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Do China passport holders need a visa to visit MW?

Chinese ordinary passport holders need a visa for Malawi. Apply online for a Malawi eVisa before travel at the official portal evisa.gov.mw. Malawi's previous visa-free exemption for China ended on 3 January 2026. As of 30 May 2026, holders of a Chinese (CN) ordinary passport require a visa to visit Malawi for tourism. Malawi extended visa-free entry to many countries (including China) in February 2024, but it reversed this under a reciprocity-based regime effective 3 January 2026, removing China, the US, UK, EU states and others from the exemption list. Chinese nationals now fall into Malawi's visa-required group and should obtain a tourist eVisa through the official Department of Immigration and Citizenship Services portal (evisa.gov.mw) before departure. The single-entry tourist eVisa typically costs around USD 50-75, allows a stay of up to 30 days, and is generally processed within several working days (allow up to 5-10 working days). A printed eVisa approval letter must be presented at the port of entry. While Malawi also operates a visa-on-arrival channel for certain "Category Two" nationalities and as a fallback, securing the eVisa online in advance is the recommended and most reliable route for Chinese travelers. No bilateral China-Malawi mutual visa-exemption agreement for ordinary passports exists. Passport must be valid at least 6 months with blank pages.
VISA REQUIREDTOURISMFLEXIBLE ENTRYLast verified 2026-05-30
For guidance only — visa rules change with little notice. Always confirm directly with the destination's embassy or foreign ministry before booking non-refundable travel. Information here applies to ordinary (non-diplomatic) passports unless noted.
/01 — The numbers

Key facts

Last verified 2026-05-30
Visa type
eVisa (tourist) - obtained online before travel
Maximum stay
Up to 30 days (single entry)
per entry
Entries
Single entry (multiple-entry options available)
from issue date
Visa fee
~USD 50-75 (single-entry tourist eVisa)
consular fee only
Processing time
About 3 working days; allow up to 5-10
standard track
Validity
eVisa valid ~90 days from issue for entry
from issue date
/02 — The process

How to apply

/01
Confirm passport validity
Ensure your Chinese passport is valid for at least 6 months beyond your intended entry date and has at least 2 blank visa pages.
· 6 months validity· 2 blank pages
/02
Go to the official eVisa portal
Open the Malawi Department of Immigration and Citizenship Services official eVisa site at evisa.gov.mw. Avoid unofficial third-party agents.
· evisa.gov.mw· Official portal
/03
Complete the online application
Create an account, select the Tourist (single-entry) visa, and fill in personal, passport, and travel details.
· Tourist visa· Single entry
/04
Upload supporting documents
Upload a passport bio-page scan, a recent passport photo, and proof of accommodation/return travel as requested.
· Passport scan· Photo· Itinerary
/05
Pay the visa fee online
Pay the visa fee plus any convenience fee by card during the application. Keep the payment receipt.
· Card payment· ~USD 50-75
/06
Receive and print the approval letter
Wait for the eVisa approval letter by email (usually a few working days), print it, and present it at the port of entry for verification.
· Print approval letter· Show at entry
/03 — The paperwork

Required materials

10 items
Personalized checklist
0 / 10 complete
Chinese passport valid 6+ months with 2 blank pages
required
Approved Malawi eVisa approval letter (printed)
required
Recent passport-style digital photo
required
Passport bio-page scan for upload
required
Proof of onward/return flight
recommended
Proof of accommodation (hotel booking or host details)
recommended
Sufficient funds for the stay
recommended
Yellow fever vaccination certificate if arriving from an endemic country
conditional
Credit/debit card for online fee payment
required
Travel/medical insurance
optional
Track your progress · save & email a copy
/04 — The cost

Fee breakdown

All-in estimate
Line itemAmountSource
Single-entry tourist eVisa~USD 50-7530-day stay; exact fee shown on portal at payment
Multiple-entry visa (6 months)~USD 150For frequent visits; longer validity
Multiple-entry visa (12 months)~USD 250Maximum validity multiple-entry option
Convenience/processing feeSmall surchargeAdded at online checkout in addition to visa fee
Total estimateUSD 50USD 80incl. all
/05 — The wait

Processing time

Visa on arrival (fallback)
At the port of entry
Available at airports/land borders for some categories or as a backup, but lines are slower and approval is not guaranteed.
/06 — The risks

Common refusal reasons

by frequency
/01
Visa exemption for China ended
Malawi removed China from its visa-free list under a reciprocity-based regime effective 3 January 2026.
High
/02
No bilateral visa-waiver with China
There is no China-Malawi mutual visa-exemption agreement for ordinary passports.
High
/03
China is in the visa-required category
Chinese nationals must obtain a visa (eVisa) before or at entry rather than entering freely.
High
/04
Reciprocity policy
Malawi exempts only regional bloc members and countries that waive visas for Malawians; China does not.
Medium
/05
Tourism short-stay classification
Standard short tourist visits fall under the paid tourist eVisa category.
Medium
/07 — On arrival

After you land

/01
Immigration
Keep your passport, visa or exemption proof, return ticket, and accommodation details ready for border inspection.
/02
Customs
Review the destination's customs rules before travel and declare restricted goods or large cash amounts when required.
/03
Connectivity
Check whether airport SIMs, eSIMs, or roaming are the best option for your route before arrival.
/08 — The history

Policy changelog

since 2024
2026-05-30
China to Malawi route verified
Confirmed via Malawi Department of Immigration (immigration.gov.mw / evisa.gov.mw) and policy reporting that Malawi's Feb 2024 visa exemption for China ended on 3 January 2026; Chinese ordinary passport holders now require a tourist eVisa (~USD 50-75, 30-day stay). No China-Malawi mutual visa-waiver exists per China MFA list.
/09 — The questions

Frequently asked

Can Chinese citizens still enter Malawi visa-free?
No. Malawi's visa-free arrangement that covered China (from Feb 2024) ended on 3 January 2026. Chinese passport holders now need a visa, normally an eVisa obtained online before travel.
How do I apply for a Malawi tourist eVisa?+
How much does the eVisa cost and how long does it take?+
How long can I stay in Malawi on the tourist eVisa?+
Is visa on arrival available for Chinese travelers?+
What passport validity do I need?+
/11 — Passport tools

Tools for the China passport

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