Angola Travel Information

Angolan authorities have stated that all air traffic in and out of the country (commercial and private) will be suspended from March 20, 2020 at 00.00 and 14 days ahead, with the possibility of extension. For more information about coronavirus, see the section Health. According to Abbreviationfinder, AGO stands for Angola in geography.

Safety

Most trips to Angola are made without special problems. The greatest risk is related to transport safety, but it seems that visitors are exposed to violence and crime. Especially at night time one should take their precautions. More recently, there has been an increase in crime, especially in Luanda, where robberies with fatalities have occurred. Most of these robberies have occurred in connection with major bank withdrawals. It is encouraged to exercise extra caution when withdrawing cash and otherwise be aware of the surroundings if one is out and about. No travel advice has been drawn up for Angola. The risk of terrorist incidents in Angola is considered low.

  • Countryaah: Luanda is the capital of Angola. Check to find information of population, geography, history, and economy about the capital city.

It is the Norwegian embassy in Luanda. One should be aware that Angola is a large country where infrastructure is limited in many places. This means that the embassy’s ability to assist the consular quickly will only be in central areas. Unfortunately, it will take some time before the embassy will be able to follow up consular matters that may occur in remote parts of the country.

The risk of terrorist incidents in Angola is considered low.

Crime and violence: Most people who come to Angola do so for business purposes, and travel is often limited to the coastal cities of Luanda, Lobito and Benguela. Normally, during these days you will be able to move safely in these cities if you stay in well-traveled city center streets and avoid slums. It is recommended that you do not wear expensive jewelry, watches and the like that can attract attention. Still, it will always be the case that one can be unlucky and stay in the wrong place at the wrong time. You sometimes hear about violence and crime directed at foreigners and you should take precautions. It is recommended to withdraw cash from an ATM inside a hotel rather than from an outside street.

It is considered safe to walk and walk along the Marginalen (sea promenade) in Luanda.

Many employ drivers and utilize travel time to work. It has happened that cars that are stuck in line have been subjected to crime – windows knocked in and robbers taken PCs and other valuables. Car-jackings also occur from time to time.

In the evening you should use a car for traffic in the cities. Night time driving should be avoided if possible. Driving outside the cities should be avoided after dark.

At Ilha do Cabo in Luanda, you are particularly vulnerable to assault and robbery if you do not have a driver at night and at night, but have to walk from a night out to a parked car a short distance away. Similarly, walking between restaurants and night spots on Ilha do Cabo is not recommended after dark.

In the enclave Cabinda, the situation is sometimes confusing and tense, especially outside Cabinda city. Militant rebels are fighting for Cabinda province independence. Foreigners have also inadvertently been subjected to acts of violence, including kidnapping of ransom. Service and commodity access will be limited in the province.

In the diamond-producing province of Lunda Norte, visits by foreigners can cause tension. Security forces working to remove illegal diamond extraction may be suspicious of visitors. Diamond production makes the area more prone to crime than other provinces. Visitors may be asked to document why they are staying in Lunda Norte. Service and commodity access will be limited in the province.

The traffic picture in Angola can be perceived as intense. Traffic accidents occur frequently. In Luanda and the suburbs, traffic is often crowded with long queues, especially on the stretch between Luanda city center and Talatona during rush hour. On the road, the traffic picture is also complicated. The traffic is often jerky and you should watch out for dangerous bypasses.

Several foreign companies require their foreign employees to use drivers. The embassy’s employees run themselves.

You should avoid driving evening and night time outside the city center, partly because the roads are poorly lit. On weekends, special attention should also be paid to drivers who drive in a drunken state. The risk of being hit as a pedestrian is considerable.

The locals mostly make use of blue-white minibuses. These are run fast and dangerous and are often involved in traffic accidents, and the embassy advises visitors not to use them. In the cities, there has gradually become better access to ordinary taxis which appear to be serious and according to conditions safe.

Taxi from Luanda airport works fine but it is recommended to call for taxi on arrival. There are mostly taxis on the outside, but these will usually have a much higher price since they often do not belong to one of the more serious taxi companies. (Allo Taxi or Transcoop taxi).

There is rarely any political turmoil or demonstrations in Angola and the number of participants is often low. Still, the police can crack down on demonstrations so that they can escalate and become violent. Therefore, areas where demonstrations must be avoided or listed.

Major Landmarks in Angola

Entry

Please note that entry regulations may change. The Foreign Service is not responsible if the following information on entry regulations or visa requirements is changed at short notice. It is the responsibility of the traveler to ensure that travel documents are valid for entry and to familiarize themselves with the current entry rules for each country.

Norwegian citizens need a visa to stay in Angola. It is the traveler’s responsibility to ensure that travel documents, visas and vaccination cards are valid.

Angolan authorities have promised general visa freedom for Norwegian citizens, but this has not yet been implemented. At present, visas can be applied both through the Angolan Embassy in Stockholm and online. It must be calculated somewhat longer when applying through the embassy, ​​as the passport must be sent to Stockholm. If you apply online, you will receive answers within e-four days, and you do not have to send your passport. However, there may be some waiting at the visa office upon arrival at Luanda. It costs 1900 SEK to apply for a visa through Stockholm and 120 USD online. The latter is payable in cash on arrival. It is recommended to have the exact sum.

There are different types of visas, such as tourist and business. It is up to each individual traveler to choose the right type of visa, but if you apply online you will only be able to obtain a tourist visa. Angolan authorities have confirmed that tourist visas applied for online can also be used for business travel. However, if you stay longer than 90 days in the country, you must contact the Angolan authorities.

The passport must be valid for at least six months from the end of your stay in Angola. Visitors must have a valid yellow bear certificate.

It is not possible to enter Angola by emergency passport.

If you overstay a visa, or in other ways violate the conditions for granted a visa, you will receive daily fines.

The Foreign Service is not responsible for information on entry regulations or visa requirements. For general visa matters, the Angolan Embassy in Stockholm can be contacted: Phone: +46 82 42 890, E-mail: info.angolaembassyswden@gmail.com or consulado.angolaemb@telia.com.

Health

Coronavirus (covid-19): Coronavirus has been detected in Angola. Norwegian travelers should keep abreast of the development of the corona virus. Feel free to follow local authorities’ advice, guidance and instructions on how to deal with the situation.

Everyone who arrives at airports in Angola will have their body temperature measured, as well as having to disinfect their hands with antibac.

According to the Angolan Ministry of Health, anyone arriving from China, South Korea, Iran and Italy, Portugal and Spain will be placed on a 14-day quarantine upon arrival. The same could be the case if you come from an outbreak country or arrive in the country with symptoms such as fever and cough. Quarantine is not voluntary, if you do not comply with the authorities’ requirements you may be sent by first flight back to your departure destination.

Angolan authorities have declared that all air traffic in and out of the country (commercial and private) will be suspended from March 20, 2020 at 00.00 and 14 days ahead in time, with the possibility of extension.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs does not create travel advice because of the risk of infection. It is the Public Health Institute that provides health advice. You can find more information and guidance from the Norwegian health authorities on the website of the Norwegian Institute of Public Health.

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The standard and quality of health services, clinics and hospitals are varied and often low. The public offering is academically weak and poorly equipped. For visitors, it is strongly recommended to use the private offer. Even at private clinics and hospitals, the staff only speak Portuguese, with a few exceptions. The medical supply outside Luanda is weak and partly non-existent. Evacuation to South Africa or Europe in case of serious accidents, operations and births is common. A comprehensive and good health insurance is therefore necessary.

Yellow vaccine book with valid yellow fever vaccine is required upon entry and must be submitted with the visa application. Malaria, dengue, cholera and other tropical diseases are widespread, as are tuberculosis.

In the capital there are some hospitals and medical centers that hold a certain standard. Payment for the services is high and must be made before treatment is given. If you need local treatment, you can contact the following clinics, among others:

  • Climed Services of the South, Alameda do Principe Real 65, Luanda Tel +244 222 4435142
  • Clinica Girassol, Rua Comandante Gika 225, Luanda. Tel +244 226 698 415
  • Cl¨ªnica Sagrada Esperança, Av. Murtala Mohammed, Luanda Tel +244 222 014 571

Angola is a country where malaria is widespread. The same goes for tuberculosis. Seek medical advice well in advance of departure. Reference is made to the Norwegian Institute of Public Health for official health professional travel advice and health professional guidance to Norwegians when traveling abroad.

Practical information

Most people who travel to Angola will find that their stay goes smoothly without sacrificing the great practical challenges. There is no time difference between Angola and Norway, with the exception of the summer time period in Norway.

Electricity: 220 volts and you use the same outlet as in Norway.

According to allcitycodes, national phone code is +244. The telephone network is relatively stable, but at times overloaded, often with the result that calls do not go through or text messages do not appear.

The coin value in Angola is kwanza (AOA).

Credit cards are increasingly common in cities, especially at larger hotels and restaurants, but one should always be prepared to pay cash, even in Luanda. You can withdraw cash from an ATM, but be careful if you withdraw money at street level.

Normal opening hours: Banks are open from 08:00 to 15:00. Shops are often open until 18:00 or 19:00. Some are closed between 12:00 and 14:30. Most shops are closed on Sunday, with the exception of larger grocery stores and shopping centers

National holidays are January 1, January 4, February 4, March 8, April 4, May 1, May 25, June 1, September 17, November 2, November 11, December 24, December 25, December 31.

It is forbidden to photograph military facilities and their surroundings. Also, be reluctant to photograph even civilian public buildings. It is also true that many Angolans dislike being photographed and can be severely annoyed if you take pictures without asking for permission in advance.

Always carry a passport, or a copy of the passport with you. Foreigners must be able to identify themselves on request. You can risk fines if you do not have valid credentials.

Upon departure, there is compulsory control of currency exports.