Before you travel
Malawi visa requirements.
Since February 2026 British, US, Canadian and many European visitors need a Malawi visa, on arrival or at evisa.gov.mw. Many neighbours are exempt.
Photo Omar Hakeem / Unsplash
Correct at the time of publishing, . Fees and entry rules are subject to change without notice, and many rules depend on the passport you hold. Confirm with the official source listed under each answer, or with your airline, before you travel.
Check the rules for your passport. Requirements differ by nationality, purpose and length of stay.
Check Malawi visa requirements →Checker provided by VisaHQ. Site designer Charnette Labs may earn a commission if you apply through them, at no extra cost to you. Famous Africa is not an immigration adviser and neither party decides these requirements.
Do I need a visa to visit Malawi?
Since 24 February 2026 Malawi has divided nationalities into two visa categories. Category Two, which includes the United Kingdom, the United States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Germany, France and the Netherlands, can get a visa on arrival at designated ports or apply in advance. Category One nationals, including China, India and Nigeria, must have a visa or prior authorisation before departure.
Malawi's e-visa portal at evisa.gov.mw shows that nationals of South Africa, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Botswana, Kenya, Tanzania, Mozambique and Namibia, among others, need no visa.
Sources: Malawi Department of Immigration: e-visa portal; Malawi e-visa portal: Category Two countries (6 March 2026); Malawi e-visa portal: Category One countries (24 February 2026); UK government (FCDO): Malawi entry requirements, for British citizens (updated 3 July 2026)
How much does a Malawi visa cost?
Visas cost US$50 for a single entry or transit, US$150 for multiple entries over six months and US$250 over twelve months. Online applications are processed within three working days and fees are not refundable. Print the approval letter and carry it.
A single-entry visa is valid for three months and a transit visa for up to seven days. The US government says fees paid on arrival must be in US dollars cash, in notes printed after 2017.
Fees were correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change without notice.
Sources: Malawi e-visa portal: FAQ; Malawi e-visa portal: services; US Department of State: Malawi travel information, for US citizens (guidance issued 14 May 2026)
What health checks and certificates does Malawi require?
Arrivals must complete the Ministry of Health's Traveller Health Check at poe.health.gov.mw, up to two days before travel or by QR code on arrival. A yellow fever certificate is required for travellers aged one year or older arriving from a country with yellow fever risk, or after more than 12 hours in transit at an airport in one.
Sources: Malawi Ministry of Health: Traveller Health Check; UK government (FCDO): Malawi entry requirements, for British citizens (updated 3 July 2026); World Health Organization: country list of vaccination requirements (revised 3 January 2023)
What else should I know before arriving in Malawi?
The UK government advises a passport valid for at least six months after arrival. The US government advises declaring all foreign currency on arrival, notes a US$5,000 limit on cash taken out, and recommends a notarised consent letter for a child travelling without both parents.
Fees were correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change without notice.
Sources: UK government (FCDO): Malawi entry requirements, for British citizens (updated 3 July 2026); US Department of State: Malawi travel information, for US citizens (guidance issued 14 May 2026)
Where this sits in planning a trip
Entry requirements are the traveller’s responsibility, but they shape an itinerary — a routing through a third country can change what is needed, and documents for children can take weeks to obtain. Famous Africa raises them early when planning rather than leaving them to the week before departure.