After Namibia, which has applied a visa reciprocity policy since last April, and as Senegal considers a similar measure, Malawi may in turn impose entry requirements and fees on citizens of countries that require visas for Malawian nationals. This increasingly visible trend across Africa aims to rebalance admission regimes that several governments consider asymmetric.
It is in this context that Malawi’s Minister of Finance, Joseph Mwanamvekha, announced on November 21, during his 2025–2026 Mid-Year Budget Review Statement, the revocation “with immediate effect” of visa-free access to the country for certain travelers, as part of a series of non-tax measures intended to boost the economy. According to his remarks, future visa fees would be applied strictly on a reciprocal basis.
Visa free access to Malawi is being revoked with immediate effect and visa application fee will apply on a reciprocity basis.
Joseph Mwanamvekha
This development comes less than two years after Malawi expanded its exemption policy in February 2024 by granting visa-free entry to 48 new countries, including many Western states such as France, Belgium, the United Kingdom, Canada, and the United States.
A decision announced… but still uncertain
Despite the government’s firm declaration, the measure remains surrounded by uncertainty.
So far, only the British government, among the countries currently exempt from visas, has briefly relayed Malawi’s announcement. In its travel advisories, the UK notes the Malawian authorities’ statement regarding the end of the exemption while urging affected nationals to contact Malawi’s Department of Immigration for up-to-date information.
This uncertainty is also reflected on the Malawian side: the official electronic visa portal, evisa.gov.mw, continues to indicate that nationals of the 63 currently exempt countries remain… exempt. No official update has yet been made to reflect the newly announced policy.
Here is the list of the 63 countries and territories currently exempt from visas for Malawi, whose nationals may soon face a return to paid visa requirements (based on reciprocity):
- Antigua and Barbuda, Australia, Bahamas, Barbados, Belgium, Belize, Botswana, Brunei, Canada, China, Cyprus, Dominica, Eswatini, Fiji, Finland, France, Gambia, Germany, Ghana, Grenada, Guyana, Hong Kong, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Kenya, Kiribati, Lesotho, Malaysia, Maldives, Malta, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, Nauru, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Papua New Guinea, Poland, Portugal, Russia, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Solomon Islands, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Sweden, Tanzania, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tuvalu, Uganda, United Kingdom, United States, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.
Parliamentary approval required
According to Tourism Update, a media outlet specializing in tourism news in Southern and Eastern Africa, the uncertainty may stem from the fact that the proposal has not yet received parliamentary approval. Joseph Nkosi, Public Relations Officer at the Ministry of Tourism, indicated that the reciprocity-based reform must be submitted to a vote by lawmakers before it can officially take effect.
This means that, despite the political announcement, the legal framework is not yet formally established, hence the lack of changes on the visa portal and the absence of clear communication on the ground.
Currently, Malawi applies the following visa fees:
- Transit e-Visa: USD 50
- Single-entry e-Visa: USD 75
- Multiple-entry e-Visa (6 months): USD 150
- Multiple-entry e-Visa (12 months): USD 250
Malawi is seeking to strengthen its economy and align its diplomatic mobility policies. But in the absence of parliamentary confirmation and administrative updates, the situation remains uncertain for potentially affected travelers…
The coming days will be crucial in determining whether Malawi will indeed shift to a visa regime based on strict reciprocity, or whether the November 21 announcement will, for now, remain theoretical.
