Country Profile
Malawi is a land-linked country located in southern central Africa along the western side of part of the Great Rift Valley of Africa. Covering a total area of 118,484 sq.km, it stretches some 900 kilometres north to south and between 90 and 161 kilometres east to west.
The prominent feature of Malawi is Lake Malawi which is the third largest freshwater lake in Africa being 568 kilometres long while covering about 20 % of the country's total land area. The terrain of Malawi is breath-taking comprising plateaus, plains, hills and mountains. These include Nyika and Viphya plateaus and Misuku hills to the North, Dedza and Kirk range mountains in the Centre. In southern Malawi, the terrain is equally varied with escarpments, highlands and mountains and low marshy lands along the Shire River which is an outlet of Lake Malawi. The Mulanje Mountain which is home to the rare Mulanje cedar, is the highest mountain in Central Africa, with the highest point, Sapitwa peak rising to 3, 050 meters above sea level.
a) The People
The population of Malawi constitutes predominantly Bantu speaking black African people. There are 8 major tribes in Malawi: the Chewa, Nyanja, Tumbuka Lomwe, Sena, Tonga, Ngoni and Ngonde. Although these tribes speak their ethnic languages, especially those living in the rural areas, Chichewa is the official local language. Asians and a few Europeans also constitute a sizable number of Malawi's 21.2 million people (2024).
b) Climate
May to August
Cool and dry, July being the coldest month, with temperatures ranging from 15.5 to 18.0 degrees Celsius in the plateau and 20.0 to 24.5 degrees Celsius in the rift valley areas. There is little rain in this season; most of it falling in the high southeast facing slopes.
September to mid-November
Hot and dry, with temperatures ranging from 22 to 25 end 27 to 30 degrees Celsius in the plateau areas and the rift valley respectively.
Mid-November to April
Hot and rainy, with 90% of the annual rainfall being received. December and January are the wettest months. Total annual rainfall averages 760 to 1,015mm with some areas in the plateau recording over 1,525mm.
c) Economy
Malawi’s economic growth is projected to slightly increase in 2023 with the GDP growth projected to rebound to 2.0% in 2023 and 3.5% in 2024, driven by a recovery in agriculture, tourism and exports, and foreign direct investment (World Bank).
Malawi has an agro-based economy with the agriculture sector accounting for 22.1 per cent of GDP in 2022, followed by wholesale and retail trade (12.6%) and real estate and construction (6.5%). Agriculture is characterized by a dual structure consisting of commercial estates that grow cash crops and a large smallholder sub-sector that is mainly engaged in mixed subsistence farming. Maize, the staple food, accounts for 80 percent of cultivated land in the small-holder sub-sector. The main agricultural export crop is tobacco, followed by tea, sugar and coffee.
The manufacturing sector accounts for 12.7 percent of GDP and comprises mainly agro-processing activities in the tobacco, tea and sugar industries. Malawi has a significant potential for natural resource extraction. Minerals that can be found include uranium, coal, bauxite, phosphates, graphite, granite, black granite, vermilite, aquamarine, tourmaline, rubies, sapphire and rare earths.
d) Legal and political overview
Malawi Constitution provides for three arms of government (the Executive, Judiciary and legislature). The Executive arm of Government comprises of the Presidency (President and Vice) and Cabinet Ministers and Deputy Ministers and is headed by the President, who is also the commander-in-chief of the Malawi Defence Force and Malawi Police Service.
The justice system is divided into; the magistrate Courts, the High Court and the Supreme Court, and other special courts. The chief justice is the president of the Supreme Court and the legal system is based on English law.
Malawi legislature is unicameral and has 193 Members of Parliament (MPs) who are directly elected in single-member constituencies using the simple majority system and serve five-year terms.
e) General Information
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Capital |
Lilongwe |
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Area |
118,484 km2 |
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Languages |
English and Chichewa |
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Population (2024) |
21.2 million (World meter) |
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Currency |
Malawian Kwacha (MK) |
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GDP |
13.16 billion (2022) (World Bank) |
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GDP per capita (current US$) |
645.2 (2022) (World Bank) |
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GDP growth (annual %) |
0.9 (2022) (World Bank) |
Why Malawi?
a) Liberalised Economy, Political Stability and Commitment
Malawi has a liberalised economy with market-determined interest rates and floating exchange rate. The government is supportive towards private sector growth and development through reforms and strategic co-investments and turn-key projects. Further, the country has no history of civil war and has a vibrant democracy.
b) Preferential Access to Markets
Malawi is signatory to a number of multilateral and bilateral trade agreements as part of its trade policy. Malawi enjoys:
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Preferential trade agreement with China;
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Bilateral agreements with Zimbabwe, Mozambique and South Africa;
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SADC;
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COMESA;
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AGOA;
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Everything But Arms (EBA);
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African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
c) Untapped Investment Opportunities
Malawi is a gold mine, flooded with untapped economic opportunities waiting to be explored. Potential opportunities for investment abound, particularly in the following sectors: agriculture/agro-processing, energy, mining, manufacturing, infrastructure development, ICT, and tourism.
i) Competitive Labour Market
Malawi prides itself on its large, highly educated, skilled, hardworking, trainable English-speaking workforce trained within the country and in institutions around the world with literacy level of 67.3 percent.
ii) Investor-Friendly Climate
Malawi is open to foreign and domestic investment. Foreign investors may invest in any sector and may access government investment incentives. There are no restrictions on ownership, size of investment, source of funds, investment sector, or whether the products are destined for export or for domestic market. The source of funds in this case pertains to the geographic origin of the capital, and not the method through which funds were procured.
d) Infrastructure
Malawi has seen tremendous infrastructure development in the last ten years in sectors such as transport, property development and ICT. These facilitate ease in business operational activities and they include: reasonably priced and reliable utilities, road networks, modern banking facilities and insurance facilities.
i) Water Utility
The major five water boards in Malawi; Blantyre Water Board, Southern Region Water Board, Lilongwe Water Board, Central Region Water Board and Northern Region Water Board provide reliable water supply to businesses and households. Water in Malawi is affordable.
ii) Electricity Supply
The Electricity Supply Corporation of Malawi- ESCOM procures, operates, transmits, distributes and supply’s electricity in the country. However, the Government of Malawi has taken proactive measures in establishing frameworks to welcome Independent Power Producers (IPPs), a strategic move aimed at enhancing the nation's power generation capabilities.
iii) Telecommunications
The Malawi Telecommunications Limited (MTL) offers a wide range of ICT based products together with other private companies.
iv) Roads
Malawi handles more than 70% of internal freight traffic and 99% of passengers’ traffic. The road network in Malawi is composed of 15,451 KM.
v) Financial Services Sector
Malawi’s financial sector has undergone a significant reform programme aimed at building a more inclusive financial sector, liberalizing and modernizing the financial system and opening up the sector to new entrants. This has resulted in an increase in the number of commercial banks from two to nine, the number of microfinance institutions/lenders to fifteen, market-based interest rates, unrestricted access to financing facilities for both local and foreign investors and a managed floating exchange rate.
Malawi Investment and Trade Centre (MITC)
The Malawi Investment and Trade Centre (MITC) acts as a trade and inward investment promotion agency, and promotes Malawi as an ideal destination for trade and investment in Africa and beyond. MITC operates as a One-Stop Service Centre (One-Door OSSC) for investors as mandated by the Investment and Export Promotion Act of 2012. The “One-Door” OSSC hosts officials from Malawi Investment and Trade Centre, Department of Immigration and Citizenship Services, Ministry of Lands, Housing and Urban Development and Malawi Revenue Authority. These dedicated and experienced officials assist investors on the national investment process; business registration; information on incentives for all taxes; accessing immigration permits and accessing land.
Incentives
Malawi offers a wide range of tax incentives for investments which fall under two main categories: Customs & Excise and Domestic Taxes.
Customs & Excise are taxes imposed at a rate percent of the Cost, Insurance and Freight (CIF) value of imported goods while the Domestic Taxes are taxes collected from income generated within the geographical confines of the country.
Customs & Excise
General Incentives
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Import duty and import VAT exemption on importation of most machinery;
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Import duty exemption while VAT remains payable at 16.5% on importation of specific type of machinery.
Specific Incentives
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Import duty and import VAT exemption on importation of special purpose motor vehicles other than those principally designed for transport of persons or goods;
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Solar products are imported duty free while VAT remains payable at 16.5%. Examples of such solar products include solar batteries and solar energy lamps.
Domestic Taxes
General Incentives
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Losses are carried forward up to 6 years for businesses;
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Initial and annual allowances at various rates are granted besides the depreciation (annual) allowances;
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Commercial buildings with a construction cost of MK 100 million or above, are subject to an annual allowance of 2.5%;
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A claim of 50% allowance of social contributions paid directly into the building of a public hospital, school, or the sponsoring of youth sporting development activities.
Incentives for Priority Industries
Currently, there are two designated priority industries: agro-processing and electricity generation, transmission and distribution. The companies that are accorded the Priority Industry status are given either 0% Corporate Income Tax rates for a period not exceeding 10years or an exemption on duty for importation of capital goods and building materials.
However, under Priority Industry, there are gazetted lists of items that can be allowed duty free and that anything outside those lists cannot be allowed.
Industry Specific Incentives
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Agriculture |
Manufacturing |
Energy |
Tourism |
Construction |
Mining |
Exports |
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Import duty and VAT free on importation of livestock meant for breeding |
For projects that qualify for Industrial Rebate Scheme, Import and VAT free for raw materials for the manufacture of fertilizer, medicaments and pharmaceuticals |
Duty free importation but VAT payable at 16.5% on electricity generation and solar equipment |
Free import duty, free import excise and VAT free importation on specialized equipment and building materials |
Duty and VAT free importation of crane lorries, concrete mixer lorries, mobile drilling derricks and track laying tractors |
Duty free and VAT free on importation of specialized goods for use in mining |
25% export allowance for non-traditional exports |
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Import duty, import excise and VAT free on importation of irrigation equipment |
Pre-business expenses of up to 18 months are allowable expenses |
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25% international transport allowance for non-traditional exports |
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Exemption of duty, import excise and VAT free on importation of equipment for horticultural production |
Losses are carried forward for six years to encourage investment in profitable business ventures |
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Exports are zero-rated for purpose of VAT |
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Import duty, import excise and import VAT free on importation of equipment for fishing industry |
Capital allowances are allowable on various capital items for the manufacturing sector |
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Duty free and VAT free importation of agricultural goods and equipment used for farming |
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Some capital expenses are treated as acceptable expenses |
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Investment Opportunities
With government strategy being to diversify the economy away from agriculture, policy has been towards provision of incentives for private sector investment that would achieve this strategy. Investment opportunities available range from agriculture, agro-processing, manufacturing, energy, mining, ICT and tourism sectors with agencies like the Malawi Investment and Trade Centre on hand with detailed information on possible investment avenues.
a) Agriculture
Malawi’s agriculture sector continues to drive the country’s economy contributing around 30 percent to the Gross Domestic Product. The country has over 3.5 million hectares of arable land and rich fertile soils that support production of a wide range of crops such as tobacco (accounting for 60 percent of export revenues), maize (staple food), cassava, coffee, soya beans, tea, sugar cane, beans, sweet potatoes, macadamia nuts, horticultural foods, fruits. Over 80 percent of the labour force is in the agriculture sector which guarantees a ready and affordable work-force.
However, the sector still has a lot of opportunities for further investments. The sector is largely characterised by subsistence farming, low productivity, use of conventional methods of production and traditional technologies, heavy reliance on un-processed traditional crops, limited drought resilience, and limited access to funds and poor infrastructure.
To improve the performance of the sectors, the Government has designated the agriculture and agro-processing sectors as priority industries. This means all investments in this sector enjoy zero rated corporate tax for a period of up to 10 years.
Potential areas of investments in Malawi’s agriculture sector include:
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Large-scale farming;
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Agro-processing;
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Agriculture financing services;
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Agriculture infrastructural development including irrigation, and
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Technology advancement.
b) Manufacturing
Malawi has a developing manufacturing sector which is currently dominated by agro-processing (food and beverages, tea and sugar), chemical industries, pharmaceuticals, cement and light electronic manufacturing. The sector contributes about 12 percent to GDP and is estimated to grow by an average of 4.2 percent per annum. Most manufactured consumer goods in Malawi are imported while exports are largely unprocessed or semi-processed. The imported goods include; clothing and footwear, cement, fertilizer, plastics and food products. There is need to diversify the country’s exports to include value added non-agricultural commodities.
The Government realizes that a growing and outward-oriented manufacturing sector can significantly contribute to Malawi’s job creation and export diversification. The government therefore introduced incentives for the sector including:
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Loss carry forward for six years;
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100 percent capital allowance on new and unused plant and machinery and industrial building, and
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A 40 percent capital allowance on used plant and machinery and industrial building.
Key opportunities for investment include; textiles and garments manufacturing, farm input production, fertilizer manufacturing, bicycle assembly and supply of building materials.
c) Tourism
Malawi, also known as the Warm Heart of Africa boasts of beautiful landscapes, variety of wildlife and a rich and diverse culture that make this small country an ideal place to invest in. From the tip of Lake Malawi through the exciting towns and cities, to the Peak of Mulanje Mountain, tourists and business people are constantly flooding the country all year round. In order to realize the tourism potential, the government of Malawi is formulating a Tourism Investment Master Plan to ensure that the sector is well planned and monitored. Further, the government offers attractive investment incentives in this sector. Investors interested to invest in Malawi’s tourism sector are eligible for exemption of various import excise duty on various goods at construction and operational stage.
In 2022, Malawi was declared as one of the top 10 best in travel countries by Lonely Planet alongside countries like Norway, Mauritius, Egypt, Nepal, Oman, Anguilla, Slovenia, Belize, and Cook Islands.
The country is inviting new investments and creating new opportunities in the tourism sector. Some of the opportunities include; Ecotourism; Construction of hotels, lodges and cottage, conference facilities and water-based sports facilities.
d) Mining
Mining contributes only 3 percent to GDP but it is one sector that is under-explored. An airborne geophysical survey conducted in 2015 revealed an abundance of mineral deposits including rare earth minerals, bauxite, uranium, graphite, vermiculite coal, gemstones, alluvial gold, monazite, limestone, phosphate, pyrite, glass sands, dimension stone and titanium heavy bearing mineral sands. Formal mining activity are happening for coal, and lime while gemstones are extracted by small-scale miners.
In order to cultivate and sustain a conducive environment for growth of investments in the sector, the Government of Malawi reviewed and endorsed the Mines and Minerals Act in 2018 and the mining and fiscal regime was reviewed in 2016. The Government grants duty free and VAT free importation of mining equipment to investors in the mining sector. In order to access the incentives, an investor is required to obtain a mining license from the Ministry of Mining. Furthermore, the Department of Geological Survey set up a geo-data management platform to ease information access by investors and other stakeholders.
e) Energy
Malawi continues to witness a growing demand for energy following increased industrial activities and population growth. The demand will continue to grow owing to expanding manufacturing, mining and agricultural activities in the medium to long term. According to the Power Demand Forecast of the Integrated Resource Plan (IRP) of 2017, Malawi’s demand will reach 2,500 megawatts by 2035.
Several initiatives have been undertaken in the energy sector in order to improve power supply: the Millennium Challenge Corporation invested US$350.7 million into improving the capacity, efficiency and stability of the national electricity grid, and the capacity and sustainability of Nkula A hydro plant; Government completed the construction of Kapichira Hydropower plant in order to enhance power generation capacity. The Government has also opened up the power sector to allow participation of Independent Power Producers in enhancing power generation. In this regard, there is an IPP Framework that guides IPP investments.
Currently most industrial activities depend on hydropower which contributes around 76 percent to the generation mix. Cognizant of climatic shocks and high operational costs associated with hydro power, the Government of Malawi is promoting a balanced mix of renewable energy sources at industry and household level.
The presence of year-round sunlight and strong winds presents opportunities to invest in solar or wind energy projects. In addition, geological reports indicate the presence of gas, coal and geothermal resources that can also be used to generate electricity. The availability of waste presents another opportunity for a waste-to-energy generation.
Starting a Business
Investors wishing to invest in Malawi need to comply with business registration requirements, taxpayer registration, work permit and visa requirements among others.
Forms of Businesses
a) Business Names
These are in the form of sole proprietorships and partnerships. Once registered these are renewable every three years as is required by the law.
b) Companies
There are four types of limited liability companies that are registered under the Companies Act (Cap 46:03). These are private limited liability companies, public limited liability companies, companies limited by guarantee and state-owned companies.
c) Non-Profit Organisations
The Registrar General is responsible for the registration and the administration of non-profit entities under the Trustees Incorporation Act Cap. 5:03.
Company Registration Process
Company registration is done online through Malawi Business Registry portal https://mbrs.gov.mw where an applicant is required to create an account. Once they create an account, they are able to do the following
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Business registration;
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Company incorporation;
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Trustees’ incorporation;
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Reservation of a name.
To register the company, an applicant is required to fill the required online fields and to upload a soft copy of their national identity card or passport. Once this is done, the system auto generates a pdf document for the applicant to sign and upload it back to the system. The system will then issue the applicant with an application number which the applicant takes to FDH Bank at the registration office and pays the registration fee.
Registration Fees
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Form of business |
Cost |
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Sole proprietorships |
MK10,000 |
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Partnership |
MK10,000 |
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Limited company |
MK75,000 |
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Foreign companies |
MK250,000 |
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Trustees |
MK50,000 |
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Renewal of name before 30 days from expiry date |
MK10,000 |
Once this payment is done, the registrar changes the application status to “registered” and the applicant is able to download their certificate.
If an applicant is not ready to register immediately, they have an option of reserving the name of the company so that no one can take it. It is worth noting that company names that are already in use cannot be registered and those that have ‘MALAWI’ in the company name have to get approval from the Office of President and Cabinet.
Duration
Registration takes 36 hours.
Taxation
Tax Payer Registration
The Taxation Act require owners of businesses, both individuals and companies, to register for tax purposes regardless of the size of business, nature of business or location.
Registration for taxes is free and can be done at any nearest Malawi Revenue Authority (MRA) office. MRA issues a Taxpayer Identification Number (TIN) on registration that should be used on any correspondence with the Authority.
When registering for tax, a business registration certificate and valid ID/passport are required.
Taxes Applicable
All registered companies in Malawi are required to pay taxes. Below are three taxes that are relevant to all businesses in Malawi.
a) Value Added Tax (VAT)
VAT is a tax on consumption expenditure, imposed on the “value added” generated at various stages of the production and distribution chain. Any person who makes taxable supplies of goods or services and whose business turnover is estimated or exceeds MK 10 million annually is obliged to register for VAT. The standard VAT rate in Malawi is 16.5%.
b) PAYE (Pay As You Earn)
PAYE is a method of collecting income tax on an employee’s earnings. Employers deduct PAYE when the payments are made.
Effective 5th April 2023, the PAYE rates are as follows:
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First MK 100,000 |
0%, |
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Next MK 350,000 |
25%, |
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Next MK 2,050,000 |
30%, |
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Next MK 2,500,000 |
35% |
c) Corporate Tax
The Corporate income tax rates are as follows:
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Entity |
Income tax rate (%) |
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Locally incorporated companies |
30 |
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Branches of companies not incorporated in Malawi |
35 |
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Companies in Export Processing Zones |
30 |
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Companies in priority industries (2): For a period not exceeding ten years In all other cases for companies incorporated in Malawi In all other cases for Malawi branches of external companies |
0 15 20 |
d) Withholding Tax
Withholding tax is an advance payment of income tax that is deducted from certain payments. The withholding tax rates are as below:
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Nature of payment |
Deduction rate of Withholding Tax on gross payment |
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(a) Royalties |
20% |
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(b) Rent |
20% |
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c) Payment for any supply to traders and institutions (I) Food stuff (II) Other supplies other than food stuff |
3% 3% |
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(d) Commission |
20% |
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(e) Payment for carriage and haulage |
10% |
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(f) Payment for tobacco and other farm products (iii) Sale of farm produce |
1% final tax |
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(g) Payment to contractors in the building industry |
10% |
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(h) Payment for public entertainment |
20% |
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(i) Payment for casual labour: (i) Payment of up to K35,000.00 (ii) Payment in excess of K35,000.00 |
0% 20% |
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(j) Payment of services |
20% |
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(k) Interest |
20% |
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(l) Fees |
20% |
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M) Winnings Lottery i. First K500,000 ii. Excess of K500,000 |
0%
5% final tax |
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Betting First 100,000 Excess of K100,000 |
0%
5% final tax |
Immigration Procedures
The Department of Immigration and Citizenship Services, under the Ministry of Homeland Security, is mandated to provide quality services to the general public in areas of border control, issuance of travel documents, residential and work permits, visas and citizenship to eligible persons.
Visa
The Malawi e-Visa is an official document which permits entry within Malawi.
Types of Visas
a) Tourist Visa
It is a visa which is strictly issued to persons intending to enter Malawi for visits, residence or business.
b) Official Visa
It is a visa issued to a person holding an official or a service passport on an official business visit to Malawi.
c) Transit Visa
It is a visa which is strictly issued to persons intending to transit through Malawi within a period of seven days.
d) Diplomatic Visa
It is a visa which is issued to a person holding a diplomatic passport for an official visit or mission to Malawi.
e) Courtesy Visa
It is a visa issued to a person visiting Malawi with an invitation sent by the Government, but is not entitled to a diplomatic passport. It enables them to enter Malawi for the purpose of paying courtesy calls.
The above-mentioned types of visas are further classified into single entry, multiple entry and transit entry depending on the nature of the visit.
The single-entry visa is valid for three months and can be used once upon entry into Malawi while the multiple entry visa is valid for six or twelve months and can be used for multiple entries within the validity period. The transit visa is valid for a period not exceeding seven days and can be used once.
Visa Application Process
Travelers who wish to travel to Malawi can apply for the visa through the Portal. The applicant is required to create an account and then complete the online e-Visa application form.
Requirements
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Passport showing the bio- data page;
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Travel itinerary;
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Passport photo;
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Host permit or company registration certificate.
Once the applicant completes the visa application form, they will be required to make online payment for the visa fee and convenience fee. Payment can be done via credit card or debit card Visa/Master.
Cost
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Transit Visa US$50;
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Single entry US$50;
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Multiple entry for 6 months US$150;
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Multiple entry for 12 months US$250.
Once payment is successful, the applicant receives a confirmation email notification from the e-visa system that their visa application has been submitted successfully. The Department of Immigration and Citizenship Services will then review and process the application. Once the visa application is approved, the applicant receives an email and approval letter. They will be required to download the e-Visa and print it out. The Visa approval letter must be shown to the Passport control counter at ports of entry for verification.
Duration
E-Visa applications are processed within three (3) working days.
Work Permits
Any foreigner wishing to work in Malawi is required to obtain a work permit. The type of work permit differs with the activity one wishes to engage in. The processing time for work permits is 14-30 working days.
a) Temporary Residence Permit
This permit is issued to a visitor with a valid visitors permit who has resided in Malawi for the maximum of 90 days but has a legitimate and justifiable reason for continued residence.
Application Is done online through the Malawi e permit portal.
Requirements
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Copy of visitor / business permit;
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Copy of passport showing data page;
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Covering letter from the applicant / sponsor;
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Copies of Visitor's Permit Extension (Optional)
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Return or onward air ticket / Temporary Importation permit (Optional)
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Copy of Registration Certificates, Certificate of incorporation of all companies (Optional).
Permit Fee
Prescribed Fee 100.00 USD (Payment needs to be done right after approval of the application by visiting FDH Bank Counter located at any of the Immigration offices in Malawi.
Things to note in regards to this permit
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Dependants are not allowed;
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Renewal for another 6 months period may be allowed;
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Employment is strictly prohibited.
b) Temporary Employment Permit
This permit is issued to a qualified foreigner who wishes to engage in temporary employment for the period of 6 months maximum. One should apply for this permit while staying outside Malawi, or within Malawi after entering Malawi on business visa and would like to stay longer).
Requirements
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Covering Letter from the employer;
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Copy of passport showing photograph & personal details;
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Copy of registration certificates, certificate of incorporation of all companies;
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Copy of visitor / business permit.
Permit Fee:
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There is no processing fee. However, a prescribed fee of 500.00 USD is to be made right after approval of the application by visiting FDH Bank Counter located at any of the Immigration offices in Malawi.
Things to Note
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Dependants are not allowed;
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The permit is not renewable;
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Extension for another 6 months period is allowed.
c) Employment Permit
This permit is issued to a foreigner who has been offered employment by any organization in Malawi. The organization has the responsibility to apply for the permit on behalf of the applicant. The validity period of this permit is 2years once issued and the applicant is required to work in the job and place they have been offered for the employer who offered it.
Requirements
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Permit Fees
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Processing Fee 100.00 USD (Payment needs to be done right after submitting the application by visiting FDH Bank Counter located at any of the Immigration offices in Malawi);
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Prescribed Fee 2000.00 USD (Payment needs to be done right after approval of the application by visiting FDH Bank Counter located at any of the Immigration offices in Malawi).
NB
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One should apply while the person is outside Malawi;
One can include dependants in the permit application;
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The permit is renewable for successive periods of 2 years subject to post type and limitations.
d) Business Residence Permit (Trading)
For investment purposes in all sectors, this permit authorizes a person to reside in Malawi for the purpose of carrying on, practicing or engaging in Trading Business Purpose only. The minimum funds to be invested is $50,000.00 and should originate from a legal source outside Malawi. The permit is renewable for successive periods of 5 years.
Requirements
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Copy of passport showing photograph & personal details;
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Police clearance letter from country of origin;
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Company profile & structure;
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Covering letter from the applicant;
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Copy of Registration Certificates, Certificate of incorporation of all companies;
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Medical Certificate;
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Bank Statement showing FDI (Not less than USD 50000.00).
Permit fees
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Processing Fee of 100.00 USD (Payment needs to be done right after submitting the application by visiting FDH Bank Counter located at any of the Immigration offices in Malawi);
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Prescribed permit Fee of 7500.00 USD (Payment needs to be done right after approval of the application by visiting FDH Bank Counter located at any of the Immigration offices in Malawi).
e) Permanent Residence Permit
This permit applies to a foreign national who wishes to reside in Malawi permanently, foreign wives of Malawians, elderly people who would wish to spend their life after retirement in Malawi, (people of assured income) over aged dependents of permanent resident permit holder, any person who has been ordinarily resident in Malawi for a period not less than five years for Commonwealth countries and not less than seven years for other countries.
Requirements
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Copy of Passport showing photograph & personal details;
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Covering letter from the applicant;
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Police clearance certificate issued by Malawi police;
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Bank statement showing that applicant is financially stable;
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Medical certificate;
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MRA certificate if the applicant has been on Business Residence Permit (BRP);
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Evidence of ownership of assets in Malawi (If any) (Optional).
NB
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You can include dependants in the permit application;
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There is no expiry for this permit;
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Permit will be cancelled if a holder fails to return to Malawi once in 12 months’ time.
Permit Fees
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Processing Fee 100.00 USD (Payment needs to be done right after submitting the application by visiting FDH Bank Counter located at any of the Immigration offices in Malawi);
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Prescribed Fee 10000.00 USD (Payment needs to be done right after approval of the application by visiting FDH Bank Counter located at any of the Immigration offices in Malawi).
f) Technical Assistant Permit
This permit is issued to a qualified technical personal who will be undertaking any development activities in Malawi on behalf of any foreign international organization / country for the government of Malawi.
Requirements
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Authorization letter from Secretary of Treasury;
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Authorization form issued by the Malawi Ministry of Foreign Affairs;
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Copy of passport showing data page;
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Copy of visitor / business permit.
Cost
Free
Duration
Specified period
Useful Contacts
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Malawi Investment and Trade Centre First Floor, Aquarius House City Centre Private Bag 302, Capital City, Lilongwe 3, Malawi Tel: +265 (0) 986 531 131 / +265 (0) 885 568 571 Email: info@mitc.mw / ceo@mitc.mw/ investment@mitc.mw Website: www.mitc.mw /trade.mitc.mw |
Malawi Department of Immigration and Citizenship Services P.O. Box 331Blantyre Westwing Government Building Along Victoria Avenue, Next to Bible Society of Malawi Telephone Number: 01823777 Email: evisa.support@immigration.gov.mw e-Visa Portal https://evisa.gov.mw/Account/Login?ReturnUrl=%2FApplyVisa%2FApplication Main immigration Website: www.immigration.gov.mw |
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Malawi Revenue Authority Msonkho House Independence Drive, Blantyre, Malawi Tel: +265 1 822 588/ +265999921234 feedback@mra.mw/ dmataya@mra.mw |
Department of the Registrar General 3rd and 4th Floor Fatima Arcade Haile Selassie Road P. O Box 100, Blantyre, Malawi |