Luanda:In a bid to tackle widespread informal employment, Angola's Ministry of the Interior has initiated the Extraordinary Regularization Program for Foreign Workers (PRETE). The program, launched through the Immigration and Foreigners Services (SME), seeks to legalize the status of around 50,000 foreign nationals who are currently working in Angola without formal documentation.
According to Angola Press News Agency, the program was officially launched at an event in Luanda, led by Minister of the Interior Manuel Homem. The event was attended by government officials, members of the diplomatic corps, and representatives from civil society. The initiative targets foreign citizens performing paid labor for legally established companies in Angola, provided they entered the country before May.
The program requires applicants to meet all existing legal requirements, including the criteria for work visas under Law No. 13/19, which governs the legal framework for foreign nationals in Angola. Additionally, applicants must have clean criminal records and no prior immigration infractions.
The application process will be conducted entirely online, with a three-month window for employers to submit necessary documentation and track progress via the official SME Portal. The agency aims to review and resolve all active applications within one year. Deputy Commissioner for Migration Catiana Vitoriano, serving as the spokesperson for PRETE, highlighted that initial assessments identified many instances of foreign workers operating outside official channels. While the program aims to bring approximately 50,000 individuals into compliance, those ineligible for the scheme will need to explore other legal options.
