Passport and visa regulations

Nationalities

	Passport required	visa required	Return ticket required
Germany	Yes	Yes	Yes
Austria	Yes	Yes	Yes
Switzerland	Yes	Yes	Yes
Other EU countries	Yes	Yes	Yes
Turkey	Yes	Yes	Yes

Passport information

Generally required, must still be valid for at least 6 months upon entry.

Visa information

Generally required for all citizens in the above table. Attention: It is highly recommended to apply for the visa at the relevant Malawian diplomatic mission before travel to avoid possible visa application inconvenience when entering Malawi. Citizens of Turkey, among others, must apply for a visa in any case before the trip. Note: The Malawian embassy in Berlin no longer issues visas and refers to the application for a visa upon arrival.

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Costs

Switzerland tourist visa: €100 (single entry, valid for 3 months). €200 (multiple entries, valid for 6 months). €300 (multiple entries, valid for 12 months). Transit visa: €65 (single transit). Visa on arrival: single entry: US$75 in cash; multiple entry: US$150 in cash.

Visa types and costs

Tourist visa (single, multiple entry), transit visa.

Validity

Tourist visa: 3 months (single entry) or 6 or 12 months (multiple entries) from the date of issue. A stay of 30 days is usually granted at the border, which can be extended to up to 90 days at the Immigration Department in Blantyre for a fee. Transit visa: up to 7 days.

Transit

Otherwise, transit travelers who require a visa and who travel on within 24 hours, have valid documents for the onward journey and reserved seats and do not leave the transit area do not require a transit visa. [2] This regulation does not apply to nationals of Bulgaria, Croatia, Poland, Romania, the Slovak Republic, Slovenia, the Czech Republic and Hungary, who need a transit visa in any case. Further information can be obtained from the responsible Malawian representations. Consular section of the embassy (see contact addresses) or upon entry at the Malawian border crossings and international airports. The Malawian embassy in Berlin no longer issues visas.

Application required

(a) 2 application forms (to be completed in English)(downloadable from the website of the relevant diplomatic mission). (b) 2 passport photos (1 passport photo in Berlin). (c) Passport that is valid for at least 6 months upon entry. (d) Cash fee (if applying by postal order, with receipt). (e) Letter detailing itinerary and justification for stay and address(es) in Malawi. (f) Proof of paid return or onward travel. (g) Proof of Sufficient Funds. (h) Letter of invitation for visits. Business trips additionally: (i) Letter from the company or the business partner.

Temporary Residence

Pre-departure inquiries to the Controller of Immigration Services, PO Box 331, MW-Blantyre.

Processing time

Usually at least 10 working days. Visas are sometimes issued within 2 days if arranged by telephone and the application is submitted in person.

Proof of sufficient funds

Foreigners must have sufficient funds.

Documents required upon entry

Since health checks are sometimes carried out upon entry, the vaccination certificate should be carried with you in any case. When entering from neighboring countries or yellow fever areas, proof of yellow fever protection (vaccination card or corresponding certificate) is required.

Entry with children

German: Machine-readable children’s passport or your own passport. Austrians: Own passport. Swiss: Own passport. Turks: Own passport. Note: The same visa requirements apply to children as to their parents. Unaccompanied minors should carry a travel authorization signed by both parents (in English and with a notarized signature). Since June 27, 2012, children need their own travel document (passport / children’s passport) for trips abroad (also within the EU). Entries of children in the parental passport are no longer possible.