Living in Angola
Information for British citizens moving to or living in Angola, including guidance on residency/visa, healthcare and driving.
This guide sets out essential information for British citizens moving to or living in Angola. Read about how the British Embassy Luanda can help.
This information provided is a guide only. You should get definitive information from the Angolan authorities. The Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) is not liable for any inaccuracies in this information.
Support for British Nationals Abroad: A Guide sets out how British nationals can stay safe abroad and how the FCDO can help if you do get into difficulty.
Read general guidance on moving or retiring abroad.
To stay up to date: follow the British Embassy Luanda on GOV.UK, Facebook and Twitter.
Before you go
See our Travel Advice for Angola for up-to-date information on entry requirements, local laws and customs, safety and emergencies and our Overseas Business Risk for Angola for Information on key security and political risks that UK businesses may face when operating in Angola.
Coronavirus
Follow advice about Coronavirus at our Angola Travel Advice.
For further information (in Portuguese), please check the Angolan government webpage.
Visas and residency
Check our Travel Advice webpage for the entry requirements for Angola.
See how to apply for a visa to enter or live in Angola at the General Consulate of Angola in the UK.
Passports and travel
Your passport should be valid for a minimum period of 6 months from the date of entry into Angola.
You can apply online for an adult or child British Passport or renew online your adult or child British passport from Angola.
Check the Angola travel advice for entry requirements.
Healthcare in Angola
You do not need to register for public healthcare as a resident in Angola, but the standards are generally not the same to what you expect in the UK.
There is a few private hospitals with adequate facilities for emergencies. Most medical care options are in Luanda and even there, treatment is limited. People needing complex procedures and specialist treatments usually travel to South Africa or Portugal for care.
Private medical care is expensive. Payment may be expected upfront and in cash, unless if you have a local health insurance provider.
Although UK Travel insurance providers will not generally cover your healthcare costs if you live overseas, it is highly recommended that you consider the options for a private healthcare cover for Angola, as well as medical evacuation insurance. Medical evacuation is not rare and can be extremely expensive, costing even more depending on your location and medical condition.
Medicine
If you are on a prescription for any medication, you should ensure you have a supply of it, or are able to obtain it when in Angola. Some medicines may not be available in Angola (including major brands available in the UK). You should consult your GP before travelling to Angola to find out about any alternative medication.
Please read the guidance if you need to travel with medicines.
Working in Angola
If you are planning to move to Angola and work, you will need a work visa. Apply at the General Consulate of Angola in the UK.
Studying in Angola
If you plan to study in Angola, you must meet all visa requirements before you travel.
Contact the relevant education provider in Angola to check what fees you have to pay.
Tax
The UK does not have any double taxation agreement with Angola, but only locally earned income is subject to tax, regardless of whether expats are registered residents for tax purposes or not. This means that expats do not have to pay tax on money earned outside of Angola, even if they live there permanently.
Nonetheless, tax can be a complicated issue, especially when there is more than one country involved so you should get professional advice on paying tax in Angola. Find an English-speaking lawyer in Angola.
Read guidance on how to protect your State Pension and entitlement to other benefits/allowances:
- tax if you leave the UK to live abroad
- tax if you get a pension and live abroad
- paying National Insurance while abroad
Benefits
Many income-related benefits such as Pension Credit and Housing Benefit cannot be paid if you’re abroad for more than 4 weeks.
Check which UK benefits you can claim while abroad and how to claim them.
Pensions
Please read State Pension guidance if you have lived in Australia, Canada or New Zealand and you are claiming or waiting to claim your UK State Pension.
If you retire in Angola, you can claim your UK State Pension or new UK State Pension. Please contact the International Pension Centre for further information.
Life certificates for UK State Pensions
If you are asked to fill in a ‘life certificate’ from the UK Pension Service, you must respond as soon as possible. Your payments may be suspended if you do not.
Accommodation and buying property
Please see buying a property abroad.
Driving in Angola
Please read the general guidance on driving abroad.
Angola uses the left-hand traffic system, and many signs are written in Portuguese.
You can drive on a UK licence for 90 days after arriving in Angola (you must carry it with you while driving). After this period, you will need to get a local driving licence. You do not normally need to take a local test. The government in Angola will ask for several documents, including your original driving licence, and a letter from the British Embassy Luanda authenticating your UK driver’s licence. The British embassy cannot confirm the authenticity of United Kingdom driving licences, but can provide a free informative note that is accepted by the Angolan government. For further advice about travelling by road in Angola, see https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/angola/safety-and-security
If you wish to bring your vehicle with you, see www.gov.uk/taking-vehicles-out-of-uk.
Disabled drivers
There are no laws or benefits for disabled drivers in Angola, although many public and private parking areas reserve some parking spaces for them.
If you have a UK Blue Badge and live in Angola, you must return it to the original UK issuing authority.
Voting
You may be able to vote in some UK elections. You can:
Births, deaths, marriage and civil partnership
Births
If your child is born in Angola, you should register the birth with the local authorities. You can then register with the UK authorities and apply for a UK birth certificate If your child has British nationality, you do not need to register the birth with the UK authorities to apply for a British passport.
Deaths
If someone dies in Angola, please read our guidance on:
- What to do if someone dies abroad
- Bereavement guidance for Angola
- English-speaking funeral directors in Angola
Marriage and civil partnership
Find out how you can get married or get a civil partnership abroad.
You may also need to apply for a Certificate of non-impediment at the British Embassy Luanda.
Emergencies
Dial the 111 for the police, ambulance or fire brigade, or to report a missing child. If you are the victim of a crime, have been arrested, or are affected by a crisis, contact the British Embassy Luanda. Read the guidance on international parental child abduction if your child may be at risk of this. If you need legal assistance, you can consult our list of lawyers.
If you have been the victim of a rape or sexual assault in Angola, read the RSA Guide for Angola. See also our guidance for victims of rape or sexual assault abroad.
Returning to the UK
Read the guidance on returning to the UK permanently which includes information on bringing family members, tax and access to services.