MPM transit
 

I tried posting this on the Africa forum but didn't get any responses...figured there are actually probably more people here with MPM experience now :)

Does anyone have any experience with international-international transfers at MPM? I will be flying in from JNB on a LAM flight, and then out to DOH on the QR flight. I'm assuming that I won't be able to interline my bags, but will I have to clear immigration to collect them?

Assuming I have to clear immigration, does Mozambique have a transit visa, or am I required to get a full visitor visa (I've found conflicting information online)?

I flew out of MPM in mid-September (to DOH;))
I did not transit there (I stayed a week in Maputo) but I did fly in (on SA from JNB)

Baggage collection is immediately after immigration, so you will need to enter the country
I do not know about transit visas, but there is a "Border Visa" desk immediately before Immigration

For those of you travelling with only hand baggage, on departure I did see a "Transfer Check In" area where transfer passengers could go through security to get into the departure area

The airport is small, very new, clean, easy to get around....

Yes, according to the Mozambique consulate in Washington, DC with whom I spoke, you need a transit visa. Also for citizens of countries with a Mozambique embassy you must obtain a visa prior to arriving in Mozambique as they will not give you a visa on arrival. More info can be found on their web site when it is working, and often it isn't: http://www.embamoc-usa.org/index.php...d=89&Itemid=64

Visa for US citizens is $160. You may also call the Embassy's consular services and inquire Mon-Thur from 3:00 to 5:00pm EST. (202)-293-7147 ext 230 Ask them to email you Visa requirements information. I would copy and paste the info from that document, but it is actually an image, so there is no text to copy and paste.

Thanks, called and got them to email the document. $160/pp just to collect my bags seems outrageous, so I'll probably figure out a way to lighten my bags and just do carry-on.

Hmm, not as outrageous as the ex-JNB AONE4 I had at an additional $2000 (purchased back when ex-JNB and ex-MPM both were cheaper), or the ex-USA AONE3 for an additional $9,000+. Everything is relative and kind of puts the $160 visa fee in perspective and as far as I'm concerned merely another cost of travel.

Do you know for sure that this can be done? Would be a good savings of the cost and hassle of getting the visa, but could turn negative if not possible or encountering difficulties at check in for the flight to MPM,
Has anyone actually done this?

There are likely a number of people starting a RTW in MPM. Any additional information on lounges, check-in and hotels would really be appreciated.
thanks in advance for sharing your experiences.

For the more adventuresome, there is a Mozambique representative in Nelspruit SA which is on the way (surface) from JNB to Maputo. Online comments seem to indicate "prompt" service.

Happy wandering

Fred

Do you guys know is it possible to take flight QR1361 DOH-MPM (landing time 1:40 PM) and jump back to that plane QR1362 (leaves again 3:05 PM) if i only have carry on? Is there time enough and do i need visa if i don`t leave the airport?

I appreciate that all the official advice online is to get a visa before travel, but I have been to Moz several times (most recently in March 16) and each time got a VOA without any issue whatsoever; I'm a UK passport holder, and therefore have a local Moz embassy/have the same official advice on the fco website.

I would have zero concern about getting a VoA, if needed.

Could you please clarify:
1. that you were traveling by air and entered at MPM
2. You were able to board the flight to MPM without problem without a visa

Sorry to bother but I missed these details in your post.
Thanks in advance.

Rens

Yes to both (although one trip was actually to Tete), but each time ex-JNB had no issues with boarding flight or getting VoA.

Thanks for the quick clarification;)

Although I'd expect less scrutiny ex-JNB on visas than from other points as it's regional and they are far more familiar with the real world operations in Moz. Far flung departure points however are more likely to just read Timatic line by line ( and just speaking from experience going to Africa on a single ticket from NRT many times may even not have any idea on the map where Mozambique is.) If Timatic doesn't say VOA is available then I personally wouldn't try it from distant locations, going with an overnight in JNB en route would be a far less risky way.

I know the OP was talking about going via JNB, but there was another poster (Leo123) who talked about arriving on QR and attempting to go back out on the same plane. Their experiences could be quite different.

+1

I flew in and out of JNB to various other African countries and was never asked for evidence of a return ticket or any other kind of due diligence.

Once, in NRT, the bag drop agent didn't really have a concept of the European Union and started asking for evidence of onward travel even though I was an EU citizen terminating in AMS. It's always best to make life as easy as possible for yourself when dealing with airlines who might not know the processes as well as they should.

Well I arrived in MPM yesterday from JNB. Trip was kind of uneventful, all but JNB that is. You wil need ot fill out a landing card when you reach immigration, and then the rest of immigration was a breeze. I had obtained my visa prior to arrival at the Mozambique embassy back in DC.

Heads up for anyone flying into MPM from JNB. Security and passport control at JNB took an hour and 15 minutes. I was flying business class and was sent to the shorter security line, but the main backup for me was passport control which took a solid 45 minutes. Fortunately I had left for the airport a bit earlier, so had plenty of time and was still able to stop into the lounge for about 20 minutes.

I head back to MPM this afternoon for the start of my AONE4 and will post an update with my experience.