Malawians intending to travel to the United States must now apply for visas from Kenya, following a new US policy.
This move signals a much bigger shift across Africa as Washington rolls out a new visa processing system beginning 1 August 2026.
In a notice published on 15 July, the US Department of State said it will discontinue routine visa services in many cities across Africa, redirecting applicants to a smaller number of designated regional hubs.
For Malawians, their visa hub will be in Kenya’s capital, Nairobi.
Processing centres closed
It’s not only Malawi that has been affected. The US has closed its visa processing centres across 25 cities in Africa, including Nigeria’s Abuja, Asmara in Eritrea, Durban in South Africa, Harare in Zimbabwe, Juba in South Sudan, Lusaka in Zambia, Ouagadougou in Burkina Faso, and Antananarivo in Madagascar.
In practical terms, this arrangement means visa applicants must travel to either other African countries or other designated cities within their own countries.
For Malawians, it appears much more difficult.
Removing local visa services in Lilongwe and shifting everything to Nairobi in Kenya adds a whole new layer of pressure, from paperwork to travel costs.
Malawi is in southern Africa while Kenya is in East Africa.
Refundable visa bonds
This means Malawians have to cross several borders to reach Nairobi for a US visa process if travelling by road.
Although Malawians do not need a typical visa to enter Kenya, they are required to apply online for an Electronic Travel Authorisation, or eTA, before traveling.
The new process also involves extra financial cost and time, including flight tickets or road transport fare as well as accommodation and feeding in Kenya.
Malawi nationals are also among Africans subject to the US mandatory refundable visa bonds of up to $15,000.
‘America First’ agenda
And as is the case for any applicant from anywhere, granting a US visa is not automatic. Applications can be rejected after enduring all the pain.
The US Department of State said the new policy is part of the Trump administration’s ‘’America First’’ agenda by strengthening national security, cutting costs, and ensuring ‘’government works in the interests of the American people.’’
The Trump administration has also implemented a raft of immigration policies worldwide, including travel bans and up to 15,000 visa bond programmes mainly affecting African countries.
