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Money & duty free for Malawi

Currency information: 

Kwacha (MWK; symbol Mk) = 100 tambala. Notes are in denominations of Mk500, 200, 100, 50, 20, 10 and 5. Coins are in denominations of Mk1 and 20, 10, 5, 2 and 1 tambala.

Credit cards: 

Acceptance of credit and debit cards is very limited, although in Lilongwe and Blantyre and in main hotels, American Express, Diners Club, MasterCard and Visa can be used.

Travellers cheques: 

Traveller's cheques can be exchanged in banks, hotels and other institutions. In remote areas, the Treasury Office of Local District Commissioner's offices will cash traveller's cheques. To avoid additional exchange rate charges, travellers are advised to take traveller's cheques in US Dollars, Euros, Pounds Sterling or South African Rand.

Banking hours: 

Mon-Fri 0800-1400.

Currency restriction: 

The import of local currency is unlimited. The export of local currency is limited to K3,000. The import of foreign currency is unlimited. The export of foreign currency must not exceed the amount imported and must be declared on departure.

Currency exchange: 

US Dollars, Pounds Sterling, Euros or South African Rand are readily exchanged but lesser-known currencies may prove difficult to exchange.

Malawi duty free

The following goods may be imported into Malawi by passengers without incurring customs duty:

• 200 cigarettes or 225g of tobacco in any form.
• For those over 18 years of age, also 1L of spirits and 1L of beer and 1L of wine.
• A reasonable quantity of consumer goods to meet the traveller's immediate needs.

Restricted items
The import of firearms is prohibited unless a permit has been bought in advance from the Registrar of Firearms, Box 41, Zomba.

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