Malawi

Government advisories

• ☐ United States: level 2/4 — Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution
• ☐ United Kingdom: level 1/4
• ☐ Canada: level 2/4 — Exercise a high degree of caution

Health notices

• ☐ Global Measles (level 1)

Entry requirements

☐ Visitors to Malawi must obtain an e-Visa unless they come from one of the visa-exempt countries or countries eligible for visa on arrival.

Practical

• ☐ Plug type G, 230V — bring an adapter if yours differs
• ☐ Drives on the left
• ☐ Emergency (police): 997
• ☐ Emergency (ambulance): 998
• ☐ Emergency (fire): 999
• ☐ Money: The local currency is the Malawi kwacha, sometimes abbreviated "MK" (ISO international currency code: MWK). The currency is freely convertible (but impossible to get rid of outside of the country). Coins of Malawi are issued in denominations of 1, 5, 10, 20 and 50 kwacha. Banknotes of Malawi are issued in denominations of 20, 50, 100, 200, 500, 1,000, 2,000 and 5,000 kwacha.

Laws that could get a tourist arrested

• ☐ Homosexuality prohibition — Homosexuality is prohibited by law. LGBT couples must exercise discretion to avoid arrest and potential sentencing to hard labor.

Before you go

General trip-prep, not specific to Malawi — the same short list applies anywhere.

• ☐ Register with your embassy's traveler program if one exists
• ☐ Check your passport's validity and blank-page requirements on your destination's official entry-rules page
• ☐ Photograph/screenshot your passport, visa, and travel insurance documents
• ☐ Download offline maps for your destination
• ☐ Confirm your bank/card issuer knows you're traveling
• ☐ Check whether your phone plan needs a travel add-on or a local SIM