Malawi Passport Photo — No Published Size
Malawi issues travel documents through its Department of Immigration and Citizenship Services, and it runs passport applications through an online ePassport portal. But the department's own pages publish no millimetre size, background colour or pixel figure for the photograph — so this page does not repeat one. What the official site does set out is who issues travel documents and how to apply for an ePassport online. Verified against the Malawi Department of Immigration (immigration.gov.mw), September 2026.
What the official site states about the photo
| Photo size | Not published (no mm format on the department's pages) |
| Background / dpi / px | Not published |
| Who issues the passport | Dept. of Immigration and Citizenship Services (travel documents) |
| How to apply | Online, via the ePassport portal |
| Source | Malawi Dept. of Immigration (immigration.gov.mw) |
Who issues travel documents
The department defines its own role plainly:
“The Department of Immigration and Citizenship Services falls under the Ministry of Homeland Security of the Republic of Malawi. It is mandated to provide quality services to the general public in areas of border control, issuance of travel documents, residential and work permits, Visas and Citizenship to eligible persons.”
So the passport is a travel document issued by this department — the same office, not a separate agency.
How to apply: the ePassport portal
Under Passports, the site answers the application question in one line and points to a dedicated online portal:
“How do I apply for a ePassport? — You can apply for Malawi ePassport by using this link.”
The link is the government's ePassport domain, ePassport.gov.mw. The department's Services area carries the same three entry points for applicants:
- Apply for Passport — the ePassport application path
- Apply for Permit — via the ePermit domain
- Apply for Visa — via the department's visa pages
Because the application runs online, the photo is submitted as part of the ePassport application rather than described on a printed size chart.
What this means for your photo
Do not size a Malawi passport photo to an unofficial number you have seen on a third-party site. The Department of Immigration's own pages publish no photo dimensions, so treat any specific millimetre, pixel or dpi figure as unverified. Follow whatever the ePassport portal or an Immigration office asks for.
60-second Malawi check
- ☐ Passports are issued by the Dept. of Immigration and Citizenship Services (travel documents)
- ☐ No published photo size, background or pixel figure — avoid unofficial numbers
- ☐ Apply online through the ePassport portal (ePassport.gov.mw)
- ☐ Services also list Apply for Permit and Apply for Visa
- ☐ Confirm the photo format inside the online application or with an Immigration office
Frequently asked questions
What size is a Malawi passport photo?
Not published. The Malawi Department of Immigration lists passport applications but gives no millimetre, pixel or dpi figure for the photograph, so no official size can be quoted.
Where do I apply for a Malawi passport?
Online. The department says: “You can apply for Malawi ePassport by using this link,” pointing to the ePassport portal at ePassport.gov.mw.
Who issues Malawi passports?
The Department of Immigration and Citizenship Services, which states it is mandated to provide services including the issuance of travel documents.
Does the site give a photo background colour?
No. The department's pages do not publish a background colour, size or pixel or dpi figure for the passport photograph.
What else can I apply for through the department?
Alongside passports, its Services area lists Apply for Permit (via the ePermit domain) and Apply for Visa (via the department's visa pages).
Where can I check the current requirement?
On the Malawi Department of Immigration site, immigration.gov.mw, under its Passports pages. If the ePassport portal or an office states a format, follow that instruction.
Source note: the department's mandate (including the issuance of travel documents) is from immigration.gov.mw; the ePassport application line and the Services entry points are from the department's passport and download-applications pages (checked October 2026). No photo size or background is published there.
Related: for the countries that do publish a size, see the size chart; set a background with the backgrounds guide; and check a finished file with the passport photo checker. If a photo has been refused, the rejection reasons guide covers the common causes.