Guidance

Mozambique: Knowledge Base profile

Published 12 September 2025

About: Mozambique

This document contains useful information about Mozambique which will assist His Majesty’s Passport Office staff process passport applications.

Contacts

If you have any questions about the document and your line manager or senior caseworker cannot help you or you think that the document has factual errors then email HM Passport Office’s Guidance team.

If you notice any formatting errors in this document (broken links, spelling mistakes and so on) or have any comments about the layout or navigability of the document then you can email HM Passport Office’s Guidance team.

Publication

Below is information on when this version of the document was published:

• version 2.0
• published for Home Office staff on 8 September 2025

Changes from last version of this document

This document has been updated with minor formatting changes.

Mozambique: names

This section tells HM Passport Office operational staff about names in Mozambique.

Names in Mozambique consist of:

• given names
• up to two surnames

Change of name

Name changes are allowed in Mozambique.

Mozambique: nationality

This section tells HM Passport Office operational staff about nationality in Mozambique.

Dual nationality is not recognised in Mozambique.

The only exception is for those who gain another nationality by being born outside of Mozambique.

Mozambique nationals are required to renounce one of their nationalities when they turn 18.

Mozambique: legitimacy

This section tells HM Passport Office operational staff about legitimacy in Mozambique.

Legitimacy

Mozambique recognises a difference between legitimate and illegitimate births.

A child will be considered:

• legitimate:
  • if their parents were married at the time of the birth
  • from the time of the marriage if the parents marry after the birth
• illegitimate if their parents never marry

Mozambique: adoption

This section gives HM Passport Office operational staff information about adoption in Mozambique.

Adoption is legal in Mozambique.

Mozambique: surrogacy

This section gives HM Passport Office operational staff information about surrogacy in Mozambique.

There are no laws recognising surrogacy in Mozambique.

Mozambique: gender recognition

This section gives HM Passport Office operational staff information about gender recognition in Mozambique.

Transgender citizens are not recognised in Mozambique.

Mozambique: civil partnership and marriage

This section gives HM Passport Office operational staff information about civil partnership and marriage in Mozambique.

Civil partnerships and same sex marriage are not recognised in Mozambique.

Mozambique recognises:

• civil marriage
• religious marriage
• customary marriage

Civil and customary marriages must be registered through the civil process to be legally recognised.

Mozambique: documents

This section tells HM Passport Office operational staff about documents in Mozambique.

All birth, death and marriage registers are held at local Conservatorias in each town. There is no central register.

Birth certificates

Births in Mozambique must be registered within 120 days of the date of birth. Late registration is allowed.

Between 1977 to 1992 there was a civil war in Mozambique, this means some adults may have late birth registrations.

Births must be registered at a civil registration office, registration post, or at a health facility with civil registration staff. A birth can be registered by:

• the child’s parents
• the child’s guardian
• a police officer
• a social worker

There are 2 types of birth certificate issued in Mozambique:

• an ‘Assento de Nascimento’ is an original, full birth registration entry recorded in the civil registry books. It contains all details about the birth, parents, and any legal annotations. This is acceptable for HM Passport Office purposes
• a ‘Certidão de Nascimento’ is a certified copy or extract of the Assento de Nascimento. It can be issued in 2 different formats:
  • a ‘Certidão de Nascimento Simples’ is a short form birth certificate. This is not acceptable for HM Passport Office purposes
  • a Certidão de Nascimento Narrativa Completa’ is a full transcription of the ‘Assento de Nascimento,’ including all annotations and legal remarks. This is acceptable for HM Passport Office purposes

If an error is identified on a birth certificate, the Mozambique authorities will issue a new corrected certificate.

Hospital records can be checked for births that occurred in the last 10 years. Not all hospitals keep their records for 10 years.

Marriage certificates

Civil marriages are registered on the day they take place, and the authorities issue the customer with a short marriage certificate called ‘Boletim de Casamento. The customer can request a Certidão de Casamento marriage certificate which has more details.

Death certificates

All deaths in Mozambique must be registered within 48 hours. Late registration is allowed.

Identity documents

Mozambique has a free identity card scheme for Mozambique citizens.