Malawi, in southern central Africa, is a gem for tourists around the world. Malawi has many breathtaking natural wonders that make it a memorable destination. Mount Mulange, the highest peak in Central Africa, Lake Malawi, and Makuzi Beach are only a fraction of the beauty of Malawi.
Located between Tanzania, Mozambique and Zambia, Malawi is an excellent destination for an unforgettable east and southern holiday around Africa. Read on to learn more about Malawi visa application.
Summary
| Requirement type | Mandatory for UK nationals
|
| Purpose of travel | Tourism or transit
|
| Valid | 3 months from issue |
| Entry/exit | Single or multiple |
| Processing time | 3 working days |
| Cost | Transit visa: $50
Single entry: $50 Multiple entry for 6 months: $150 Multiple entry for 12 months $250 |
| Application method | Online or on arrival
|
| Payment method | Visa, Mastercard, American Express
|
About Malawi Visa
The Malawi visa or e-Visa is an approval letter that allows entry into the country. This approval letter comes to your email for printing since you have to present it to the passport control authorities for verification on arrival in Malawi.
The e-Visa is mandatory for tourism and transit through Malawi, but it is the Malawi officials who determined the right when you arrive. At this time (June 2021), tourists cannot travel to Malawi due to Covid-19 restrictions.
Types Of Malawi Visas
This guide focuses on the tourist and transit visas for UK holidaymakers who wish to travel to Malawi. There are 5 types of Malawi visas: tourist, transit, official, courtesy and diplomatic visas.
The Malawi tourist visa is ideal for travellers who would like to visit for leisure or visiting friends or relatives. It allows either a single entry or multiple entries to Malawi. It allows a single entry and over 7 days. If you’re planning a multi-country itinerary, apply for the Malawi transit visa. Tourist and transit visas are available online or upon arrival for UK citizens.
Requirements For a Malawi Visa
To qualify for a Malawi tourist or transit e-Visa, you should have:
- A passport with at least 6 months validity on arrival
- At least two blank pages on your passport
- A scanned passport data page
- A passport-type photograph
- A scanned copy of your residence permit for UK residents
- A cover letter from your host in Malawi
- Proof of itineraries, such as accommodation booking or a cover letter from your travel agent, or onward ticket for transit
- A valid email address
- A debit or credit card for visa fee payment
Your passport-type photograph should meet the following requirements:
- Full colour on a white background
- At least 600 dpi (1,200 pixels)
- 45mm height by 35mm width
- Taken within the last 6 months
Minors must also have separate Malawi e-Visa applications with the following additional documents:
- A scanned copy of their birth certificate
- A scanned copy of their parent’s or guardian’s passport information page
- A consent form if travelling on their own
- Proof of legal guardianship if the minor does not have a birth parent
All travellers from countries not part of the Malawi visa exemption or visa on arrival agreement must apply for a visa to travel to Malawi. UK travellers can get a Malawi visa on arrival or through the Malawi High Commission in London. However, the Malawi immigration authorities strongly recommend that all UK travellers and all qualifying nationals apply for the e-Visa before their trip to Malawi.
How Long Does a Malawi Visa Last?
The Malawi tourist e-Visa is valid for 3 months from the date of issue, while the Malawi transit visa is valid for 7 days. If you prefer a more extended stay in Malawi, opt for the multiple entry visas for their 6 months or 12 months.
How Long Does It Take to Get a Malawi Visa?
The Malawi e-Visa typically takes 3 working days to process. The online application for the Malawi e-Visa takes 5 to 10 minutes to complete. Fill in your traveller information as it appears on your passport data page, upload your passport-size photograph and the relevant scanned documents, and pay the visa fees using a debit or credit card.
How Much Does a Malawi Visa Cost?
Both the Malawi transit and single entry e-Visas cost $50 per applicant. The multiple-entry Malawi e-Visa costs $150 for a 6-month visa and $250 for a 12-month visa. Similar charges apply for a Malawi visa on arrival. The Malawi online e-Visa system only accepts payments in US dollars using a debit or credit card. At this time, no PayPal payments are available for the Malawi e-Visa.
Suppose you choose to apply for your Malawi visa through the Malawi High Commission in London. In that case, the charges are £50 for the Malawi transit visa, £65 for a single entry visa, £145 for a multiple entry visa for 6 months, and £200 for a multiple entry visa for 12 months. You can pay for Malawi embassy visas via debit or credit cards, but not cash or personal cheques.
Extra Tips
- At this time (June 2021), only nationals and residents of Malawi and their family members can enter into the country. Tourist visas to Malawi are not available now due to Covid-19 restrictions.
- All travellers must present a negative Covid-19 PCR test result issued 72 hours before arrival and submit to a 14-day self-quarantine period on arrival.
- A mandatory Covid-19 test awaits all visitors upon arrival in Malawi, who must then wait in the airport or at a designated location until the test results come out, typically after 24 hours.
- Any non-essential international travellers coming from Bangladesh, India, Pakistan and Brazil cannot enter Malawi.
- Essential travellers from the above countries must quarantine for 14 days upon arrival at a designated location and their own expense.
- A yellow fever certificate is mandatory for all travellers to Malawi. Other recommended immunisations include polio, tetanus, typhoid and hepatitis A.
- Travellers leaving Malawi must also present a negative PCR test result taken within 72 hours of their departure. Covid-19 testing centres in Malawi include Mzuzu Central Hospital, Kamuzu Central Hospital and Public Health Institute, all in Lilongwe, the Queen Elizabeth Central Hospital in Blantyre and Zomba Central Hospital in Zomba.
- The best time to visit Malawi is between May and August when the weather is clear of rain, and the temperature is warm. This is also the peak travel season, so book your trip in advance for good deals on accommodation.
- While the people and places in Malawi are pretty photogenic, it is always polite to ask before taking pictures. Malawians are friendly people, but they may shy away from having their photos taken. In addition, avoid photographing the army, police or airport facilities.
- When travelling in Malawi, avoid unwanted attention by dressing conservatively, wearing simple jewellery and keeping large sums of money out of sight.
Plan Your Trip to Malawi Today
As soon as the Covid-19 restrictions in Malawi lapses, hundreds of thousands of visitors will flock to this magnificent country that lies in the Great Rift Valley. Start planning early so that you can spend your entire holiday in Malawi or visit the lovely neighbouring African countries.