Most international visitors arrive by air, landing at Lilongwe or Blantyre. Lilongwe International Airport lies some 26 km (16 miles) north of the capital and Chileka Airport is just 13 km (8 miles) outside Blantyre.
For intercontinental flights from Europe, the only direct flight is offered by Air Malawi, once a week between London and Lilongwe. South African Airways operates connecting services through Johannesburg most days of the week. Kenya Airways has a similar frequency connecting through Nairobi from London; also operating in conjunction with KLM from Amsterdam through Nairobi. British Airways has a weekly service connecting through Nairobi as well as operating with Air Malawi via the regional hubs of Johannesburg, Lusaka, Dar es Salaam and Harare. Air Zimbabwe, Ethiopian Airlines offer similar connecting services through Harare and Addis Ababa respectively.
Regional links between Malawi and Kenya, Tanzania, South Africa and Zimbabwe are provided by Air Malawi. Links from neighbouring countries are also provided by an air charter company based in Malawi - Nyassa Air Taxi.
There are road routes into Malawi from Tanzania, Zambia and Mozambique.
Most operators who organise tours to southern Africa will offer Malawi itineraries, or provide a tailor-made service.
A full valid passport is required for entry into Malawi. For tourist visits, visas are NOT required by citizens of most Commonwealth countries, the USA, most European Union countries and certain other countries. Please check the complete list, and refer to your nearest Malawi diplomatic mission.
There is a US$30 departure tax for international flights. Vouchers can be purchased at the airport, payment must be in US dollars. (Departure tax on domestic flights is just MK200 (approx US$1.50))
International travellers over the age of 18 may import, duty free: 200 cigarettes or 225gm of tobacco; 1 litre of spirits; 1 litre of beer; 1 litre of wine; plus a "reasonable" quantity of consumable goods to meet the traveller’s immediate need while in Malawi.
Luggage allowance for light aircraft is between 12-15 kg (depending on
operator) in soft bags only.
