Business owners report 170 pending applications at the National Immigration Directorate since October
By Aurélio Muianga
Maputo (MOZTIMES)—Mozambican business owners have raised concerns over red tape at the National Immigration Directorate. The directorate takes up to three months to issue visas for foreign technicians and consultants, causing delays in the start of various projects.
The concern was expressed last Friday, 14 February, by the Executive Director of the Confederation of Mozambican Business Associations (CTA), Eduardo Sengo, who considers the situation an obstacle to the development of business activities.
"At present, the Immigration Diectorat is holding 170 visa applications," stated Sengo.
According to him, the pending applications have been awaiting approval since September and October. "The consulates confirm the submission of documents, but Immigration holds the cases, and when the deadline expires, they instruct applicants to restart the entire process," he said.
"What often happens with these cases is that most visas are valid for three months, and when the deadline expires, the documents remain within state institutions, particularly Migration, which then returns them or demands payment of a fine. And these fines are hefty," lamented Eduardo Sengo. (AM)
