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NGO registration in Mozambique

Ministry of Justice, Constitutional and Religious Affairs (Ministério da Justiça, Assuntos Constitucionais e Religiosos) (MJCR)

Government of Mozambique

Official sources:Lei 8/91 – Associations Law (PDF on mireme.gov.mz) International NGOs in Mozambique (MINEC) Government portal

Overview

The Ministry of Justice, Constitutional and Religious Affairs grants legal recognition to national associations under the Associations Law (Lei 8/91), by ministerial order (despacho) published in the Boletim da República. It also oversees non-profit organisations' compliance with beneficial ownership rules through the Registry of Legal Entities. International NGOs operate under a separate decree (55/98) involving the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation (MINEC).

Laws it works underLei n.º 8/91, de 18 de Julho (Lei das Associações); Decreto n.º 21/91 (regulations on recognition of associations); Decreto n.º 55/98, de 13 de Outubro (international NGOs); Lei n.º 14/2023, de 28 de Agosto (anti-money laundering and counter-terrorist financing); Decreto-Lei n.º 01/2024, de 8 de Março (Regulation on the Registry of Legal Entities / beneficial owners)

How it works

Founders apply for recognition of an association as a legal person. Recognition is granted by order (despacho) under Article 5(1) of Lei 8/91 and published in the Boletim da República (Series III). Civil society analyses say the process has no legal deadline for decisions and requires criminal records for members. International NGOs register under Decree 55/98, and MINEC publishes a page on international NGOs working in Mozambique. Since 2024, all registered NPOs, including associations, religious bodies, foundations and foreign NGOs, must declare their beneficial owners and governing bodies with the Registry of Legal Entities. The 2025 deadline was 27 February 2025, and non-compliance can bring fines or criminal proceedings. A restrictive new non-profit organisations bill went to Parliament in 2022, but its enactment could not be confirmed.

Services

Recognition of associationsGrant of legal personality to associations by ministerial order under Lei 8/91, published in the Boletim da República.
Beneficial ownership declarationsDeclaration of beneficial owners and governing bodies of NPOs with the Registry of Legal Entities.

How to register an NGO in Mozambique

  1. Draft statutes and gather founders' identification and criminal records
  2. Apply to the Ministry of Justice, Constitutional and Religious Affairs for recognition under Lei 8/91
  3. Receive the recognition order (despacho) and publish it in the Boletim da República
  4. Declare beneficial owners and governing bodies with the Registry of Legal Entities

Requirements and fees change. Always confirm on the official website before applying.

Sources

This profile summarises information published by MJCR through official government channels (it has no working website of its own), read on 1 November 2026. The website was last confirmed unreachable on 1 November 2026.