Malawi Visa Policy

Visa Policy for Malawi

The visa policy of Malawi decides who needs a visa to enter the country and which type of travel permit is needed in any given situation.

There are different types of visa for Malawi. Travelers should check which kind they need to apply for. Malawi’s visa policy outlines different requirements depending on the individual’s nationality, the purpose of the trip, and the period of time they plan to spend in the country.

There are 5 types of Malawian visa depending on the purpose of the trip. These are the Malawi Tourist Visa, Transit Visa, Official Visa, Courtesy Visa, and Diplomatic Visa.

Tourist Visas for Malawi can be used for short business trips in addition to tourism.

Both Tourist Visas and Transit Visas for Malawi can be applied for online. This electronic system provides a convenient way to get authorization to enter the country. Applications are processed rapidly, usually within a few days.

Certain travelers can alternatively apply for a short-term visa on arrival in Malawi. However, this has certain drawbacks. There are often long lines to apply, which means spending an unnecessary amount of time waiting around at border control.

Visitors from a few countries are not eligible to apply online or on arrival. These travelers must instead apply at a Malawian embassy or consulate abroad. This involves going in person. Embassy visa applications typically take much longer than the online platform.

In addition, certain types of non-tourist visa can only be obtained from an embassy, regardless of the passenger’s citizenship. Work visas are obtained in this way.

There are also a few countries whose citizens can visit Malawi without a visa. This is limited to short stays for tourism and leisure.

Foreign nationals who plan to move to Malawi or stay in the country in the long term may apply for a residence permit after entering the country, providing they can justify their reason for staying. They will need a visa first.

Learn more about the Malawi visa policy for different nationalities in the guide below.

Tourist Visa Policy for Malawi

The majority of foreign nationals will need a tourist visa for Malawi to visit the country.

According to Malawi’s tourist visa policy, the “Tourist Visa” can be used for tourism, leisure, business, or as a step towards becoming a resident of the country.

The quickest and easiest way to get a tourist visa is to apply online using the Malawian electronic visa system. Most nationalities are eligible. Being able to obtain a Malawi visa via the internet avoids the need to go to an embassy.

Some nationalities are only able to apply for a Malawi Tourist Visa at an overseas diplomatic mission (embassy or consulate).

Additionally, visitors from certain countries may apply for a Tourist Visa at the Malawi border. This is generally not recommended if there are other visa options available. If there is a problem with the visa on arrival application, the traveler may be denied entry to the country. Applying online in advance allows time to resolve any issues.

When applying for a Malawi tourist visa, foreign visitors can choose between a single-entry or a multiple-entry permit.

The single-entry Malawi Tourist Visa allows up to 30 days in the county.

Applicants who wish to make more than one trip to Malawi can select either a 6-month or 12-month multiple-entry Tourist Visa.

Browse the map below to find out which types of Tourist Visas are required by each nationality according to the Malawian visa policy.

Electronic Visa (e-Visa) for Malawi

Malawi’s visa policy allows visitors from many countries to apply for a visa online.

Around 220 nationalities can use this service to obtain a Malawi e-Visa, or electronic visa.

The Malawian e-Visa system can be used to obtain authorization to visit the country for tourism, leisure, business, or transit.

The user-friendly platform allows foreign travelers to select either a single-entry or multiple-entry e-Visa.

Single-entry e-Visas are valid for 3 months and permit the holder to stay in Malawi for up to 30 days.

Multiple-entry Malawi online visas come in 2 options. Applicants can choose an e-Visa that is valid for either 6 months or 12 months.

Malawi transit e-Visas are also available online. These are single-entry permits that allow travelers to stay in the country for a maximum of 7 days between flights.

International passengers must complete a quick application form online before traveling to Malawi. They must simply enter the required information and upload the supporting documents (including a photo and a scan of their passport).

The e-Visa for Malawi is then received by email within a few working days.

Malawi’s online visa system is considered the most convenient way to obtain permission to visit the country. Applications can be completed and submitted from any place with an internet connection, including the traveler’s own home or office. This eliminates the need to go to an embassy.

See below all the countries whose citizens can obtain a Malawian e-Visa, according to the country’s visa policy.

Afghanistan
Aland Islands
Albania
Algeria
American Samoa
Andorra
Anguilla
Antarctica
Antigua and Barbuda
Argentina
Armenia
Aruba
Australia
Austria
Azerbaijan
Bahamas
Bahrain
Bangladesh
Barbados
Belarus
Belgium
Belize
Bermuda
Bhutan
Bolivia
Bonaire
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Botswana
Brazil
British Indian Ocean Territory
British Virgin Islands
Brunei Darussalam
Bulgaria
Burkina Faso
Cambodia
Cameroon
Canada
Cape Verde
Cayman Islands
Central African Republic
Chile
China
Christmas Island
Cocos Islands
Colombia
Comoros
Cook Islands
Costa Rica
Croatia
Cuba
Curacao
Czech Republic
Democratic Republic of the Congo
Denmark
Djibouti
Dominica
Dominican Republic
Ecuador
Egypt
El Salvador
Equatorial Guinea
Eritrea
Estonia
Ethiopia
Falkland Islands
Faroe Islands
Federated States of Micronesia
Fiji
Finland
France
French Guiana
French Polynesia
Gabon
Gambia
Georgia
Germany
Gibraltar
Greece
Greenland
Grenada
Guadeloupe
Guam
Guatemala
Guernsey
Guinea
Guinea Bissau
Guyana
Honduras
Hong Kong
Hungary
Iceland
India
Iran
Iraq
Ireland
Isle of Man
Italy
Ivory Coast
Jamaica
Japan
Jersey
Jordan
Kazakhstan
Kiribati
Kuwait
Kyrgyzstan
Laos
Latvia
Lebanon
Liberia
Libya
Liechtenstein
Lithuania
Luxembourg
Macau
Macedonia
Malaysia
Maldives
Mali
Malta
Marshall Islands
Martinique
Mauritania
Mayotte
Mexico
Moldova
Monaco
Mongolia
Montenegro
Montserrat
Morocco
Mozambique
Myanmar
Namibia
Nauru
Nepal
Netherlands
New Caledonia
New Zealand
Nicaragua
Niger
Nigeria
Niue
Norfolk Island
North Korea
Northern Mariana Islands
Norway
Oman
Pakistan
Palau
Panama
Papua New Guinea
Paraguay
Peru
Pitcairn Islands
Poland
Portugal
Puerto Rico
Qatar
Republic of Cyprus
Reunion
Romania
Russian Federation
Rwanda
Saint Barthelemy
Saint Helena
Saint Lucia
Saint Martin
Saint Pierre and Miquelon
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
Samoa
San Marino
Saudi Arabia
Serbia
Sierra Leone
Sint Maarten
Slovakia
Slovenia
Solomon Islands
Somalia
South Africa
South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands
South Korea
Spain
Sri Lanka
Sudan
Suriname
Svalbard and Jan Mayen
Swaziland
Sweden
Switzerland
Syrian Arab Republic
Taiwan
Tajikistan
Thailand
Timor Leste
Togo
Tokelau
Tonga
Trinidad and Tobago
Tunisia
Turkey
Turkmenistan
Turks and Caicos Islands
Tuvalu
Ukraine
United Arab Emirates
United Kingdom
United States
United States Virgin Islands
Uruguay
Uzbekistan
Vanuatu
Vatican City
Venezuela
Vietnam
Wallis and Futuna
Yemen
Zambia
Zimbabwe

Malawi e-Visa Info

Apply Online

Malawi Visa On Arrival

Malawi has a visa on arrival service. This allows eligible travelers to apply for a visa at border control.

The visa on arrival is available to fewer than 10 nationalities, according to the visa policy of Malawi.

The Malawi visa on arrival is a single-entry permit that allows a maximum stay of 30 days.

Visas on arrival for Malawi are issued as either a “Visitors Permit” (VP) or a “Business Visit” (BV). Travelers with a VP must not engage in non-tourist activities, while BVs are strictly for business purposes. It is important to stick to the terms of the visa.

International passengers should be aware that there are often long queues to apply for a visa on arrival. It may be necessary to spend a long time at immigration control to fill out the application, pay the fee, and obtain a visa.

It is important to remember to bring all the necessary supporting documents. These include a passport and a yellow fever vaccination certificate.

Travelers who arrive without one of the required documents or who encounter another problem with the visa on arrival application may be denied entry.

For these reasons, it is advisable to apply for a Malawi e-Visa in advance if this is an option for the traveler’s nationality.

Consult the list below to find out which countries’ citizens can obtain a Malawi visa on arrival.

Benin
Congo
Haiti
Indonesia
Madagascar
Philippines
Sao Tome and Principe
Singapore

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Malawi Embassy or Consular Visa Required

Malawian overseas diplomatic missions (embassies and consulates) issue visas for certain travelers.

Some nationalities can only obtain a Malawi visa from an embassy, including for tourism and short stays. Citizens of less than 10 countries fall into this category.

In addition, some types of Malawi visa can only be applied for at an embassy, in line with the Malawi immigration policy. Work visas are an example. This is the same for all travelers, regardless of nationality.

To obtain an embassy visa for Malawi, foreign nationals must go in person to the nearest diplomatic mission.

Malawi has embassies in many capital cities around the world. It also has several consulates and high commissions in capitals and other major cities.

Travelers from countries that do not have any diplomatic representation from Malawi present may have to travel to the nearest country that hosts a mission to apply for an embassy or consular visa.

Diplomatic missions tend to take longer to process visa applications than the online service. Travelers are advised to apply in good time before their trip. Work visas may take even longer to process due to the paperwork involved.

Browse the list below to find out which nationalities must apply for all types of Malawi visas (including Tourist Visas) at an embassy or consulate.

Angola
Burundi
Chad
Ghana
Palestinian Territory
Senegal
South Sudan

Get Embassy Info

Visa Not Required for Malawi

Some travelers do not require a visa to enter Malawi.

This visa exemption applies to nationals of around 10 different countries.

Citizens of these countries can visit Malawi without a visa for a maximum stay of 90 days.

Foreign nationals may only engage in tourist and leisure activities while staying in Malawi without a visa.

Travelers who wish to stay in the country in the long term or who plan to work or perform other non-tourist activities should apply for the relevant visa, including if they meet the requirements for visa exemption as a tourist.

Find below the list of countries whose citizens can visit Malawi visa-free.