The Angolan government has shed light on the country's migration trends, revealing that out of 189,651 registered foreigners in 2025, 82,793, or 43.66%, were classified as workers. This information was disclosed by Interior Minister Manuel Gomes da Conceição Homem during the launch of the Extraordinary Foreign Worker Regularization Program (PRETE) in Luanda. The program aims to improve administrative procedures related to the migratory status of foreign citizens working in Angola.
According to the Serviço de Migração e Estrangeiros (SME), over 4.1 million entries of foreign citizens were recorded in Angola between 2023 and 2026. In 2025, the SME registered 82,793 citizens as workers, 53,513 as residents, and 44,712 under temporary stay categories. These numbers provide insight into the country's migratory situation and the size of the registered foreign worker population. The minister's disclosure highlights the significance of this demographic in Angola's workforce.
The PRETE program is an extraordinary initiative aimed at enhancing administrative procedures for foreign citizens working in Angola. By digitalizing services, accelerating process handling, and standardizing migratory access procedures, the program seeks to improve the regularization of foreign workers. This move is expected to contribute to better documentation of workers in line with applicable legal requirements. The program's launch signifies a step towards more efficient management of migratory processes.
The implementation of PRETE is anticipated to bring about greater efficiency in handling administrative processes through the modernization of mechanisms used by competent services. The Ministry of Interior aims to promote uniform procedures, facilitating the monitoring of regularization processes for eligible workers. This initiative represents a measure of administrative modernization intended to enhance migratory process management and institutional response to documentation needs.
With the new program, Angolan authorities aim to reinforce the legal framework for foreign nationals working in the country who meet established regularization conditions. The move comes amid economic openness and promotion of foreign investment, seeking to improve the efficiency of services responsible for migratory management. By digitalizing and streamlining procedures, the government hopes to create a more favorable environment for foreign workers.
The launch of PRETE was attended by sector officials, representatives of diplomatic and consular missions, international organizations, and business sector members. The program's success will depend on effective collaboration among these stakeholders to ensure the regularization of foreign workers. By working together, they can address documentation needs and promote a more inclusive and efficient migratory management system.
As Angola continues to navigate its economic landscape, the government's efforts to improve migratory management and promote regularization of foreign workers are crucial. The PRETE program represents a significant step towards achieving these goals, and its impact will be closely monitored by stakeholders. With a more streamlined and efficient system in place, Angola can better harness the potential of its foreign workforce.
Key points
- 82,793 out of 189,651 registered foreigners in Angola in 2025 were classified as workers.
- The Extraordinary Foreign Worker Regularization Program (PRETE) aims to digitalize services and standardize migratory access procedures.
- Over 4.1 million entries of foreign citizens were recorded in Angola between 2023 and 2026.
