders of diplomatic or official/service passports from a wider range of countries may also visit Angola without a visa for up to 30 days.

4.1 Visa-Free for Diplomatic AND Official/Service Passport Holders

The following countries’ diplomatic and official/service passport holders are eligible:

Country	Passport Categories Eligible
Algeria	Diplomatic & Official/Service
Argentina	Diplomatic & Official/Service
Brazil	Diplomatic & Official/Service
Cape Verde	Diplomatic & Official/Service
China	Diplomatic & Official/Service
DR Congo	Diplomatic & Official/Service
Cuba	Diplomatic & Official/Service
Egypt	Diplomatic & Official/Service
France	Diplomatic & Official/Service
Guinea-Bissau	Diplomatic & Official/Service
Hungary	Diplomatic & Official/Service
Indonesia	Diplomatic & Official/Service
Italy	Diplomatic & Official/Service
Mauritius	Diplomatic & Official/Service
Mozambique	Diplomatic & Official/Service
Portugal	Diplomatic & Official/Service
Qatar	Diplomatic & Official/Service
Russia	Diplomatic & Official/Service
São Tomé and Príncipe	Diplomatic & Official/Service
Saudi Arabia	Diplomatic & Official/Service
Serbia	Diplomatic & Official/Service
Singapore	Diplomatic & Official/Service
South Africa	Diplomatic & Official/Service
South Korea	Diplomatic & Official/Service
Switzerland	Diplomatic & Official/Service
Venezuela	Diplomatic & Official/Service
Vietnam	Diplomatic & Official/Service
Zambia	Diplomatic & Official/Service

4.2 Diplomatic Passports Only

Spain is an exception — only holders of Spanish diplomatic passports (not official/service passports) qualify for visa-free entry to Angola under the current agreement.

4.3 Pending Diplomatic Visa Waiver Agreements

Angola has signed but not yet brought into force visa waiver agreements for diplomatic passports with the following countries:

• Benin
• Republic of the Congo
• Djibouti
• Ghana
• Morocco
• Timor-Leste

⚠️  These agreements are signed but not yet in force. Diplomatic passport holders from these countries should confirm the current status with the Angolan embassy in their country before travelling.

5. e-Visa (Electronic Visa)

Passengers from any country that requires a visa to enter Angola — and who are not eligible for any of the visa-free arrangements above — can apply for an e-Visa online through Angola’s official e-Visa portal (smevisa.gov.ao).

The e-Visa (also referred to as a ‘pre-visa’) is an electronic travel authorisation that must be obtained before departure. Key things to note:

• The tourist e-Visa must be used within 60 days of the issue date
• It is valid for 30 days from the date of entry
• It can be extended once for an additional 30 days
• Your passport must have at least 6 months of validity and 2 blank pages

The e-Visa system simplifies the process for travellers who previously had to attend an Angolan embassy in person. Always apply well in advance of your travel date to account for processing times.

6. Transit Without Visa

If you are transiting through Angola on your way to a third country, you do not need a visa provided the following conditions are met:

• You hold a confirmed onward ticket to your final destination on the same or the first connecting flight
• Your connecting flight departs within 24 hours
• You remain within the international transit area of the airport at all times
• You hold all the documents required for entry into your next destination

If you plan to leave the airport transit zone — even briefly — you will need a valid Angolan visa or to qualify under one of the visa-free schemes described above.

7. Future Changes — KAZA UniVisa Programme

Angola is expected to join the KAZA UniVisa programme in the future. When implemented, this programme will allow holders of the KAZA UniVisa to travel freely across five Southern African nations: Angola, Botswana, Namibia, Zambia, and Zimbabwe — all on a single visa.

This initiative would be particularly beneficial for tourists exploring the region, including the famous Okavango Delta and Victoria Falls areas. However, as of the time of writing, Angola’s participation has not yet been confirmed or implemented. Travellers interested in this scheme should monitor official announcements.

8. Quick Reference Summary

Use the table below for an at-a-glance summary of Angola’s visa requirements by traveller type:

Traveller Type	Requirement
Citizens of Namibia, Mozambique, São Tomé & Príncipe, South Africa, Zambia	No visa required (bilateral agreement)
Citizens of ~98 countries (see Section 3)	No visa — 30 days, max 3 entries/year
Diplomatic/Official passport holders (see Section 4)	No visa — up to 30 days
Spain — diplomatic passports only	No visa — diplomatic only
All other nationalities	e-Visa required before travel
Airport transit passengers (under 24 hrs, airside only)	Transit without visa permitted

Disclaimer:

Visa policies are subject to change. Always verify the latest requirements with the nearest Angolan embassy or consulate, or at smevisa.gov.ao, before travelling.