Practical info for Malawi
Emergencies, embassy, entry requirements, money: the essentials before you go, with the official source and the date each piece of information was checked.
Embassy and entry requirements shown for travellers from: United Kingdom.
Emergency numbers
Source: France Diplomatie, GOV.UK, Portal das Comunidades Portuguesas, Ministerstwo Spraw Zagranicznych RP · verified on 26/10/2026
Embassy and consulates
- British High Commission LilongweEmbassy
- Address
- Off Convention Drive, P.O. Box 30042, Lilongwe, Lilongwe 3, Malawi
- Consular emergency line
- To call us in an emergency or send us an online enquiry use our contact form: https://www.contact.service.csd.fcdo.gov.uk/posts/malawi/british-high-commission-lilongwe
Consular emergency numbers (emergencies only): FCDO, London (24 hours): +44 20 7008 5000.
Entry requirements
The rules depend on your passport: check them here before you book, for every traveller, children included.
Official page: GOV.UK (FCDO), updated 20/10/2026 ›
Source: GOV.UK · verified on 26/10/2026
Safety and travel advice
The FCDO does not currently advise against travel to any part of this country.
Source: GOV.UK · verified on 26/10/2026
Currency and payments
Currency: Malawian kwacha (MWK).
The ECB does not publish a reference rate for MWK.
Source: SIX Group (ISO 4217), European Central Bank, EU Publications Office · verified on 26/10/2026
Time difference
Local time: UTC+02:00, +2 h compared with London (calculated on 26/10/2026).
The clocks change in London on 28/03/2027: the difference may change that day.
Source: IANA (time zones) · verified on 26/10/2026
Driving
Driving licence, according to GOV.UK (FCDO): “You can use a UK photocard driving licence to drive in Malawi for up to 90 days. If you still have a paper driving licence, you may need to update it to a photocard licence. If you get an international driving permit (IDP), you can drive for up to one year.”
Source: GOV.UK · verified on 26/10/2026
Mobile networks
Networks listed by the eSIMs we checked: Access Communication (Airalo); Airtel (Sirocco); Airtel/Zain/Celtel ltd. (Sirocco).
eSIM prices for Malawi
7 days, 5 GB · prices checked on 26/10/2026
3 brands compared, not an exhaustive listWhy this ranking?
Ranked by price: for each brand, the cheapest plan that covers 7 days and 5 GB.
Not an exhaustive comparison: 3 brands out of the dozens that sell eSIMs. The list of brands compared is in our Methodology.
eSIMeter is published by Mocom SAS, which sells Sirocco: the site is funded by those sales. No other brand pays us.
Frequently asked questions
What are the emergency numbers in Malawi?
Single emergency number: 997 ; Police: 990 ; Police: 997 ; Medical emergencies: 998 ; Fire brigade: 999
How do I contact the embassy or consulate in Malawi?
British High Commission Lilongwe, Off Convention Drive, P.O. Box 30042, Lilongwe, Lilongwe 3, Malawi. Consular emergency numbers (emergencies only): FCDO, London (24 hours): +44 20 7008 5000.
What are the entry requirements for Malawi?
The rules depend on your passport: check them here before you book, for every traveller, children included. Official page: GOV.UK (FCDO), updated 20/10/2026.
What is the travel advice for Malawi?
The FCDO does not currently advise against travel to any part of this country.
What currency is used in Malawi?
Currency: Malawian kwacha (MWK). The ECB does not publish a reference rate for MWK.
What is the time difference in Malawi?
Local time: UTC+02:00, +2 h compared with London (calculated on 26/10/2026). The clocks change in London on 28/03/2027: the difference may change that day.
What should I know about driving in Malawi?
Driving licence, according to GOV.UK (FCDO): “You can use a UK photocard driving licence to drive in Malawi for up to 90 days. If you still have a paper driving licence, you may need to update it to a photocard licence. If you get an international driving permit (IDP), you can drive for up to one year.”
Which mobile networks operate in Malawi?
Networks listed by the eSIMs we checked: Access Communication (Airalo); Airtel (Sirocco); Airtel/Zain/Celtel ltd. (Sirocco).