Malawi Travel Guide

Malawi reversed course on visas at the start of 2026. A visa waiver scheme introduced in 2024 was revoked, and as of 2 January 2026 most nationalities worldwide need a visa to enter, a genuine change from the more open policy travelers may remember from the last couple of years. Malawi now runs an e-Visa system at evisa.gov.mw and prefers applications in advance, though visas remain available on arrival at Malawian points of entry for what the government terms Category Two countries, a distinction worth checking against your specific nationality rather than assuming either way. Fees range from 50 US dollars for a transit visa up to 250 dollars for a twelve month multiple entry visa, so the type you apply for matters for cost as much as convenience.

Yellow fever proof is required only for travelers arriving from a country with yellow fever risk, not a blanket requirement, and the vaccination needs to have been given at least 10 days before arrival where it does apply. Paying for a visa on arrival has its own quirk, Malawian immigration accepts US dollar bills only if they are newer than 2017, and does not accept credit cards or Malawian kwacha as payment.