Location: Southern African Countries
Event: On November 26, the White House announced a travel restriction due to the detection of a variant of the SARS-COV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, in Southern Africa. The policy does not apply to U.S. citizens and lawful permanent residents and certain other categories of travelers. See the text of the announcement here. The new restrictions and requirements will take effect on November 29. The CDC has issued a Level 4 Travel Health Notice – Do Not Travel for Malawi. Subsequently, the Department has updated the Travel Advisory for Malawi to a Level 4 – Do Not Travel.
U.S. citizens wishing to depart Malawi currently have multiple options via commercial air and land border crossings. Transportation schedules can change without notice. Please check with airlines/carriers regarding flight cancellations and/or restrictions. The U.S. Embassy urges U.S. citizens to have a departure plan that does not include government assistance.
Please see contact information for airlines operating from Kamuzu International Airport below.
Malawi Airlines, Kenya Airways, Ethiopian Air
Kamuzu International Airport: +265 1 700 899
Actions to Take:
- Review the CDC’s travel health notice for Malawi.
- Review the State.GovTravel Alert for Malawi.
- Review the South Africa National Institute for Communicable Diseases FAQ on B.1.1.529
- Check with airlines and transit and destination countries for how it impacts travel.
Assistance:
U.S. Embassy Lilongwe, Malawi
+265 177 3166 or +265 887 38 4109
After hours for U.S. Citizen Assistance: +265 882 960 178
State Department – Consular Affairs
888-407-4747 or 202-501-4444
Enroll in Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) to receive security updates