Malawi
Warnings and insurance
Before you travel
No travel can be guaranteed safe. Read all the advice in this guide. You may also find it helpful to:
- see general advice for women travellers
- read our guide on disability and travel abroad
- see general advice for LGBT+ travellers
- read about safety for solo and independent travel
- see advice on volunteering and adventure travel abroad
Travel insurance
If you choose to travel, research your destinations and get appropriate travel insurance. Insurance should cover your itinerary, planned activities and expenses in an emergency.
About FCDO travel advice
The Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) provides advice about risks of travel to help you make informed decisions. Find out more about FCDO travel advice.
Get travel advice updates
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Follow and contact FCDO:
Warnings and insurance
Before you travel
No travel can be guaranteed safe. Read all the advice in this guide. You may also find it helpful to:
- see general advice for women travellers
- read our guide on disability and travel abroad
- see general advice for LGBT+ travellers
- read about safety for solo and independent travel
- see advice on volunteering and adventure travel abroad
Travel insurance
If you choose to travel, research your destinations and get appropriate travel insurance. Insurance should cover your itinerary, planned activities and expenses in an emergency.
About FCDO travel advice
The Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) provides advice about risks of travel to help you make informed decisions. Find out more about FCDO travel advice.
Get travel advice updates
Sign up to get email notifications when this travel advice is updated.
Follow and contact FCDO:
Update history
2025-04-25 12:23
New information on what health risks you’ll face in Malawi, including mpox (‘Health’ page).
2024-12-14 17:57
Addition of information about cyclone Chido and potential floods (Safety and Security page)
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)