Visitors to Malawi must obtain an electronic visa unless they come from one of the visa exempt countries or countries eligible for visa on arrival.[1]
Citizens of the following countries and territories can visit Malawi for up to 90 days without a visa:[2]
In addition, on 7 February 2024, the Malawi government waived requirements for citizens of the following countries to boost tourism:[3]
Visa free
Cancelled:
Visa on arrival
* - these countries are in both lists (visa on arrival and visa is required)
Holders of diplomatic, service or official passports of any country traveling on duty do not require a visa for 90 days. And Laissez-Passer holders of United Nations, African Union, African Development Bank, International Red Locust Control Organization for Central and Southern Africa and Preferential Trade Area.
Holders of confirmed onward tickets for a maximum transit time of 24 hours can transit without a visa through Malawi. This facility is not applicable to nationals of Egypt, Iraq, Kazakhstan, Russia, Sudan, Syria, Ukraine, Uzbekistan and Yemen.
Nationals of certain countries may obtain a visa on arrival to Malawi. The information on which countries are eligible is inconsistent.
Depending on the purpose of visit, a traveler who has a valid visa is granted a Visitors Permit (VP) or Business Visit (BV) at the port of entry valid for 30 days and can be extended up to a maximum period of 90 days.[13]
According to a document published by the Department of Immigration, nationals of all countries that are not visa exempt may obtain a visa on arrival. This is not applicable to nationals of the following countries: [14]
Malawi launched an e-Visa application system on 1 November 2019.[15][16][17]
1 British Overseas Territories. 2 These countries span the conventional boundary between Europe and Asia. 3 Partially recognized. 4 Unincorporated territory of the United States. 5 Part of the Kingdom of Denmark. 6 Egypt spans the boundary between Africa and Asia.
1 British Overseas Territories. 2 Azerbaijan, Georgia, Turkey, Kazakhstan, Russia and the partially recognised republics of Abkhazia and South Ossetia each span the conventional boundary between Europe and Asia. 3 Cyprus, Armenia, and the partially recognised republic of Northern Cyprus are entirely in Western Asia but have socio-political connections with Europe. 4 Egypt spans the boundary between Africa and Asia. 5 Partially recognized.