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U.S. Department of State
Bureau of Consular Affairs
Washington, DC 20520

Consular Information Sheet

 

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Please click on this link to read important information you should see before you travel abroad

This information is current as of today,

Angola

April 21, 2006

COUNTRY DESCRIPTION:  Angola is a large, developing country in southern Africa.  After gaining independence from Portugal in 1975, it was engulfed in a civil conflict that lasted for more than a quarter century.  A cease-fire was called in April 2002, two months after the death of UNITA leader Jonas Savimbi, and, on November 21, 2002, the government and former rebels signed a peace agreement that definitively ended the conflict.  Fighting has ended in all areas of the country except Cabinda, where the Government of Angola continues to pursue remnants of the insurgency led by the Front for the Liberation of the Enclave of Cabinda (FLEC) .   There have been very few recent reports of violence in Cabinda, but foreigners have not been targeted.  Throughout Angola t here are growing signs of economic recovery.  Nevertheless, major problems remain with infrastructure and government services , including communications and basic social services.  Travel by road is difficult and can be dangerous due to large potholes, especially during the rainy season (October to December), and land mines in many areas.  Facilities for tourism, particularly outside the capital of Luanda, are often rudimentary .  Adequate h otels can now be found in Lubango, Lobito, Huambo, Luena and Ondjiva, but some provide limited amenities. 

Read the Department of State Background Notes on Angola for additional information.

ENTRY/EXIT REQUIREMENTS:  Passport and visa (must be obtained in advance), and an International Certificate of Vaccination, are required.  Persons arriving without visas are subject to arrest or exclusion.  Travelers may also encounter delays if they do not have at least one completely blank page in their passports for entry and exit stamps.  Travelers whose international immunization cards do not show inoculations against yellow fever within the past ten years may be subject to exclusion, on-the-spot vaccination, and  heavy fines.  Visitors remaining in Angola beyond their authorized visa duration are subject to fines and arrest.  It is illegal to attempt to carry local currency out of Angola and it is subject to confiscation by customs officers.  Current information on entry requirements may be obtained from the Embassy of Angola at 2100-2108 16th Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. (202) 785-1156, fax (202) 785-1258.  See our Foreign Entry Requirements brochure for more information on Angola and other countries. 

See Entry and Exit Requirements for more information pertaining to dual nationality and the international child abduction.  Please refer to our Customs Information to learn more about customs regulations
 
SAFETY AND SECURITY:  The security situation in Angola has improved markedly since the end of the civil war; however, Americans should still exercise caution.  Although the war has ended, ground travel throughout Angola is occasionally problematic due to land mines, which were used extensively during the war.  Frequent checkpoints and poor infrastructure contribute to unsafe travel on roads outside of the city of Luanda.  Police and military officials are sometimes undisciplined, but their authority should not be challenged.  Travel in many parts of Luanda is relatively safe by day, but car doors should be locked, windows rolled up, and packages stored out of sight.  Visitors should avoid travel after dark, and no travel should be undertaken on roads outside of cities after nightfall.

The civil war between the National Union for the Total Independence of Angola (UNITA) and the Government of Angola has ended.  The insurgency pursued by the Front for the Liberation of the Enclave of Cabinda (FLEC) has virtually ended although the Government of Angola continues to pursue the remnants of FLEC forces.   

Throughout Angola, taking photographs of sites and installations of military or security interest, including government buildings, may result in arrest or fines and should be avoided. 

For the latest security information, Americans traveling abroad should regularly monitor the Department’s Internet web site, where the current Travel Warnings and Public Announcements, including the Worldwide Caution Public Announcement, can be found.

Up-to-date information on security can also be obtained by calling 1-888-407-4747 toll free in the U.S., or, for callers outside the U.S. and Canada, a regular toll line at 1-202-501-4444.  These numbers are available from 8:00 AM to 8:00 PM Eastern Standard Time, Monday through Friday (except on U.S. federal holidays).

The Department of State urges American citizens to take responsibility for their own personal security while traveling overseas.  For general information about appropriate measures travelers can take to protect themselves in an overseas environment, see the Department of State’s pamphlet A Safe Trip Abroad.

CRIME:  Crime is a serious problem throughout the country.  While most violent crime occurs between Angolans, foreigners have occasionally been attacked as well.  Street crime is a regular occurrence in Luanda.  The most common crimes are pick pocketing, purse-snatching, vehicle theft, and vehicle break-ins.  Armed muggings, robberies, and carjacking involving foreigners are not frequent but do occur.  Police and military officials are sometimes undisciplined, but  their authority should not be challenged.  In general, movement around Luanda is safer by day than by night.  Air travelers arriving in Luanda at night are strongly advised to arrange reliable and secure ground transportation in advance.  If this is not possible, use only the regulated taxi service at the airport and in Luanda.  Unregulated taxis are unsafe and can present a crime risk.

Motorists should stop at all police checkpoints if so directed.  Police officers may solicit bribes or request immediate payment of "fines" for alleged minor infractions. Americans asked for bribes by the police should politely ask the traffic police to write them a ticket if the police is alleging a moving violation.  If the police officer writes the ticket, then the motorist would pay the fine at the place indicated on the ticket.  If no moving violation is alleged and the officer is asking for a bribe, the motorist should, without actually challenging the officer's authority, politely ask the officer for his/her name and badge number.  Officers thus engaged will frequently let motorists go with no bribe paid if motorists follow this advice.  Motorists are reminded to have all proper documents in the vehicle at all times (i.e. vehicle registration, proof of insurance, and driver's license), as the lack of documents is a vio lation and can also be a reason an officer would solicit a bribe.  Police are not always responsive to reports of crime or requests for assistance.  Most police are on foot and are assigned to designated stationary posts.  The Rapid Intervention Police (PIR) unit  is frequently seen patrolling various areas of the city.  This unit, which is well-trained and organized, will respond to major criminal incidents .  

There have been police operations against illegal aliens and private companies resulting in deportation of illegally resident foreign nationals and loss of personal and company property.  Independent entrepreneurs in Angola should carry relevant immigration and business documents at all times.

Travelers should be alert to fraud occasionally perpetrated by Luanda airport personnel.  Immigration and customs officials sometimes detain foreigners without cause, demanding gratuities before allowing them to enter or depart Angola.  Airport health officials sometimes demand that passengers arriving without proof of current yellow fever vaccination accept and pay for a vaccination at the airport.  Travelers are advised to be sure to carry their yellow fever vaccination card and make sure their yellow fever vaccine is up-to-date.  If travelers forget to bring their yellow fever vaccination card and do not wish to receive the vaccine offered at the airport, they should be prepared to depart the country on the next available flight.  Searches of travelers' checked baggage is common; travelers are advised to take precautions against this possibility.  Travelers should also be aware that criminals sometimes attempt to insert items into baggage at the airport, particularly for flights from Luanda to South Africa.  Travelers should maintain control of their carry-on baggage at all times, and if they believe something has been inserted into it, they should report it immediately to airport authorities.

INFORMATION FOR VICTIMS OF CRIME:  The loss or theft abroad of a U.S. passport should be reported immediately to the local police and the nearest U.S. Embassy or Consulate.  If you are the victim of a crime while overseas, in addition to reporting to local police, please contact the nearest U.S. Embassy or Consulate for assistance.  The Embassy/Consulate staff can, for example, assist you to find appropriate medical care, to contact family members or friends, and explain how funds could be transferred.  Although the investigation and prosecution of crimes are solely the responsibility of local authorities, consular officers can help you to understand the local criminal justice process and to find an attorney if needed.

In addition to reporting crime to local police and the U.S. Embassy in Angola, victims of crime who are residing in Angola are also encouraged to report the crime to the security department of their employer.  S hort-term visitors are encouraged to report the crime to the management of the hotel where they are staying if the crime occurred in or near the hotel. 

See our information on Victims of Crime.

MEDICAL FACILITIES AND HEALTH INFORMATION:  Adequate medical facilities are rare except in Luanda, where there are some good private clinics that usually have a 24-hour service provided by a general practiced physician and with specialists on call.  The U.S. Embassy in Luanda can provide a list of such facilities.  Routine operations such as appendectomies can be performed.  However, many types of medicine are not readily available; travelers are urged to carry with them properly labeled supplies of any medications they routinely require.  Malaria is endemic in most areas of Angola.

An outbreak of Marburg hemorrhagic fever, a severe and often fatal disease, occurred in Uige province beginning in the spring of 2005; however, on November 7, 2005, the Ministry of Health of the Republic of Angola and the World Health Organization (WHO) declared the Marburg outbreak in Angola ended.  This announcement came after 45 consecutive days without at new case of the illness. 

Information on vaccinations and other health precautions, such as safe food and water precautions and insect bite protection, may be obtained from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s hotline for international travelers at 1-877-FYI-TRIP (1-877-394-8747) or via the CDC’s Internet site at http://www.cdc.gov/travel.  For information about outbreaks of infectious diseases abroad consult the World Health Organization’s (WHO) website at http://www.who.int/en.  Further health information for travelers is available at http://www.who.int/ith.

MEDICAL INSURANCE:  The Department of State strongly urges Americans to consult with their medical insurance company prior to traveling abroad to confirm whether their policy applies overseas and whether it will cover emergency expenses such as a medical evacuation.  Please see our information on medical insurance overseas.

TRAFFIC SAFETY AND ROAD CONDITIONS: While in a foreign country, U.S. citizens may encounter road conditions that differ significantly from those in the United States.  The information below concerning Angola is provided for general reference only, and may not be totally accurate in a particular location or circumstance.

Until early 2002, destinations in the interior were accessible safely only by aircraft.  Since the end of the civil war, overland access to the interior has increased.  However, fighting in most of the country damaged or destroyed many roads and bridges, and services for motorists outside urban areas cannot be counted upon.  Road travel can be dangerous due especially to landmines in some areas.  Road conditions vary widely outside the capital, from acceptable paved surfaces to virtually impassable dirt roads, particularly  secondary routes.  Many secondary roads are impassable during the rainy season.  Overloaded, poorly marked, and disabled vehicles, as well as pedestrians and livestock, pose hazards for motorists.  Ground travel in rural areas should be undertaken during daylight hours only.

Traffic in Luanda is heavy and often chaotic, and roads are often in poor condition.  Few intersections have traffic lights or police to direct vehicles.  Drivers often fail to obey traffic signals and signs, and there are frequent vehicle breakdowns.  Itinerant vendors and pedestrians often weave in and out of traffic, posing a danger to themselves and to drivers.  Most public transportation, including buses and van taxis, should be avoided as the vehicles are generally crowded, and may be unreliable.

Please refer to our Road Safety page for more information.
 
AVIATION SAFETY OVERSIGHT:  As there is no direct commercial air service between the United States and Angola, the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has not assessed Angola’s Civil Aviation Authority for compliance with ICAO international aviation safety standards.  For more information, travelers may visit the FAA’s Internet web site at www.faa.gov/safety/programs_initiatives/oversight/iasa/.

SPECIAL CIRCUMSTANCES: Angola is generally a cash-only economy; both travelers' checks and credit cards are seldom used outside the capital of Luanda.  ATM machines are not generally useful for travelers, since they are normally accessible only to those with local bank accounts.  Travelers should carry a sufficient supply of U.S. dollars with them.  Only the newer series U.S. dollar bills (with large faces) are accepted.  U.S. dollars can be converted to local currency at exchange businesses authorized by the Angolan government.  Angolan currency (the Kwanza) may not be taken out of the country and travelers are subject to confiscation of local currency at the airport. 

U.S. citizens are encouraged to carry a copy of their U.S. passports with them at all times, so that, if questioned by local officials proof of identity and U.S. citizenship are readily available.  The Consular Section of the U.S. Embassy in Luanda will prepare certified copies of American passports at no charge for individuals who register with the Embassy.  The Embassy recommends that Americans keep their passport in a secure place and carry certified copies to avoid the possibility of authorities confiscating identity and travel documents.
 
Angolan customs authorities enforce strict regulations concerning temporary importation into or export from Angola of sensitive items including firearms, antiquities, and currency.  It is advisable to contact the Embassy of Angola in Washington or one of Angola's consulates in the United States for specific information regarding customs requirements. 

Please see our information on customs regulations.

CRIMINAL PENALTIES:  While in a foreign country, a U.S. citizen is subject to that country's laws and regulations, which sometimes differ significantly from those in the United States and may not afford the protections available to the individual under U.S. law.  Penalties for breaking the law can be more severe than in the United States for similar offenses.  Persons violating Angolan laws, even unknowingly, may be expelled, arrested or imprisoned.  Penalties for possession, use, or trafficking in illegal drugs in Angola are severe, and convicted offenders can expect long jail sentences and heavy fines.  Engaging in  sex with children or using or disseminating child pornography in a foreign country is a crime prosecutable in the United States. 

CHILDREN'S ISSUES:  For information on international adoption of children and international parental child abduction, see the Office of Children’s Issues website. 

REGISTRATION / EMBASSY LOCATION: Americans living or traveling in Angola are encouraged to register with the nearest U.S. Embassy or Consulate through the State Department’s travel registration website, and to obtain updated information on travel and security within Angola.  Americans without Internet access may register directly with the nearest U.S. Embassy or Consulate.  By registering, American citizens make it easier for the Embassy or Consulate to contact them in case of emergency.  

The Consular Section is located at the American Embassy Complex , Rua Houari Boumedienne #32, in the Miramar area of Luanda, P.O. Box 6468, tel. (244)-222-641-000,  (244)-222-447-028, (244)-222-445-481, 244-222-446-224; 24-hour duty officer (244)-923-404-209; fax (244)-222-641-259.  The Consular S ection may be contacted by e-mail at consularluanda@state.gov or at luandaconsular@yahoo.com.  Further information on travel to Angola is also available at the Embassy website, http://usembassy.state.gov/angola.

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This replaces the Consular Information Sheet dated April 15 , 2005, to update the situation in Cabinda, the Marburg virus outbreak, the section on crime , and the address and contact information for the Consular Section.