Eastern Africa · UN member
Malawi: Travel Guide & Requirements
Republic of Malawi · Chalo cha Malawi, Dziko la Malaŵi
Malawi is a country in Eastern Africa with its capital in Lilongwe. It has a population of 22.2 million (#60 in the world) and covers 118,484 km². The official languages are English and Chewa. The currency is the Malawian kwacha (MWK, MK).
Where is Malawi? Map of Malawi
Southern Africa, east of Zambia, west and north of Mozambique.
- Region
- Eastern Africa
- Coordinates
- 13.5° S, 34° E
- Neighbours
- 3 — see list
- Coastline
- Landlocked
- Malawi
- Neighbours
- Capital
- Largest cities
Map of Malawi showing Lilongwe (capital) and the largest cities: Blantyre, Mzuzu, Zomba, Karonga, Kasungu, Mangochi, Salima and Balaka.
Travel requirements
What you need to travel to Malawi
- Passport
The UK government says your passport must have an expiry date at least 6 months after the day you arrive in Malawi.
- Visa or eTA
Depends on your passport: of 198 passports, 35 need no visa, 54 need an eVisa, 109 get a visa on arrival. Check yours or see Malawi entry requirements for every passport.
- Return or onward ticket
No official requirement.
- Proof of funds
No official requirement.
- Travel insurance
No official requirement. The UK government advises having adequate travel health insurance and accessible funds to cover the cost of any medical treatment abroad, medical evacuation and repatriation.
- Vaccinations
The UK government says you must have a yellow fever vaccination certificate if you are coming from a country listed as a transmission risk.
- Arrival card
The UK government says Malawi's Ministry of Health and Sanitation requires arriving passengers to complete a Traveller Health Check form, which can be accessed on arrival through a QR code or completed in advance.
- Customs allowance
No Malawian source we could read states a currency rule.
- Travel advice
Some caution needed — US and UK advice.
Entry rules: TravelRequirements.info — Entry Requirements Dataset (CC BY 4.0), each rule cited to an official government source. Always confirm with the airline and the official source before you travel.
Before you go
10 things to know before you travel to Malawi
- Safety: Malawi is generally safe for travellers, but some caution is needed: the US State Department rates Malawi Level 2 (“Exercise Increased Caution”), and the UK Foreign Office has no warnings against travel there.
- Best time to go: May to August — when daytime highs in Lilongwe are around 23–26°C.
- Money: the Malawian kwacha (MWK) — 1 US dollar is about 1,731.4 MWK.
- Plugs: type G, 230 V, 50 Hz — standard 220–240 V: devices from the US or Japan (110–120 V) need a converter unless they are dual voltage (100–240 V).
- Emergency numbers: Police 997, Ambulance 998, Fire 999.
- Language: English and Chewa are official.
- Driving: on the left — speed limits are 50 km/h in built-up areas and 80 km/h outside built-up areas.
- Time zone: UTC+2 in Lilongwe.
- Capital: Lilongwe. About 22.2 million people live in Malawi.
- Outdoors: 5 national parks.
Key facts
Malawi at a glance
Languages spoken: English (official), Chewa (dominant), Lambya, Lomwe, Ngoni, Nkhonde, Nyakyusa, Nyanja, Sena, Tonga, Tumbuka, Yao
Geography & history
About Malawi
Malawi shares its name with the Chewa word for flames and is linked to the Maravi people from whom the Chewa language originated. The Maravi settled in what is now Malawi around 1400, during one of the later waves of Bantu migration across central and southern Africa. A powerful Maravi kingdom established around 1500 reached its zenith around 1700, when it controlled what is now southern and central Malawi and portions of neighboring Mozambique and Zambia. The kingdom eventually declined because of destabilization from the escalating global trade in enslaved people. In the early 1800s, widespread conflict in southern Africa displaced various ethnic Ngoni groups, some of which moved into Mal…
Read the full history
Malawi shares its name with the Chewa word for flames and is linked to the Maravi people from whom the Chewa language originated. The Maravi settled in what is now Malawi around 1400, during one of the later waves of Bantu migration across central and southern Africa. A powerful Maravi kingdom established around 1500 reached its zenith around 1700, when it controlled what is now southern and central Malawi and portions of neighboring Mozambique and Zambia. The kingdom eventually declined because of destabilization from the escalating global trade in enslaved people. In the early 1800s, widespread conflict in southern Africa displaced various ethnic Ngoni groups, some of which moved into Malawi and further undermined the Maravi. Members of the Yao ethnic group -- which had long traded with Malawi from Mozambique -- introduced Islam and began to settle in Malawi in significant numbers in the mid-1800s, followed by members of the Lomwe ethnic group. British missionary and trading activity increased in the area around Lake Nyasa in the mid-1800s, and in 1891, Britain declared a protectorate called British Central Africa over what is now Malawi. The British renamed the territory Nyasaland in 1907, and it was part of the colonial Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland -- including present-day Zambia and Zimbabwe -- from 1953 to 1963 before gaining independence as Malawi in 1964. Hastings Kamuzu BANDA served as prime minister at independence and then as president when the country became a republic in 1966. He later instituted one-party rule under his Malawi Congress Party (MCP) and was declared president for life. After three decades of one-party rule, the country held multiparty presidential and parliamentary elections in 1994 under a provisional constitution that came into full effect the following year. Bakili MULUZI of the United Democratic Front party became the first freely elected president of Malawi when he defeated BANDA at the polls in 1994; he won reelection in 1999. President Bingu wa MUTHARIKA was elected in 2004 and reelected to a second term in 2009. He died abruptly in 2012 and was succeeded by Vice President Joyce BANDA. MUTHARIKA's brother, Peter MUTHARIKA, defeated BANDA in the election in 2014. Peter MUTHARIKA was reelected in a disputed election in 2019 that resulted in countrywide protests. The courts ordered a new election, and in 2020, Lazarus CHAKWERA of the MCP was elected president. Population growth, increasing pressure on agricultural lands, corruption, and HIV/AIDS pose major problems for Malawi.
Location
Southern Africa, east of Zambia, west and north of Mozambique
Climate
sub-tropical; rainy season (November to May); dry season (May to November)
Terrain
narrow elongated plateau with rolling plains, rounded hills, some mountains
Highest point
Sapitwa (Mount Mlanje) 3,002 m
Natural resources
limestone, arable land, hydropower, unexploited deposits of uranium, coal, and bauxite
Natural hazards
flooding; droughts; earthquakes
National symbols
lion
Driving
Speed limits & road rules in Malawi
The default speed limits in Malawi are 50 km/h in built-up areas and 80 km/h outside built-up areas. The legal alcohol limit for drivers is 0.8‰. Posted signs always take priority over these defaults.
- 5050 km/hBuilt-up areasTowns and cities
- 8080 km/hOutside built-up areasCountry roads
- International Driving PermitRecognised: 1949 GenevaCarry the IDP together with your national licence
- Driving sideDrive on the leftOvertake on the right
- Alcohol limit0.8‰ blood alcohol (0.08% BAC)
- Seat beltsRequired by law
- Child seatsNo national child-restraint law
- Motorcycle helmetsRequired for riders
- Road deaths (2021)20.2 per 100,000 peopleHigher than most countries (median 12.4)
Speed limits: OpenStreetMap wiki — Default speed limits (CC BY-SA 2.0). Road-safety laws: WHO Global Health Observatory. Compare speed limits and alcohol limits by country. Defaults for cars; local signs, weather and vehicle type can lower them.
Safety
Is Malawi safe to visit?
Malawi is generally safe for travellers, but some caution is needed: the US State Department rates Malawi Level 2 (“Exercise Increased Caution”), and the UK Foreign Office has no warnings against travel there.
US State Department
UK Foreign Office (FCDO)Latest update: New information about foreign currency rules (‘Entry requirements’ page).
Updated 20 Oct 2026 · Full travel advice
Sources: US Department of State travel advisories (public domain) and UK FCDO foreign travel advice (contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0). Checked daily. Advice can change quickly — always read the official page before you travel.
Weather
Best time to visit Malawi
The best time to visit Malawi is May to August, when daytime highs in Lilongwe are around 23–26°C. April and September are also a good time to go. October is the warmest month (31°C by day), July the coldest (9°C at night), and January the wettest with about 307 mm of rain.
- Jan26°C17°C
- Feb25°C17°C
- Mar25°C16°C
- Apr25°C14°C
- May24°C11°C
- Jun23°C9°C
- Jul23°C9°C
- Aug26°C11°C
- Sep29°C14°C
- Oct31°C17°C
- Nov31°C19°C
- Dec27°C18°C
Best time Good Less ideal
Before you go
Plugs, voltage & emergency numbers in Malawi
Plugs & sockets
230 V, 50 Hz · Standard 220–240 V: devices from the US or Japan (110–120 V) need a converter unless they are dual voltage (100–240 V).
Emergency numbers
Save the local numbers before you travel — 112 or 911 may not connect here. All countries →
Sources: Wikipedia — Mains electricity by country and List of emergency telephone numbers (CC BY-SA 4.0).
National parks
5 national parks in Malawi
- 7,059 km² protected
- oldest from 1965
Largest: Nyika National Park · Kasungu National Park · Lengwe National Park
Currency · 26 October 2026
Malawian kwacha exchange rates today
Malawi uses the Malawian kwacha (MWK, MK). One US dollar buys 1,731.4 MWK; over the last 30 days the MWK has gained 0.0% against the dollar.
What other currencies cost in MWK
Currency converter
Daily reference rates from the open-source currency-api (CC0), 26 Oct 2026. Banks and exchange offices add a margin.
World rankings
Where Malawi ranks
How Malawi compares with the rest of the world — open any card for the full ranking.
Airports
Airports in Malawi
27 airports and airfields — 2 large, 3 medium and 22 small, plus 0 heliports. 2 have scheduled passenger flights.
Borders
Neighbouring countries
Malawi borders 3 countries along 2,857 km of land borders. It is landlocked.
People
Population & society
Religion
Largest cities: Lilongwe (1.3 million), Blantyre-Limbe (1.0 million)
Economy
Economy
Main industries
tobacco, tea, sugar, sawmill products, cement, consumer goods
Export partners
Germany 11%, India 7%, Zimbabwe 6%, South Africa 5%, USA 5% (2023)
Top exports
tobacco, tea, dried legumes, soybean meal, raw sugar (2023)
Travel tools
Handy before every trip to Malawi
Next public holiday
Christmas Day — Friday, 25 December 2026. Then St. Stephen's Day (28 Dec).
Malawian passport
Ranked #120: 42 countries visa-free, 25 with visa on arrival, 3 with an eTA and 35 with an eVisa.
Malawian passport photo
Exact size, head position and background for Malawi's passport and visa photos — make one free with AI checks.
Calling Malawi
Dial +265 before the local number. Internet domain .mw.
Climate footprint
1.9 million tonnes of CO₂ in 2024 — 0.09 t per person.
Entry requirements
Visa rules for every passport visiting Malawi: visa-free stays, eVisas, visas on arrival and documents to bring.
News
Latest travel news about Malawi
Travellers at Songwe May Face Tighter Patrols as Malawi Closes Check Gaps
Malawi's Parliamentary Committee on Health said Songwe Border inspections focus on cost and quality rather than verifying what consignments contain, …
Malawi travel guide 2027: best months, parks and how to get around
Malawi has been named one of the best places to visit in 2027 for its wildlife reserves and Lake Malawi. The driest, most comfortable weather runs fr…
Cross-Border Cattle Recovery in Malawi: 15 Stolen Cows Returned to Zambia
A joint operation between Zambian and Malawian police led to the recovery of 15 stolen cattle in Malawi. The successful collaboration highlights the …
Frequently asked questions about Malawi
What do I need to travel to Malawi?
How long must my passport be valid for Malawi?
Where is Malawi?
What is Malawi known for?
What is the capital of Malawi?
What language is spoken in Malawi?
What currency does Malawi use?
What is the calling code of Malawi?
Which countries border Malawi?
How strong is the Malawian passport?
What is the speed limit in Malawi?
Is Malawi safe to visit?
When is the best time to visit Malawi?
What plug type does Malawi use?
How many airports does Malawi have?
Sources: CIA World Factbook (public domain); World Bank Open Data (CC BY 4.0); names, languages and currencies: mledoze/countries (ODbL); flag: flag-icons (MIT); coat of arms: Wikimedia Commons (file page); exchange rates: Daily reference rates from the open-source currency-api (CC0); airports: OurAirports.