Mozambique Company Search Guide 2026: How to Verify a Mozambique Business

TL;DR. Mozambique’s official commercial registry is the Conservatoria do Registo das Entidades Legais (CREL), with online access facilitated through IPEX (Instituto para a Promocao de Exportacoes e Investimentos) at ipex.gov.mz. Basic company search is free and does not require registration; the interface is in Portuguese. Mozambique was placed on the FATF increased monitoring (grey) list in June 2022 and remained listed as of May 2026. Enhanced due diligence applies to Mozambique-linked transactions.

What is the official Mozambique business registry?

Mozambique’s legal entity registry is the Conservatoria do Registo das Entidades Legais (CREL), established under Mozambique’s company law framework governed by the Codigo Comercial (Commercial Code) and its subsequent reforms. CREL is administered by the Ministry of Justice through its registry offices (conservatorias) in each provincial capital, with the Maputo conservatory handling the largest volume of registrations.

IPEX (Instituto para a Promocao de Exportacoes e Investimentos), accessible at ipex.gov.mz, operates the Balcao de Atendimento Unico (BAU), Mozambique’s one-stop-shop for company formation and related formalities. The BAU digital platform integrates the CREL registration with tax (NUIT assignment), social security, and licensing formalities into a single window. New companies formed through the BAU system receive the NUIT (Numero Unico de Identificacao Tributaria) at the same time as commercial registration.

For public registry searches, the IPEX platform and the associated government commercial registry portal provide name-based company lookups. [VERIFY: current status of the online search portal at ipex.gov.mz or the separate conservatoria.gov.mz portal, as Mozambique has progressively digitized its commercial registration system.]

Legal entity types under Mozambique’s Commercial Code include: private limited companies (Limitada, Lda), joint-stock companies (Sociedade Anonima, SA), unlimited partnerships (Sociedade em Nome Colectivo), limited partnerships, sole traders, and branches of foreign companies. The Lda is the most common form for private commercial activity.

Mozambique uses the Metical (MZN) as its currency. The country has material natural resources including natural gas, coal, and rubies, and is emerging as a major LNG exporter following offshore gas discoveries.

What can you search?

The IPEX/BAU online registry search supports lookup by:

• Company name (full or partial)
• NUIT (Numero Unico de Identificacao Tributaria), the combined tax and business identifier
• Commercial registration number

Results typically include: company name, NUIT, legal form, registration date, registered address, and status (active, dissolved, struck off). Director and shareholder data availability in the public online interface may require a certified extract request.

[VERIFY: current availability and completeness of data in the online public registry. Portal functionality has been evolving as part of Mozambique’s e-government reform agenda.]

How much does it cost?

[VERIFY: current fee schedule at ipex.gov.mz.] MZN/USD: approximately 1 USD = 63-66 MZN (May 2026; verify at Banco de Mocambique, bancomoc.mz). MZN has experienced gradual depreciation; verify the rate at point of transaction.

Do you need a local account or ID?

No account or Mozambican national ID is required for basic public company searches. Account creation may be required for ordering certified extracts through the online portal. For physical extract requests at a conservatoria office, identification documents (passport) are typically required from the requesting party or their local representative.

Is the website in English?

No. Mozambique is a Portuguese-speaking country; all registry interfaces, official documents, and IPEX communications are in Portuguese. No English-language interface is available. Compliance buyers should be familiar with Portuguese company law terminology or engage translation support.

Key Portuguese terms: Limitada (Lda) = private limited company; Sociedade Anonima (SA) = joint-stock company; NUIT = tax and business identification number; Certidao de Registo = certified registry extract; Registo Comercial = commercial registry.

What’s the turnaround time?

Basic name searches on the online portal return results instantly where digitized records are available. Certified extract requests through the online system or at a conservatoria office typically take 5 to 15 business days. Third-party intermediaries serving Mozambique quote similar timelines. For time-critical compliance workflows, a Maputo-based legal representative can expedite requests through the relevant conservatoria.

Is there an API?

No public API is available for the Mozambique CREL or IPEX registry systems as of May 2026. [VERIFY: current API availability.] Compliance platforms must rely on manual searches via the portal or local partners.

What you legally cannot do

Mozambique’s Lei de Proteccao de Dados Pessoais (Law 9/2019 on Personal Data Protection) governs the use of personal data in registry filings. Director names and addresses extracted from registry records may not be used for unsolicited marketing. Bulk commercial extraction and redistribution of registry data without authorization is restricted. Document the purpose of all access for AML/KYC audit trail requirements, particularly given Mozambique’s FATF grey list status.

Practical tips for foreign compliance buyers

• FATF grey list. Mozambique was placed on FATF’s increased monitoring (grey) list in June 2022 and remained listed as of May 2026. [VERIFY: current FATF status at fatf-gafi.org.] Enhanced due diligence (EDD) is required for transactions with Mozambican counterparties under most institutional AML frameworks.
• LNG sector UBO complexity. Mozambique’s Rovuma Basin LNG projects (Total, Eni, ExxonMobil-led consortia) involve complex joint-venture and contractor structures. Companies in the LNG supply chain may have opaque beneficial ownership via offshore holding structures. Apply heightened UBO scrutiny for energy and extractives counterparties.
• “Tuna Bond” scandal legacy. Mozambique’s 2016 hidden debt scandal (USD 2 billion in undisclosed government-guaranteed loans) resulted in IMF program suspension and exposed systemic governance weaknesses. The scandal’s legacy continues to affect institutional trust ratings. For sovereign-linked or parastatale counterparties, additional verification is warranted.
• NUIT is the anchor identifier. The NUIT (Numero Unico de Identificacao Tributaria) serves as both the tax identification number and the primary business identifier. It is issued at formation through the BAU one-stop-shop. Always collect the NUIT from any Mozambican counterparty.
• Provincial coverage. Mozambique’s CREL system has conservatoria offices in each of the 10 provinces plus the capital. For entities registered outside Maputo (e.g., in Nampula, Beira, or Pemba near the LNG zone), digital coverage may be less complete; physical searches at the relevant provincial conservatoria may be required.
• Security context. The Cabo Delgado province (northern Mozambique, near LNG projects) has experienced an Islamist insurgency since 2017, with material UNHCR-documented displacement. Companies operating in northern Mozambique face elevated political and security risk. This is operationally important for counterparties in extractives and logistics in that region.

Alternatives if you cannot access IPEX directly

• IPEX portal (ipex.gov.mz): primary source for company formation and search. Free for basic searches.
• Aggregator search: OpenCorporates has limited Mozambique coverage. Treat as indicative only.
• Local legal firms in Maputo: recommended for certified extracts, older pre-digital records, and provincial registry searches.

Local data suppliers

No major international credit bureau operates a standalone Mozambique commercial credit service as of May 2026. [VERIFY: local credit bureau availability.] For risk-rated commercial reports, engagement with a regional African due-diligence provider or an international firm with Lusophone Africa coverage is recommended.

FAQ

Can a foreign company access the Mozambique registry directly?

Foreign users can access the IPEX online portal for basic name and NUIT searches. Certified extracts may require account creation or local representation. There is no prohibition on foreign access to public registry data.

What is the NUIT in Mozambique?

The NUIT (Numero Unico de Identificacao Tributaria) is Mozambique’s single business and tax identifier, issued at company formation through the BAU one-stop-shop. It serves as the primary anchor identifier for entity searches and appears on all official company documents, tax filings, and commercial contracts.

What entity types are registered in Mozambique?

The principal types are Limitada (Lda, private limited company), Sociedade Anonima (SA, joint-stock company), individual entrepreneurs (empresario em nome individual), unlimited and limited partnerships, and branches of foreign companies.

Does Mozambique have a beneficial ownership (UBO) registry?

Mozambique does not operate a publicly searchable UBO register as of May 2026. Beneficial ownership requirements exist under Mozambique’s AML legislation aligned with FATF standards. UBO data is held by the Financial Intelligence Unit (GIFiM) rather than published publicly. Given the FATF grey list status, apply enhanced UBO verification for all Mozambique-linked counterparties.

Is Mozambique on the FATF grey list?

Yes, as of May 2026. Mozambique was placed on the FATF grey list in June 2022. [VERIFY: current FATF status at fatf-gafi.org.] EDD is required for transactions with Mozambican counterparties.

What is the difference between CREL and IPEX?

CREL (Conservatoria do Registo das Entidades Legais) is the legal entity registry maintained by the Ministry of Justice through provincial conservatoria offices. IPEX is the investment promotion agency that operates the BAU one-stop-shop for company formation, coordinating CREL registration with tax and other formalities. For compliance purposes, the official extract is issued by the relevant CREL conservatoria; IPEX provides the public access portal.

Last verified: May 2026. Sources: IPEX Mozambique (ipex.gov.mz), Banco de Mocambique (bancomoc.mz), FATF (fatf-gafi.org). For the full global due diligence framework, see our Global Business Due Diligence Guide.