Angola’s Immigration and Foreigners Service (SME) is continuing to modernize its digital services with the launch of a new platform dedicated to visa applications.
The former smevisa.gov.ao portal, which had until now been used for electronic visa procedures, now automatically redirects users to the new official website, evisa.ao.
Presented as the government’s official platform for tourist and business visas, the website forms part of the digital transformation undertaken by Angola’s immigration authorities in recent months.
On August 27, 2026, Angola’s Ministry of the Interior said that the use of the SME’s new portal had been reviewed during a follow-up meeting in Luanda. The platform is part of the Immigration and Foreigners Service’s broader modernization and digitalization program.
A new personal account for visa applications
The new system now requires applicants to create a personal user account.
Foreign nationals must provide several identification and contact details before they can access visa services and track their applications.
This change is part of the SME’s new general transactional portal, which allows foreign visitors to register, apply for a visa and monitor the progress of their application. The immigration authority states that applications and payments for its services must now be submitted through this new digital infrastructure.
The eVISA portal summarizes the application process in three steps: complete the form and upload the required documents, pay the applicable fees, and wait for a decision from the authorities.
The SME states that applications are processed within 72 hours.
Documents listed as required include a passport, an international yellow fever vaccination certificate, proof of travel and accommodation, and evidence of sufficient financial means.
Visa fees can now be paid online
Another notable change is the introduction of electronic payment for visa fees.
Under the previous system, travelers applied online for an entry pre-authorization, while the visa fee itself was paid upon arrival in Angola when the visa was issued at the border.
The fees applicable under the new system have yet to be clearly specified. Although the platform already includes a dedicated fee schedule page, no amounts are currently displayed. As the portal still appears to be under development, the Angolan authorities are expected to complete this information.
The terms of use nevertheless state that an application is not considered properly submitted and will not begin processing until payment has been confirmed. Fees paid are non-refundable.
The SME also allows applicants to make one correction free of charge after submitting an application. Additional changes may require a new application and another payment.
The platform also sets rules for applications submitted by a representative. An individual or company acting on behalf of a traveler may be required to prove that it is duly authorized, including through a mandate or power of attorney.
Americans, Britons, Canadians and other travelers remain visa-exempt for tourism
The launch of the new portal does not affect the visa exemption introduced in September 2023.
Nationals of the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada and a number of other countries remain eligible for visa-free tourist stays in Angola, provided they meet the conditions set by the Angolan authorities.
The exemption allows stays of up to 30 days per entry, with a maximum of 90 days in total per calendar year.
The scheme initially covered 98 countries when it was introduced in 2023. The Philippines was later added under a decree published in October 2025.
The new portal will therefore mainly concern travelers who still require a visa, as well as those whose purpose or length of stay requires prior immigration authorization.
VisasNews Take
The automatic redirection from the former official portal to evisa.ao confirms that visa applications are being moved to the Angolan Immigration and Foreigners Service’s new digital infrastructure. The updated process now brings account creation, application submission, electronic payment and case tracking into a single system. The platform nevertheless still appears to be under development, with some information yet to be completed, including the visa fee schedule, which currently lists no amounts. The change does not affect visa-free tourist stays for eligible travelers, including US, UK and Canadian nationals.
