The Pensão por Velhice in a few words
The Pensão por Velhice is paid by the Instituto Nacional de Segurança Social, under the supervision of the Ministry of Labour, Employment and Social Security. The texts in force date from 2007 for social protection and from 2017 for the regulations.
Different retirement ages for men and women
WBL 2023 confirms that the full-pension retirement age differs by sex, citing Decree 51/2017, Article 29. The mandatory retirement age also differs, according to Law 23/2007, Article 125, in Mozambique.
Twenty years of contributions required by the INSS
According to the SSA, the old-age pension requires at least 20 years of contributions. A long undeclared career is therefore not enough: an older partner's financial situation is not always what one imagines, in either direction.
Widowhood and remarriage under Article 35
Our sources do not detail the rights of a surviving spouse in Mozambique. However, the 2019 Family Law grants women the same rights as men to remarry, under Article 35 according to WBL 2023, which also applies after widowhood.
Meeting people at 60, far from the apps
Fewer than one Mozambican in five was using the internet in January 2025. For older people, relationships more often begin in the parish, neighbourhood associations, family celebrations or at the homes of mutual friends, in Maputo as in Inhambane or Quelimane.
Going online without exposing yourself
If you try a platform, ask a relative to help you create the profile and set the privacy options. AfricanLove names Mozambique; global apps require users to be 18. State your real age: sincerity attracts people from a similar background.
Retirees: scammers' favourite target according to IC3
In the United States, the FBI's IC3 recorded 7,626 romance scam complaints from people aged 60 and over in 2024, with losses of 389.3 million dollars, more than half of that category's losses. These American figures illustrate a real risk.
IC3 2025: an average loss of 38,500 dollars among older people
Across all fraud types, IC3 counted 201,266 complaints from people aged 60 and over in 2025, totalling 7.748 billion dollars with an average loss of 38,500 dollars. For Mozambique, Washington also reports scams promising fake inheritances.
Signs that should alert a retiree
Declarations of love within days, constant refusal of video calls, a story about a soldier or offshore engineer, then a request for a transfer, gift cards or cryptocurrency: the FTC describes this scenario precisely. Talk to a relative before any decision involving money.
Children and friends: supporting without deciding
Adult children and friends can support without deciding: reread a profile, join a first call, drive you to the date. Their outside view often spots an inconsistency that a person living alone, happy to be courted, does not see.
Further pages for seniors
The country's general framework is on our Mozambique page. People divorced later in life will want to read divorce in Mozambique, and the comparison with a neighbouring country is on the Malawi seniors page, with different retirement rules.
Daytime dates and passport on you
For a first date, choose a public place in daytime, close to home, and keep your medication and a charged phone with you. The State Department reminds visitors to carry their passport in Mozambique: for a foreign retiree, that is a basic precaution.
Pension bodies and sources on fraud
- Instituto Nacional de Segurança Social (INSS): Mozambican fund administering the Pensão por Velhice, open at 60 for men and 55 for women.
- SSA – Social Security Programs Throughout the World: 2019 American summary of the age and contribution conditions for the Mozambican pension.
- Women, Business and the Law 2023 – Mozambique: World Bank snapshot confirming different retirement ages by sex.
- FBI IC3 – rapport 2024: Annual US report quantifying romance scams targeting people aged 60 and over.
- AfricanLove: World Singles network platform naming Mozambique and advertising free sign-up.
Meeting someone calmly after retiring in Mozambique
- Discuss your plan with a child or a trusted friend before creating a profile.
- Choose a platform that requires users to be 18 and set the privacy options with a relative's help.
- State your real age and your city, for example Maputo, Beira or Nampula, with a recent photo.
- Refuse any money transfer, gift card or cryptocurrency, whatever the story told.
- Meet the person in daytime in a nearby public place, accompanied or after telling a relative.
- Keep your pension statement and papers somewhere safe, out of reach of a new acquaintance.
INSS pension and fraud: the figures
| Key point | What the source says | Source and date |
|---|---|---|
| Old-age pension age | 60 for men, 55 for women | SSA, 2019 |
| Minimum contribution period | 20 years | SSA, 2019 |
| Equal retirement ages | No, different ages (Decree 51/2017) | WBL 2023 |
| Romance scams among over-60s | 7,626 complaints, 389.3 million dollars in losses | FBI IC3, 2024 |
| Fraud among over-60s | 201,266 complaints, average loss of 38,500 dollars | FBI IC3, 2025 |
Papers to keep safe
- Identity document or passport
- INSS pension statement
- Spouse's death certificate in case of widowhood
- Divorce judgment in case of separation
- Birth certificate for a possible remarriage
The mistakes that cost seniors most
- Sending part of your pension to an admirer met online who cites a hospital stay or a plane ticket.
- Keeping the relationship secret at the other person's request: isolation from loved ones is a classic warning sign.
- Handing over bank codes, your pension number or photos of your identity documents.
- Welcoming into your home someone met the day before, without any family member knowing.
- Believing in an inheritance or a lucrative deal in Mozambique that would require travelling and paying fees.
Seniors in Mozambique: frequent questions
At what age do people retire in Mozambique?
According to the US Social Security Administration, the INSS old-age pension is available at 60 for men and 55 for women, provided they have contributed for at least 20 years. The World Bank confirms that these ages differ by sex.
Who pays pensions in Mozambique?
The Instituto Nacional de Segurança Social, or INSS, administers the old-age pension, under the supervision of the Ministry of Labour, Employment and Social Security. The rules rest on a 2007 law and 2017 regulations.
Can a widow remarry in Mozambique?
The 2019 Family Law grants women the same rights as men to remarry, according to WBL 2023, Article 35. Our sources specify no other condition linked to widowhood; the spouse's death certificate will generally be requested.
How can you avoid a romance scam after 60 in Mozambique?
Never send money to someone you have never met, insist on a video call and talk about the relationship with a relative. A very quick declaration of love followed by a financial emergency matches the pattern described by the FTC and IC3.
Useful platforms and organisations
DisonsDemainFrench-language dating site for men and women over 50, also offering outings and activities between members.
LumenDating app designed for people over 50, with photo-verified profiles to limit fake accounts.
Canadian Anti-Fraud CentreCanada's anti-fraud centre, which collects reports and publishes warnings about romance fraud.
IRCC Canada – Fraude au mariageOfficial Canadian warning about fraudulent marriages entered into to obtain immigration status.
Indicative list: AfriqueRencontres.com has no commercial link with these organisations. Never send money to someone you only know online.
Information up to date as of October 2026. AfriqueRencontres.com does not arrange meetings and never asks for money: never transfer money to someone you know only online.