What The Department of Immigration and Citizenship Services does

The Department of Immigration and Citizenship Services is a government department of the Republic of Malawi, constituted under the Ministry of Home Affairs and Internal Security, that serves as the sole statutory authority for immigration, citizenship, and border control functions in the country. Established on 1 January 1964 when Malawi formally took over Immigration Services from the Federal Government of Rhodesia, it operates under the Citizenship Act (CAP 15:01) and the Immigration Act (CAP 15:03). The department is mandated to provide border control, issuance of travel documents, residential and work permits, visas, and citizenship processing to eligible persons, serving both Malawian citizens (passports, citizenship registration, dual citizenship applications) and foreign nationals (visas, residence and work permits, business residence permits with a $50,000 minimum investment threshold).

Its core technology stack comprises three integrated digital service portals — ePassport (epassport.gov.mw), eVisa (evisa.gov.mw), and ePermit (epermit.gov.mw) — designed to enable online application, document upload, payment (Visa/MasterCard), and status tracking. The Passport Issuing System, launched 22 February 2010, incorporates biometric capture (photo, fingerprints, signature), computer-generated unique barcodes per application, and token queue management, with express and urgent passport tiers available. The department distributes services through headquarters in Blantyre, four regional offices (Lilongwe, Mzuzu, Zomba), 28 border posts across Malawi, dedicated airport offices at Chileka and Kamuzu International, and Malawi foreign missions abroad.

The revenue model is fee-based and transactional rather than subscription or recurring: visa fees ($50–$250 depending on type and validity), passport fees (express K68,500 for two days, urgent K58,500 for five days), permit processing fees, and citizenship fees (ranging from US$100 for restoration to US$20,000 for naturalization and registration). Payments are collected via Visa/MasterCard for online services and through Malawi Savings Bank branches co-located within Immigration Offices for in-person passport fee transactions. As a government department, fee revenues accrue to the national treasury rather than being reported as departmental revenue, and no commercial revenue figures are publicly disclosed. The customer segments are diverse — individual citizens, foreign nationals, sponsoring employers, and foreign investors — with no named enterprise anchor customers and no concentration risk from individual accounts.

Name

The Department of Immigration and Citizenship Services

Legal name

Department of Immigration. Republic of Malawi

Website

https://immigration.gov.mw

Company type

Private

Founded year

1964

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The Department of Immigration and Citizenship Services is the Republic of Malawi's sole statutory authority for border control, passport issuance, visa processing, residence and work permits, and citizenship administration, serving Malawian citizens and foreign nationals through headquarters, four regional offices, 28 border posts, and integrated ePassport, eVisa, and ePermit digital portals.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Government Immigration Services

NAICS

National Security and International Affairs (928), International Affairs (92812)

SIC

Foreign Governments (8888)

akta.pro primary industry

Immigration, Citizenship & Border Administration (Civil) (BPAIAAAN)

akta.pro secondary industries

Consular Services & Citizen Assistance (BPAIAIAB), Visa, Immigration Liaison & Travel Document Policy (Foreign Affairs) (BPAIAIAL), Immigration Support Services (Translations, Certified Copies, Biometrics, Medicals) (THACAKAH), Family/Dependent Visa & Permit Services for Assignees (THACAKAK), Destination Immigration Services (In-Country Registration, Residence Permits, Renewals) (THACAKAI)

Keywords

• Immigration services
• Passport issuance
• Visa processing
• Residence permits
• Citizenship administration

Headquarters

HQ city

Blantyre

HQ country

Malawi

HQ region

Africa

Offices9 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Visa Fees: Government fees collected from foreign nationals applying for various visa types including transit, single entry, and multiple entry visas.
2. Passport Fees: Fees collected for passport issuance including ordinary passports, express/urgent passports, and replacement passports.
3. Citizenship Fees: Fees for citizenship registration, naturalization, renunciation, restoration, and certification letters ranging from US$100 to US$20,000 depending on service type.
4. Permit Processing Fees: Fees collected for processing work permits including Temporary Employment Permits, Business Residence Permits, and Permanent Residence Permits.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

The Department of Immigration and Citizenship Services is the statutory government authority of the Republic of Malawi that administers border control, travel document issuance, visa processing, residence and work permits, and citizenship services. It serves Malawian citizens, foreign nationals, employing organisations, and foreign investors through a national network of headquarters, regional offices, and 28 border posts, complemented by three digital portals (ePassport, eVisa, ePermit) and Malawi's foreign diplomatic missions. Core paid offerings include ordinary and expedited passports, multiple visa types, temporary and permanent residence permits, business residence permits, temporary employment permits, student permits, and the full range of citizenship registration, naturalisation, renunciation, and restoration services.

Product overview

The Department of Immigration and Citizenship Services operates a digital government services platform comprising three primary online portals: ePassport for passport applications and tracking, ePermit for residence and work permit applications, and eVisa for visa applications. These digital services are complemented by in-person services at Immigration Offices across Malawi. The department provides end-to-end immigration services including border control, travel document issuance (passports), work and residence permits, visas, and citizenship processing. The three e-systems (ePassport, ePermit, eVisa) function as integrated digital touchpoints allowing citizens and foreign nationals to interact with immigration services remotely.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• ePassport: Electronic passport application and issuance system launched by the department. Online portal for applying for and tracking Malawi ePassports at epassport.gov.mw.
• ePermit
• eVisa

Products and services

• ePassport Online passport application and tracking portal enabling Malawian citizens to apply for passports electronically, track application status, and manage passport services including renewals and replacements.
• ePermit Electronic permit application portal for foreign nationals to apply for various residence and work permits including Temporary Residence Permit, Permanent Residence Permit, Business Residence Permit, Student Permit, and Temporary Employment Permit.
• eVisa Online visa application system allowing foreign nationals to apply for various visa types including Tourist Visa, Transit Visa, Official Visa, Courtesy Visa, and Diplomatic Visa. Supports online payment and status tracking.
• Passport Services Issuance of travel documents including Ordinary Passports (10-year validity), Temporary Passports (6-month validity), Service Passports for senior government officials, and Diplomatic Passports for authorized officials. Includes express and urgent expedited processing options.
• Visitor's Permit / Business Visit Permit Permit allowing foreign nationals to enter and reside in Malawi for tourism, visiting relatives, or business purposes. Valid for 30 days, extendable for further 60 days upon application and payment.
• Temporary Residence Permit Permit issued to visitors with valid Visitor's/Business Visit Permit who have resided in Malawi for maximum 90 days but have legitimate reasons for continued residence. Also available for short-term consultancy or work-related activities.
• Business Residence Permit Permit authorizing foreign nationals to reside in Malawi for engaging in business, profession, or occupation. Requires minimum $50,000 investment from legal sources outside Malawi. Valid for 5 years, renewable for successive 5-year periods.
• Permanent Residence Permit Permit authorizing permanent residence in Malawi. Available to foreign nationals, foreign wives of Malawians, elderly people with assured income, over-aged dependants of PR holders, and persons ordinarily resident in Malawi for 5+ years.
• Temporary Employment Permit Permit issued to foreigners offered employment by organizations in Malawi. Organizations apply on behalf of applicants. Valid for minimum 6 months to maximum 2 years, renewable twice with approval from TEP Approval Committee.
• Student Permit Permit allowing foreign nationals to enter Malawi and study at approved educational institutions or conduct educational research. Renewable through submission of renewal application form 3 months before expiry.
• Temporary Permit Permit authorizing prohibited immigrants to enter Malawi temporarily or travel through Malawi under conditions prescribed by the Minister. Applications submitted through foreign missions or by post/courier.
• Border Control Services Control of people entering and exiting the country to uphold state security. Includes monitoring, tracking, apprehending, deporting, and repatriating illegal immigrants.
• Citizenship Services Processing of citizenship applications including naturalization, registration, restoration, and stateless persons. Governed by Citizenship Act CAP 15:01. Processing target of 40 working days.

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration3 records

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and supporting.

• Ministry of Home Affairs and Internal SecuritycoreOthersThe Department of Immigration and Citizenship Services operates under the Ministry of Home Affairs and Internal Security. The Ministry provides overall institutional management and development oversight, with the Director General serving as Head of Department.
• NGO Board of MalawicoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe NGO Board issues certificates required for Temporary Employment Permit applications for expatriates working with NGOs. Effective from April 2018, NGOs must submit Certificate of Registration, Annual Compliance Certificate, and Recommended letter from the NGO Board for TEP applications.
• District Commissioner's OfficescoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerDistrict Commissioner's Offices across Malawi verify place of origin on passport applications as part of the passport issuance process, serving as a key verification partner for identity confirmation.
• Malawi Savings BanksupportingOthersMalawi Savings Bank branches located within Immigration Offices process passport fee payments, providing financial transaction services for immigration services.
• Techno BrainsupportingTechnology or IntegrationTechno Brain provides technology infrastructure and support for the immigration department's website and digital platforms, powering the official government immigration portal.

Scale indicators1 record

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Market position

Competitive moat4 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/the-department-of-immigration-and-citizenship-services

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about The Department of Immigration and Citizenship Services