Middle Africa · UN member
Angola: Travel Guide & Requirements
Republic of Angola
Angola is a country in Middle Africa with its capital in Luanda. It has a population of 39.0 million (#39 in the world) and covers 1,246,700 km². The official language is Portuguese. The currency is the Angolan kwanza (AOA, Kz).
Where is Angola? Map of Angola
Southern Africa, bordering the South Atlantic Ocean, between Namibia and Democratic Republic of the Congo.
- Region
- Middle Africa
- Coordinates
- 12.5° S, 18.5° E
- Neighbours
- 4 — see list
- Coastline
- 1,600 km
- Angola
- Neighbours
- Capital
- Largest cities
Map of Angola showing Luanda (capital) and the largest cities: Lubango, Huambo, Benguela, Cabinda, Malanje, Saurimo, Cuíto and Uíge.
Travel requirements
What you need to travel to Angola
- Passport
The SME eVisa FAQ's tourism-visa requirements ask for a passport with at least 6 months validity, and its form instructions ask for a passport valid for a minimum of one year with at least 4 empty pages.
- Visa or eTA
Depends on your passport: of 198 passports, 100 need no visa, 98 need a visa from an embassy. Check yours or see Angola entry requirements for every passport.
- Return or onward ticket
The SME eVisa FAQ's tourism-visa requirements include a booking of a round-trip air ticket, and the SME portal lists a round-trip flight booking and an accommodation booking in Angola among the documents to prepare for …
- Proof of funds
The SME portal lists proof of financial means to support the stay (the minimum required by law) among the documents to prepare for a visa application.
- Travel insurance
No official requirement. The UK Foreign Office says to make sure you have adequate travel health insurance and accessible funds to cover the cost of any medical treatment abroad and repatriation.
- Vaccinations
WHO lists Angola as requiring proof of yellow fever vaccination from all travellers aged 9 months or over.
- Customs allowance
The UK Foreign Office says to declare cash or travellers cheques worth 5,000 US dollars or more (10,000 if you're a resident), for which you get a certified declaration; that you cannot take out more than 5,000 US dolla…
- Travel advice
Some caution needed — US and UK advice.
Entry rules: TravelRequirements.info — Entry Requirements Dataset (CC BY 4.0), each rule cited to an official government source. Always confirm with the airline and the official source before you travel.
Before you go
10 things to know before you travel to Angola
- Safety: Angola is generally safe for travellers, but some caution is needed: the US State Department rates Angola Level 2 (“Exercise Increased Caution”), and the UK Foreign Office advises against all but essential travel to parts of the country.
- Best time to go: June to September — when daytime highs in Luanda are around 25–27°C.
- Money: the Angolan kwanza (AOA) — 1 US dollar is about 918.2746 AOA.
- Plugs: type C and F, 220 V, 50 Hz — standard 220–240 V: devices from the US or Japan (110–120 V) need a converter unless they are dual voltage (100–240 V).
- Emergency numbers: Police 113, Ambulance 112 / 116, Fire 115.
- Language: Portuguese is official.
- Driving: on the right — speed limits are 60 km/h in built-up areas, 90 km/h outside built-up areas, 100 km/h on expressways and 120 km/h on motorways.
- Time zone: UTC+1 in Luanda.
- Capital: Luanda. About 39.0 million people live in Angola.
- Angola is the 23rd largest country in the world by area.
Key facts
Angola at a glance
Languages spoken: Portuguese 71.2% (official), Umbundu 23%, Kikongo 8.2%, Kimbundu 7.8%, Chokwe 6.5%, Nhaneca 3.4%, Nganguela 3.1%, Fiote 2.4%, Kwanhama 2.3%, Muhumbi 2.1%, Luvale 1%, other 3.6% (2014 est.)
Geography & history
About Angola
Bantu-speaking people settled in the area now called Angola in 6th century A.D.; by the 10th century various Bantu groups had established kingdoms, of which Kongo became the most powerful. From the late-14th to the mid-19th century, a Kingdom of Kongo stretched across central Africa from present-day northern Angola into the current Congo republics. It traded heavily with the Portuguese who, beginning in the 16th century, established coastal colonies and trading posts and introduced Christianity. Angola became a major hub of the transatlantic slave trade conducted by the Portuguese and other European powers -- often in collaboration with local kingdoms, including the Kongo. The Angola area i…
Read the full history
Bantu-speaking people settled in the area now called Angola in 6th century A.D.; by the 10th century various Bantu groups had established kingdoms, of which Kongo became the most powerful. From the late-14th to the mid-19th century, a Kingdom of Kongo stretched across central Africa from present-day northern Angola into the current Congo republics. It traded heavily with the Portuguese who, beginning in the 16th century, established coastal colonies and trading posts and introduced Christianity. Angola became a major hub of the transatlantic slave trade conducted by the Portuguese and other European powers -- often in collaboration with local kingdoms, including the Kongo. The Angola area is estimated to have lost as many as 4 million people as a result of the slave trade. The Kingdom of Kongo’s main rival was the Kingdom of Ndongo to its south, whose most famous leader was Nzingha Mbande, the 17th century diplomat to the Portuguese and later Queen, who successfully fought off Portuguese encroachment during her nearly 40-year reign. Smaller kingdoms, such as the Matamba and Ngoyo, often came under the control of the Kongo or Ndongo Kingdoms. During the Berlin Conference of 1884-85, Portugal and other European powers set Angola’s modern borders, but the Portuguese did not fully control large portions of the territory. Portugal gained control of the Kingdom of Kongo in 1888 when Kongo’s King Pedro V sought Portuguese military assistance in exchange for becoming a vassal. After a revolt in 1914, Portugal imposed direct rule over the colony and abolished the Kongo Kingdom. The Angolan National Revolution began in 1961, and in 1975, Angola won its independence when Portugal’s dictatorship fell, a collapse that occurred in part because of growing discontent over conflict in Angola and other colonies. Angola’s multiple independence movements soon clashed, with the Popular Movement for Liberation of Angola (MPLA), led by Agostinho NETO, taking power and the National Union for the Total Independence of Angola (UNITA), led by Jonas SAVIMBI, emerging as its main competitor. After NETO’s death in 1979, Jose Eduardo DOS SANTOS, also of the MPLA, became president. Over time, the Angolan civil war escalated and became a major Cold War conflict, with the Soviet Union and Cuba supporting the MPLA and the US and South Africa supporting UNITA. Up to 1.5 million lives may have been lost -- and 4 million people displaced -- during the more than a quarter-century of fighting. SAVIMBI's death in 2002 ended UNITA's insurgency and cemented the MPLA's hold on power. DOS SANTOS did not seek reelection in 2017 and supported Joao LOURENCO’s successful bid to become president. LOURENCO was reelected in 2022. Angola scores low on human development indexes despite using its large oil reserves to rebuild since 2002.
Location
Southern Africa, bordering the South Atlantic Ocean, between Namibia and Democratic Republic of the Congo
Climate
semiarid in south and along coast to Luanda; north has cool, dry season (May to October) and hot, rainy season (November to April)
Terrain
narrow coastal plain rises abruptly to vast interior plateau
Highest point
Moco 2,620 m
Natural resources
petroleum, diamonds, iron ore, phosphates, copper, feldspar, gold, bauxite, uranium
Natural hazards
locally heavy rainfall causes periodic flooding on the plateau
National symbols
giant black sable antelope (Palanca negra gigante)
Driving
Speed limits & road rules in Angola
The default speed limits in Angola are 60 km/h in built-up areas, 90 km/h outside built-up areas, 100 km/h on expressways and 120 km/h on motorways. The legal alcohol limit for drivers is 0.6‰. Posted signs always take priority over these defaults.
- 6060 km/hBuilt-up areasTowns and citiesWith a trailer: 50 km/h
- 9090 km/hOutside built-up areasCountry roadsWith a trailer: 70 km/h
- 100100 km/hExpresswaysDual carriageways & expresswaysWith a trailer: 80 km/h
- 120120 km/hMotorwaysMotorways / freewaysWith a trailer: 100 km/h
- International Driving PermitNot a party to the IDP conventionsCheck with the embassy whether your licence is accepted
- Driving sideDrive on the rightOvertake on the left
- Alcohol limit0.6‰ blood alcohol (0.06% BAC)
- Seat beltsRequired by law
- Child seatsRequired by law
- Motorcycle helmetsRequired for riders
- Road deaths (2021)15.0 per 100,000 peopleHigher than most countries (median 12.4)
Speed limits: OpenStreetMap wiki — Default speed limits (CC BY-SA 2.0). Road-safety laws: WHO Global Health Observatory. Compare speed limits and alcohol limits by country. Defaults for cars; local signs, weather and vehicle type can lower them.
Safety
Is Angola safe to visit?
Angola is generally safe for travellers, but some caution is needed: the US State Department rates Angola Level 2 (“Exercise Increased Caution”), and the UK Foreign Office advises against all but essential travel to parts of the country.
US State Department
UK Foreign Office (FCDO)Latest update: Addition of information about a declaration of an Ebola outbreak in DRC on 15 May and updated information about road travel ('Safety and security' and 'Health' pages).
Updated 28 May 2026 · Full travel advice
Sources: US Department of State travel advisories (public domain) and UK FCDO foreign travel advice (contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0). Checked daily. Advice can change quickly — always read the official page before you travel.
Weather
Best time to visit Angola
The best time to visit Angola is June to September, when daytime highs in Luanda are around 25–27°C. May and October to December are also a good time to go. March is the warmest month (30°C by day), July the coldest (19°C at night), and April the wettest with about 79 mm of rain.
- Jan29°C25°C
- Feb30°C26°C
- Mar30°C26°C
- Apr29°C26°C
- May29°C24°C
- Jun27°C21°C
- Jul25°C19°C
- Aug25°C19°C
- Sep26°C21°C
- Oct28°C23°C
- Nov29°C24°C
- Dec29°C25°C
Best time Good Less ideal
Before you go
Plugs, voltage & emergency numbers in Angola
Plugs & sockets
220 V, 50 Hz · Standard 220–240 V: devices from the US or Japan (110–120 V) need a converter unless they are dual voltage (100–240 V).
Emergency numbers
112 works from any mobile phone, even without a SIM card in most networks. All countries →
Sources: Wikipedia — Mains electricity by country and List of emergency telephone numbers (CC BY-SA 4.0).
National parks
12 national parks in Angola
- 242,299 km² protected
- oldest from 1957
Largest: Longa-Mavinga National Park · Mavinga National Park · Luenge National Park
Currency · 26 October 2026
Angolan kwanza exchange rates today
Angola uses the Angolan kwanza (AOA, Kz). One US dollar buys 918.2746 AOA; over the last 30 days the AOA has lost 0.0% against the dollar.
What other currencies cost in AOA
Currency converter
Daily reference rates from the open-source currency-api (CC0), 26 Oct 2026. Banks and exchange offices add a margin.
World rankings
Where Angola ranks
How Angola compares with the rest of the world — open any card for the full ranking.
Airports
Airports in Angola
115 airports and airfields — 2 large, 20 medium and 90 small, plus 3 heliports. 14 have scheduled passenger flights.
Borders
Neighbouring countries
Angola borders 4 countries along 5,369 km of land borders. Coastline: 1,600 km.
Military
Angolan armed forces
Angola ranks #55 of 145 in the Global Firepower military strength ranking, with a defence budget of $1.5 billion (2025).
People
Population & society
Religion
Largest cities: Luanda (9.3 million), Lubango (959,000), Cabinda (905,000), Benguela (809,000), Malanje (783,000)
Economy
Economy
Main industries
petroleum; diamonds, iron ore, phosphates, feldspar, bauxite, uranium, and gold; cement; basic metal products; fish processing; food processing, brewing, tobacco products, sugar; textiles; ship repair
Export partners
China 40%, India 9%, UAE 6%, Spain 6%, Netherlands 5% (2023)
Top exports
crude petroleum, diamonds, natural gas, ships, refined petroleum (2023)
Travel tools
Handy before every trip to Angola
Next public holiday
All Souls' Day — Monday, 2 November 2026. Then Independence Day (11 Nov).
Angolan passport
Ranked #162: 23 countries visa-free, 24 with visa on arrival, 3 with an eTA and 44 with an eVisa.
Angolan passport photo
Exact size, head position and background for Angola's passport and visa photos — make one free with AI checks.
Calling Angola
Dial +244 before the local number. Internet domain .ao.
Climate footprint
22.3 million tonnes of CO₂ in 2024 — 0.59 t per person.
Entry requirements
Visa rules for every passport visiting Angola: visa-free stays, eVisas, visas on arrival and documents to bring.
News
Latest travel news about Angola
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Angola Travellers Face No UK Visa Curbs as Threat Shifts to Eritrea
The UK has restricted Eritrean diplomats' travel and suspended fast-track visas for officials, and warned of a wider visa ban on Eritrean nationals u…
Frequently asked questions about Angola
What do I need to travel to Angola?
How long must my passport be valid for Angola?
Where is Angola?
What is Angola known for?
What is the capital of Angola?
What language is spoken in Angola?
What currency does Angola use?
What is the calling code of Angola?
Which countries border Angola?
How strong is the Angolan passport?
What is the speed limit in Angola?
Is Angola safe to visit?
When is the best time to visit Angola?
What plug type does Angola use?
How many airports does Angola have?
Sources: CIA World Factbook (public domain); World Bank Open Data (CC BY 4.0); names, languages and currencies: mledoze/countries (ODbL); flag: flag-icons (MIT); coat of arms: Wikimedia Commons (file page); exchange rates: Daily reference rates from the open-source currency-api (CC0); airports: OurAirports.