Travel from Malawi to United States is restricted — see blockers below
This is the generic answer for any Malawi citizen. Not legal or medical advice — verify with your airline and destination authorities before travel.
Malawi passport holders must obtain a visa before travelling to United States.
Generic country-level guidance for United States. Verify against the official source before you travel.
This page covers a direct flight to United States. If your route connects through a third country, that country may require its own transit visa — sometimes even for a short airside layover. Transit rules depend on your specific routing, so check the country you connect through separately, or analyse your full itinerary.
You're travelling to United States (US). Your home cellular plan may or may not include data abroad — check your carrier's international options before you fly. An eSIM is a low-commitment alternative if your plan doesn't cover the destination or charges high roaming rates.
United States (US) screens applicants and arriving travellers against criminal records (application declaration). If your history is clean, no action — proceed normally. If you've ever been convicted of anything, two things matter: (1) any visa or entry-permit application asks the question, and answering 'no' when the answer is 'yes' is itself grounds for refusal even if the original conviction wouldn't have been; (2) some categories trigger denial regardless — the canonical examples are DUI for Canada and drug-related convictions for Japan. Research waivers / rehabilitation routes well before booking if either applies to you.
Declare USD 10,000 or equivalent when entering or leaving United States (US). Form: FinCEN Form 105. Must declare $10,000+ in currency/monetary instruments on entry or exit
This page covers the generic case for any Malawi citizen. Sign in (free) to factor in your specific passport expiry, vaccinations, previous visas held, and connecting flights — and get the same analysis for your exact itinerary.
Sign in (free) to personalize →Your itinerary touches Malawi (MW), where malaria transmission occurs. Transmission is often region-limited within a country (e.g. coastal vs highland zones) and varies by season. Discuss prophylaxis with a travel medicine clinician — the right antimalarial depends on the specific region, your medical history, and any medications you take.
United States (US) requires every traveller to submit the US Customs Declaration for entry — best done a few days before departure rather than in the airport queue. Without it, expect to be pulled aside at the border or denied boarding. Apply at: https://www.cbp.gov/travel
United States requires proof you'll leave before they let you in. At check-in the airline often asks for this — without it, they can deny boarding because the carrier becomes liable for flying you back. Easiest fixes, in order: (1) book a refundable return or onward flight, (2) use a one-way bus / train ticket out, or (3) buy a temporary onward-ticket reservation through a service like OnwardTicket. Have whichever you choose printed or on your phone before you reach the counter.
Typical September conditions at JFK (United States (US)): mild. Typical lows around 15°C, highs around 24°C, moderate rainfall (~86mm for the month).
Per the Presidential Proclamation effective 2026-01-01, MW passport holders are partially restricted (US-issued visas suspended for the affected categories) from entering or transiting the United States unless one of the documented carve-outs applies. Your itinerary touches JFK. You must qualify for one of the following carve-outs to board: - Held US visa issued on or before 2025-12-31 - Held US visa issued on or after 2026-01-01 of categories: A-1, A-2, C-2, C-3, G-1 through G-4, NATO-1 through NATO-6, Special Immigrant Visa (SIV) for US Government employees, or immigrant visa for ethnic/religious minorities facing persecution in Iran - Held US Permanent Resident Card (Form I-551 / Green Card) - Dual national traveling with passport from an unrestricted country - Athlete or team member traveling for a major sporting event - Family Reunification Parole (FRP) or United for Ukraine (U4U) status — variant by nationality Without one of these, you will be denied boarding at check-in in your origin country.
Your Malawi (MW) passport requires a traditional visa for United States. Traditional visas typically require a consulate appointment, paperwork, fees, and a multi-day to multi-week wait. Confirm requirements directly with the destination's consular site before booking. Source: Wikipedia visa matrix, synced 2026-06-21T10:11:55.888854+00:00.