Malawi
Warnings and insuranceSummary
TheBefore Foreign,you Commonwealthtravel, &check Developmentthe Office‘Entry (FCDO)requirements’ providessection for Malawi’s current entry restrictions and requirements. These may change with little warning. Monitor this advice aboutfor risksthe oflatest updates and stay in contact with your travel provider.
If you plan to helppass Britishthrough nationalsanother makecountry informedto decisions.return Findto outthe UK, check the travel advice for the country you’re transiting.
It is more aboutimportant than ever to get travel insurance and check it provides sufficient cover. See the FCDO’s guidance on foreign travel adviceinsurance.
Before
Most visits to Malawi are trouble-free, but you travel
Noshould traveltake cansensible beprecautions guaranteedto safe.protect Readyourself allfrom muggers and bag-snatchers. Most thefts from visitors take place around the advicemain inbus thisstations guidein Lilongwe and anyBlantyre. specificSee travelCrime
You advicewill thatneed appliesa visa to you:
FollowThere andare contactfrequent FCDOfuel shortages in Malawi. Do not take accessibility of fuel for travel onin Twitter,the Facebookcountry for granted, and Instagram.plan Youahead to ensure that you can alsoreach signyour upplanned todestination. getWhere emailfuel notificationsis available, there can often be long queues. See Road travel
Since whenMarch this2020 advicethere have been reports of possible incidents of unrest and violence in rural areas of Mulanje, linked to rumours of bloodsuckers. This is updated.further to similar incidents of violence and unrest reported in 2017 and 2018. See Local travel
Travel
Terrorist insuranceattacks in Malawi can’t be ruled out See Terrorism
IfThe yourainy chooseseason runs from November to travel,April researchand yourcan destinationsmake roads harder to pass, and getmake appropriatesome travelareas insuranceimpassable. Flooding is also a possibility. See Natural disasters.
More Insuranceinformation shouldcan coverbe yourfound itinerary,at plannedthe activitiesMalawi’s Department of Climate Change and expensesMeteorological inService antwitter emergency.account
If you’re abroad and you need emergency help from the UK government, contact the nearest British embassy, consulate or high commission.
Update history
2024-07-31 12:36
New information on criminal kidnap (‘Safety and security’ page).
2024-06-26 11:08
Removal of information about memorial events between 15 and 17 June (‘Safety and security’ page).
2024-06-14 12:51
Updated information on political situation (‘Safety and security’ page).
2024-02-12 16:09
Information on no longer needing a visa if you are travelling to Malawi for a visit of 30 days or less on a British passport (‘Entry requirements’ page).
2023-11-21 10:53
This travel advice has been rewritten to make it easier to read and understand.
2023-10-04 17:01
Information about frequent fuel shortages in Malawi (‘Summary’ and ‘Safety and security’ pages).
2023-06-22 11:37
Information about the global terrorism risks to British nationals abroad on all FCDO travel advice pages.
2023-06-08 11:29
Information on the lifting of the mandatory exit/entry requirement of a COVID-19 vaccination certificate and/or PCR test (‘Summary’, Coronavirus and ‘Entry requirements’ pages).
2023-03-10 16:46
New information: Tropical Cyclone Freddy and updated information on PCR tests if not fully vaccinated (‘Summary’ and ‘Entry requirements’ pages).
2023-01-23 09:26
Updated information on threat level in Malawi (See ‘Summary’ and ‘Terrorism’ pages).
2023-01-10 11:19
Updated information and advice on health risks, including cholera (‘Health’ page).
2022-11-09 13:44
Updated information and advice on health risks, including cholera (‘Health’ page).
2022-08-26 09:42
Updated information and advice on health risks, including cholera (‘Health’ page).
2022-06-15 16:23
Removing need for a negative PCR test on arrival if fully vaccinated (‘Coronavirus’ and ‘Entry requirements’ page).
2022-05-19 10:20
Removing need for a negative PCR test on departure (‘Coronavirus’ and ‘Entry requirements’ page).
2022-03-30 16:55
Updated information on the threat from terrorism (‘Summary’ and ‘Terrorism’).
2022-03-22 11:56
Addition of information on the requirement for travellers to show proof of full COVID-19 vaccination status for entry to Malawi. Updated information on visa processes (‘Entry requirements’ page)
2022-03-10 13:29
Updated advice and links on Malawi’s rainy season (‘Natural disasters’ page)