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Malawian visa resources

Visa on arrival and Malawi's country categories

How Malawi's Category One and Category Two country system determines visa-on-arrival access.

Official guidance Regularly updated

Important

This information is for general guidance only. Meeting the requirements does not guarantee your application will be approved.

Malawi classifies foreign nationals into two groups for visa purposes. "Category One" nationals must obtain a visa or prior authorisation before departure and cannot use visa on arrival. "Category Two" nationals are eligible to obtain a visa on arrival at designated ports of entry - a facility the Department confirmed for all designated ports of entry with effect from 24 February 2026.

Regardless of category, the Department strongly encourages travellers to apply for an e-Visa in advance at evisa.gov.mw to facilitate smoother arrival and reduce the risk of delays. Holding a visa, whether obtained online or on arrival, does not by itself guarantee entry: immigration officers at the port of entry retain discretion to grant or refuse admission.

Next steps

  1. Check the documents you’ll needView documents
  2. How to applyStart here
  3. Choose your visaFind a visa

Official sources

For the most accurate and up-to-date information, always refer to the official government sources.

Verified against official sources · last reviewed 2026-08-21. Information only — not legal advice.