Last Updated: 28/09/2026
The Republic of Angola is bordered by Namibia, Zambia and the Democratic Republic of Congo and its capital city is Luanda. Angola enjoys moderate temperatures all year round, with an annual average temperature of around 24 degrees Celsius. The local people speak mostly Portuguese (the official language), a variety of African languages and some English. If you are interested in learning Portuguese to truly immerse yourself in Angolan culture, we highly recommend BiCortex Languages, a leading online cultural and language portal.
In 2020, the population of Angola was estimated at just under 33 million people. While the agricultural and gems sectors are thriving, when foreign nationals come to Angola for work, it is usually in their Oil and Gas sector, which drives their main exports and their economy overall.
At IBN Immigration Solutions, we are a proud member of the South African Oil and Gas Alliance, which prioritises introducing skilled foreign professionals into Africa’s Oil and Gas sectors, therefore stimulating Africa’s economic growth and levelling the playing field with international competitors.
Angola’s Immigration Framework
Since the adoption of a new constitution in 2010, Angolan politics are conducted within a framework of a presidential republic, whereby the President of Angola is both head of state and head of government. The entry, stay and residence of foreign nationals are governed by Law 13/19 of 23 May 2019 on the Legal Regime of Foreign Citizens, which revoked the earlier Immigration Act No. 2/07. The employment of non-resident foreign workers is regulated separately by Presidential Decree 49/25 of 18 February 2025, covered below.
Have you been looking to immigrate to this exquisite country for work? If so, keep reading below about the visa requirements and documentation you’ll need to work in Angola.
Work Visa Requirements
The immigration journey to obtaining any work permit for Angola is divided into two distinct steps.
The main authorities involved are the Migration and Foreigners Service (SME), which administers entry, stay and residence; the ministry overseeing the sector of activity, which issues the favourable opinion; and the Ministry of Public Administration, Labour and Social Security (MAPTSS), whose employment centres register foreign workers’ contracts.
Step 1: An application must be submitted to the relevant authority governing the sector to obtain a favourable opinion regarding the hiring of a foreigner. The employer MUST apply on behalf of the applicant. An important document for such an application is the company registration certificate. The authority must check that the signatory of the application letter has the appropriate company authority to request a favourable opinion.
The Ministry of Mineral Resources, Petroleum and Gas (“MIREMPET”) is a regulatory body governing the employment of foreign nationals in this sector and to acquire this visa, this body will determine whether the applicant’s skills are indeed needed.
Step 2: The Work Visa applicant must submit the actual application to the Angolan mission in his or her country of residence or citizenship. The application will then be processed, and the outcome will be issued by the same mission. The opinion obtained in step one forms part of the application in step two.
Assignees must also apply for a temporary residence permit depending on how long they will reside in-country consecutively.
Who may apply for an Angolan Work Visa?
To qualify for an Angolan work visa, the applicant must hold corporate, technical or scientific skills that cannot be sourced from the local workforce in Angola. The ministry overseeing the relevant sector must issue a negative opinion where qualified national workers are available. Workforce quotas are strictly enforced: under Presidential Decree 49/25, non-resident foreign workers may make up no more than 30% of an employer’s workforce. The employment contract must also be registered with an employment centre of the Ministry of Public Administration, Labour and Social Security (MAPTSS).
To qualify for a work permit, you must provide:
- A declaration stating that you will abide by Angola’s laws
- Proof of employment by submitting the employment contract
- Medical and Radiological certification showing you are in good health from an official health institution in the country of residence
- Academic and professional certificates
- A curriculum vitae
- Proof of your company’s legal status in Angola
All documentation must be translated into Portuguese. Fortunately, at IBN Immigration Solutions, we also provide document procurement, legalisation and translation services. Read more about this here.
Presidential Decree 49/25: Rules for Non-Resident Foreign Workers
Presidential Decree 49/25 of 18 February 2025 reset the rules for employing non-resident foreign workers in Angola. It came into force on publication and revoked Presidential Decrees 43/17 and 79/17. The key points for employers are:
- Workforce quota: non-resident foreign workers may make up no more than 30% of the workforce, with at least 70% drawn from the national workforce. The national workforce now includes resident foreigners.
- Written contract: the employment contract must be in writing and set out, among other things, the job, workplace, working hours and remuneration, together with a notarised declaration of honour.
- Duration and renewals: contracts are fixed-term and may be renewed no more than twice. The duration of the work visa is linked to the duration of the contract.
- Registration: contracts must be registered with the relevant employment centre. This also applies to foreign workers holding temporary stay visas.
- Equal pay: foreign and national employees must receive the same remuneration for the same or equivalent work.
- Group transfers: non-resident foreign employees may be transferred between companies in the same group, in line with the General Labour Law.
- Penalties: non-compliance is an administrative offence under Presidential Decree 50/25 of 19 February 2025.
Which Angolan Work Visa should I be applying for?
In Angola, the governing legal framework is such that the permits are strongly sector-specific:
Foreign nationals looking to work for an institution or public company may apply for a Type A Work Visa.
If you are going to be working for yourself as an independent contractor, as a service provider, or to perform activities related to sport or culture, the Type B Work Visa applies.
Foreign nationals in the Oil and Gas industry, mining or civil construction should apply for a Type C Work Visa.
Applicants looking to enter the commercial, aeronautical, industrial, or fishing sectors need to apply for a Type D Work Visa.
The Type E Work Visa applies to foreign nationals working integrated on cooperation agreements.
If you don’t see your sector listed above, you will most likely fall into the Type F Work Visa category.
These categories originate from the regulations under the former Immigration Act No. 2/07. Law 13/19 retains the requirement for a favourable opinion from the ministry overseeing the relevant sector, so applications remain sector-specific, but the applicable category should be confirmed before an application is lodged.
If you need to work in Angola urgently but only for a short period, a Short-term Visa with permission to perform work-related activities applies. If you need to perform sector-specific work activities in Angola for a short period, you must obtain work authorisation from the relevant legal body in Angola. The list indicating which sectors are applicable changes constantly, so again, we urge our applicants and global mobility managers to check with us before beginning the process in earnest.
How long will my Work Visa be valid?
The Short-Duration Visa is intended for urgent entry. Under Article 52 of Law 13/19, it must be used within 72 hours of issue and allows a stay of up to 10 days, extendable once for an equal period. Some consular missions quote a stay of seven days, so confirm the terms with the issuing mission before travel.
Work Visas allow multiple entries. Under Article 55 of Law 13/19, a Work Visa allows a stay of up to 365 days, renewable for equal periods until the employment contract ends, and the holder may work only for the employer that requested it. Presidential Decree 49/25 now expressly links the duration of the work visa to the duration of the employment contract, and limits contract renewals to two. Processing times vary by mission: the Angolan Consulate General in Lisbon, for example, quotes 30 business days for standard processing and 15 business days for expedited processing. In practice, the full process, including the sector opinion, can take two to three months.
Are my children and spouse allowed to join me in Angola on a work permit?
The spouse of a foreign main applicant, as well as the minor children, may apply for a Temporary Stay Visa based on the status of the Work Visa holder.
The usual personal documents are required, as well as an undertaking from the main applicant to sustain the accompanying family members. A birth certificate with the parents’ details or a marriage certificate to establish the relationship between the main applicant and accompanying applicant is required.
If you are thinking of working in Angola, we must caution you immediately that applying for and receiving an Angolan work permit can be a long, complex and inconsistent process. We strongly encourage applicants, global mobility experts and HR Managers to work with one of our friendly immigration consultants, who have had extensive experience dealing with immigration authorities and our local, in-country partners to expedite work permit applications.
Written by Andreas Krensel, Senior Director, Africa and Europe
CONTACT US to enquire how we can provide Immigration Solutions, catered to your needs!
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Disclaimer: At IBN Immigration Solutions, we believe in transparency and abide by Google’s rules. Please note that we are a privately owned immigration practice (company registration number 1998/008448/07) and we comply fully with Angola’s immigration laws. We charge a fee for our expertise in applying for work visas, temporary stay visas and residence. While the forms required for the process can be obtained free of charge from Angola’s Migration and Foreigners Service (SME) and from Angolan diplomatic and consular missions, we provide them as part of our service. We are not affiliated with the Government of Angola. Users who prefer to deal directly with the authorities can contact the SME at www.sme.gov.ao.
