Travelers entering Malawi are now asked to complete a digital health declaration known as the Traveller Health Check as part of health screening procedures at the country’s ports of entry.
Malawi’s Ministry of Health has launched an official Traveller Health Check portal, which is free to use and does not require travelers to create an account. The procedure applies to anyone entering Malawi and generates a health QR code to be presented upon arrival.
How does Malawi’s Traveller Health Check work?
The process takes just a few minutes and can be completed on a phone, tablet or computer at poe.health.gov.mw.
Travelers must first provide their port of entry into Malawi, arrival date, country of origin and mode of transportation. The form allows an arrival date to be selected up to two days in advance and also asks travelers to list the countries they have visited during the previous 21 days.
Travelers must then provide personal and travel information, including:
- first and last name as shown on the travel document;
- date of birth and nationality;
- passport or travel document details;
- a phone number and emergency contact;
- any accompanying family members.
A final section covers the traveler’s health status, including any symptoms or potential recent exposures during the previous three weeks.
The Ministry of Health notes that reporting symptoms does not automatically result in denial of entry. Instead, travelers may be referred for additional precautionary health screening upon arrival.
A QR code to present upon arrival in Malawi
Once the form is submitted, the system immediately generates a QR code and reference number.
The QR code can be saved on the traveler’s phone and presented to health officials upon arrival. If there is no internet connection at the port of entry, the reference number can also be used to retrieve the declaration.
During screening, an officer scans the health pass to access the information submitted in advance. Travelers who do not require additional checks can then continue with the rest of their entry formalities.
According to the Ministry of Health, the system is available at both airports and land border crossings throughout Malawi, replacing paper health declaration forms with a single digital system for the country’s various ports of entry.
Can the health declaration be completed upon arrival in Malawi?
Malawian authorities indicate that travelers who arrive without having completed the Traveller Health Check before departure can still complete the process upon arrival.
According to the Ministry of Health’s official portal, passengers who do not yet have a health pass are screened at the port of entry and can, among other options, complete the declaration on their phone while waiting.
Completing the form online before travel is nevertheless recommended, as it allows travelers to have their QR code ready and should make the health screening process easier upon arrival.
Malawian authorities therefore do not indicate that failure to complete the declaration in advance prevents a traveler from entering the country: the procedure can still be completed at the port of entry.
A free requirement for all travelers
The Traveller Health Check is completely free and does not require users to create an account.
The Ministry of Health says the form is intended for everyone entering Malawi. The information collected is used for border health screening and can be accessed by authorized health officers stationed at ports of entry.
The declaration should be completed close to the travel date. The portal does not specify a set validity period for the health pass, stating only that travelers must submit a new declaration if their pass has expired.
This new health requirement adds to the entry formalities travelers should be aware of when visiting Malawi, alongside the country’s visa rules. Malawian immigration authorities have also recently reiterated that nationals of 160 countries and territories can obtain a visa on arrival without prior authorization.
VisasNews Take
The Traveller Health Check adds a new digital step to Malawi’s arrival procedures. Completing it before travel provides the QR code needed for health screening and should help make the border process smoother. Malawian authorities nevertheless make clear that travelers who arrive without a health pass can still complete the procedure or undergo screening directly at the port of entry.
