AFRICAN BUZZ
Wareley says the government has also extended the
validity of the tourist visa from 90 days to 120 days.
The introduction of e-visa applications has streamlined
the process to allow for easy access into the country. The
e-visa will be issued within 24 hours.
The normal processing times for visas range anything
between two to three weeks. If there is an urgent need
for a business or investors to enter Angola it will no
longer be subjected to this delay.
“It allows businesspeople and potential investors the
opportunity to be first in the market if there are new
opportunities,” says Wareley.
The government is also allowing foreign nationals to
partner with an Angolan national to set up a business,
without having to invest at least USD500 000.
According to the World Bank the oil sector accounts
for one-third of Angola’s GDP and more than 90%
of exports. Given the importance of the sector the
government has adopted a more lenient approach
towards short-term visas.
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African Mining February 2020
The validity of these “emergency visas” has been extended
from seven days with an additional seven days to a total of 20
days (initial 10 days with an additional 10 days).
Companies generally apply for a short-term visa when they
have, for example, urgent maintenance requirements on
an offshore oil or gas rig which requires the attention of a
specialist technician.
Companies, who pay a corporate income tax rate of 30%, have
been subjected to harsh penalties because they exceeded the
number of days allowed under the emergency visa.
“The additional days would reduce the possibility of receiving
penalties and can lead to major cost savings for companies.”
These changes to the visa requirement regime in Angola
are important for any investor or company wishing to set
up operations in Angola, wanting to invest in the country or
increase their business operations in the country.
“We hope that streamlining the work permit process will be
the next priority to allow for quicker processes times to obtain
a work visa,” says Wareley.
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