Angola has introduced a new official digital platform for online visa applications, replacing the previous system used by travellers seeking electronic visas to the country.
The new evisa.ao portal, operated as part of the modernisation of Angola’s immigration services, now serves as the official platform for tourist and business visa applications. The former smevisa.gov.ao portal automatically redirects applicants to the new platform.
According to VisaNews, under the new system, foreign travellers are required to create a personal user account before accessing visa services. The platform allows applicants to register, submit their applications, upload supporting documents and monitor the progress of their applications online.
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The application process has been streamlined into three main stages: completing the online form and uploading the required documents, paying the applicable visa fees electronically, and waiting for a decision from the Angolan authorities. The Immigration and Foreigners Service (SME) states that applications are processed within 72 hours.
Among the documents required are a valid passport, an international yellow fever vaccination certificate, proof of travel and accommodation, and evidence of sufficient financial means. One of the major changes introduced by the new platform is the ability to pay visa fees electronically. Under the previous arrangement, travellers applying online for entry pre-authorisation generally paid the visa fee upon arrival when the visa was issued at the border. However, the new platform’s visa-fee schedule currently does not display specific amounts, suggesting that some aspects of the system are still being completed. The platform’s terms indicate that applications will only enter processing after payment has been confirmed and that fees paid are non-refundable.
The system also provides applicants with greater control over their applications, including the ability to make one correction free of charge after submission. Further corrections may require a new application and another payment. The digital overhaul is part of a broader programme by Angola’s Immigration and Foreigners Service to modernise and digitalise immigration services. Angola’s Ministry of the Interior reviewed the implementation of the new portal during a follow-up meeting in Luanda on August 27, 2026.
The introduction of the new platform does not, however, change Angola’s existing visa-exemption arrangements for eligible nationalities. Citizens of countries including the United States, United Kingdom and Canada remain eligible for visa-free tourist stays of up to 30 days per entry, subject to the applicable conditions. For travellers who still require a visa, the move brings application, payment and tracking services together on a single digital platform, potentially making the process more transparent and convenient.
