Just landed in Angola? Your first 7 days

Mobile data is the primary way to get online in Angola; fixed broadband is patchy and expensive outside prime Luanda neighbourhoods, and even there it can be unreliable. Coverage is strong in cities and along the coast but thin in rural areas. SIM registration under your passport is mandatory, so carry ID to the shop. Many expats keep two SIMs from different networks because no single provider is reliable everywhere.

Typical cost: Home fibre or fixed wireless from providers like Angola Telecom or ZAP starts well above that and can be slow to install.

Angola is overwhelmingly a cash economy and the kwanza is volatile, so foreigners often earn or hold part of their funds in USD or EUR. Card acceptance is limited to hotels, malls and larger supermarkets, and international Visa and Mastercard are frequently declined even where terminals exist. The local Multicaixa network powers most domestic card payments and transfers, so a local account and card make daily life far smoother.

Opening an account: Once open, you will use the Multicaixa Express app for transfers and bill payments.

Cash: Avoid changing money on the street, where counterfeit notes and short-changing are common, and use banks or authorised bureaux instead. Keep a modest reserve of USD or EUR notes in good condition as a backup, as they are widely valued.

Tipping: In upmarket restaurants, rounding up or leaving around 10% is appreciated; small notes suit porters, petrol attendants and the guarded-parking helpers (guardas) who watch your car.

Where: Serviço de Migração e Estrangeiros (SME) offices and its official online platform at sme.gov.ao; most expats process everything through their employer's HR team or a specialised immigration agent rather than dealing with SME directly.

The process is normally arranged with employer sponsorship and requires a written application, the SME form, proof of address, a criminal-record check, proof of means and passport photos, all now submitted through SME's platform. This card is the document that unlocks banking, a tax number and most long-term services, so it is the single most important piece of paperwork to complete.

Deadline: Residence-visa holders are generally admitted for an initial period (commonly around 120 days, extendable) while the residence authorisation is decided, so follow your employer's timeline closely and do not let any permitted stay lapse. There is no informal grace period worth risking.

Luanda traffic is severe and unpredictable, and public transport largely means the informal blue-and-white candongueiro minibuses that most newcomers avoid for safety and comfort reasons. Ride-hailing and a private company driver are the norm for expats, and many employers provide a car and driver. Self-driving is challenging because of aggressive traffic, flooding after rain, poor signage and frequent police checkpoints.

From the airport: From the old Quatro de Fevereiro Airport the city centre is only about 6km, but congestion can stretch the drive well past an hour. If you land at the new Agostinho Neto International Airport (AIAAN) far to the south, budget considerably more time and cost. In both cases use a pre-arranged transfer, a hotel car or a Yango booking rather than an unmarked taxi.

Luanda is notoriously expensive, and secure, foreigner-oriented housing clusters in areas such as Talatona, Miramar, Ilha de Luanda and the newer developments around Kilamba, often within gated condominiums with their own generators, water tanks and security. Most expats find flats through employer relocation support or a local agent rather than open online listings, which are scarce and unreliable.

Typical rent: Cheaper local rentals exist but rarely offer the security, backup power and water that foreigners expect.

Deposit: Rents are frequently quoted and paid in USD, so clarify the currency, what is included (generator fuel, water delivery, security) and how utilities are handled before signing.

Public healthcare in Angola is underfunded and stretched, so expats rely on a small number of private clinics concentrated in Luanda. Serious cases are frequently evacuated to South Africa, Portugal or Namibia, which makes medical evacuation cover essential rather than optional. Malaria is present year-round and is a genuine risk, so take prophylaxis and use mosquito precautions consistently.

How to use it: Carry cash or a card, as clinics may require upfront payment or a deposit even with insurance. Keep a small supply of any regular medication, since specific brands can be hard to find locally.

Insurance: Check whether your employer provides a group scheme, exactly what it covers, and how evacuation is triggered, before you need it.

• Be patient with bureaucracy and time-keeping, since processes are slow, meetings start late, and relationships often matter more than paperwork alone.
• Always ask before photographing people, and never photograph government buildings, ports, airports, bridges or military sites.
• Use titles and a degree of formality with older people and officials; addressing someone as senhor or senhora shows respect.
• Accept and reciprocate hospitality graciously; sharing food and drink and a bit of unhurried small talk builds the trust that gets things done.
• Learn a few phrases of Portuguese even if you rely on translation apps, because any genuine effort is met with real warmth.

• Street protests and large gatherings can turn tense quickly; keep your distance and follow local and embassy advice.
• Be discreet about photography, wealth and political opinions, as sensitivities around the government and security forces run high.
• Do not assume signage, receipts or contracts will be in anything but Portuguese, and never sign what you cannot read; get it translated first.