Malawi Confirms Visa on Arrival for 160 Countries – US, UK, Canada, France & Belgium Eligible
- Xavi
- 2 days ago
- 4 min read
Updated: 22 hours ago
LILONGWE, August 13, 2026 — Malawi's Department of Immigration and Citizenship Services has republished its updated list of nationalities eligible for visa on arrival, confirming that travelers from 160 countries and territories — including the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, France, Belgium, Germany, Italy, Japan, and the Netherlands — can obtain their visa directly upon arrival without prior authorization.
The updated lists, published on August 6, 2026, clarify the country's visa policy following the reintroduction of visa requirements for many nationalities on January 3, 2026, which partially reversed the broad visa-waiver policy introduced in 2024.
Two Categories: Visa on Arrival vs. Prior Authorization
The Immigration Department's updated guidance divides travelers into two categories:
Category | Description | Number of Countries |
Category Two | Visa on arrival (no prior authorization needed) | 160 |
Category One | Must obtain visa or prior authorization before departure | 47 |
Category Two (Visa on Arrival) — Eligible Countries Include:
Region | Countries |
North America | United States, Canada |
Europe | United Kingdom, France, Belgium, Germany, Italy, Netherlands, Spain, Portugal, Switzerland, Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Finland, Ireland, Austria, Greece, Poland, Czech Republic, Hungary, Romania, Bulgaria, Croatia, Slovenia, Slovakia, Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia, Iceland, Luxembourg, Malta, Cyprus |
Asia-Pacific | Japan, Australia, New Zealand, South Korea, Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia, Philippines, Vietnam, Taiwan (as "Taiwan, Province of China") |
Africa | South Africa, Botswana, Kenya, Tanzania, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Namibia, Eswatini, Lesotho, Mauritius, Seychelles |
Americas | Brazil, Argentina, Chile, Mexico, Colombia, Peru, Venezuela, Ecuador, Uruguay, Paraguay, Bolivia, Costa Rica, Panama, Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador, Nicaragua, Dominican Republic, Jamaica, Trinidad & Tobago |
"The United States, Belgium, the UK and Canada are included in Category Two."— Pasqually Zulu, Immigration Spokesperson
Category One (Prior Authorization Required) — 47 Countries Include:
Region | Countries |
Asia | Afghanistan, Bangladesh, China, India, Iran, Pakistan, Turkey, Uzbekistan, Yemen, Sri Lanka*, Syria, Iraq, Lebanon, Jordan, Nepal, Myanmar, North Korea, Palestine |
Africa | Algeria, Burundi, Egypt, Morocco, Nigeria, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Sudan, Libya, Tunisia, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Somalia, South Sudan, DR Congo, Republic of Congo, Central African Republic, Chad, Niger, Mali, Mauritania, Senegal, Guinea, Ivory Coast, Ghana, Togo, Benin, Liberia, Sierra Leone, Guinea-Bissau, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Angola |
Europe | Russia, Ukraine, Belarus, Kosovo |
Americas | Cuba, Haiti |
Countries marked with * appear on both lists — see discrepancies section below.
Malawi Visa Fees (2026)
The Department of Immigration has published the following fee structure for all visa types:
Visa Type | Validity | Fee (USD) |
Transit Visa | 7 days | $50 |
Single-Entry Visa | 3 months | $50 |
Multiple-Entry Visa | 6 months | $150 |
Multiple-Entry Visa | 12 months | $250 |
"Transit and single-entry visas cost $50."— Pasqually Zulu, Immigration Spokesperson
Payment Notes:
All visa fees are payable in United States Dollars
Online payments can be made via VISA or MasterCard
Fees are non-refundable if the application is rejected
What Travelers Need to Know
Visa on Arrival Process
No prior authorization required for nationals of the 160 listed countries
Visa is issued upon arrival at designated ports of entry
Airlines have been informed to allow boarding without prior visa
Recommendation
Authorities recommend that travelers eligible for a visa on arrival apply online before their trip to make travel easier, reduce processing time at the border, and avoid potential delays.
Required Documentation
Tourists: May be required to provide a hotel reservation
Business Visitors: Must have supporting documentation, such as an invitation letter
Discrepancies in Published Lists
A comparison of the documents released by the Immigration Department reveals several inconsistencies that Malawian authorities have not yet explained:
Country | Appears in Category Two? | Appears in Category One? |
Burkina Faso | Yes (25th) | Yes |
Cameroon | Yes (28th) | Yes |
Sri Lanka | Yes (140th) | Yes (35th) |
Israel | Removed from Category Two | Not in Category One |
Israel appeared in 77th place on the previous Category Two list (which contained 161 countries) but is absent from both new lists — raising questions about whether this reflects a change in status or an omission.
"Travelers impacted by these discrepancies are recommended to confirm their status directly with the relevant authorities before departure, until Malawian authorities provide clarification."
Key Dates
Date | Event |
2024 | Broad visa-waiver policy introduced |
January 3, 2026 | Visa requirements reinstated for many nationalities |
February 24, 2026 | Visa-on-arrival system officially introduced |
August 6, 2026 | Updated lists published |
Related News
Official Resources
Malawi e-Visa Portal: evisa.gov.mw
Department of Immigration and Citizenship Services: immigration.gov.mw
Visa Eligibility Wizard: Available on e-Visa portal
Quick Reference Summary
Aspect | Details |
Visa on Arrival Countries | 160 |
Prior Authorization Required | 47 countries |
Transit Visa Fee | $50 (7 days) |
Single-Entry Visa Fee | $50 (3 months) |
Multiple-Entry Fee (6 months) | $150 |
Multiple-Entry Fee (12 months) | $250 |
Key Eligible Countries | US, UK, Canada, France, Belgium, Germany, Italy, Japan, Australia, New Zealand, South Korea, Singapore |
Key Countries Requiring Prior Authorization | China, India, Pakistan, Russia, Ukraine, Turkey, Egypt, Nigeria, Morocco, Algeria |
For the latest visa updates, travel news, and 2026 immigration developments worldwide, visit: visasupdate.com/news
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