Investment Process in Malawi

Investment Process

Investment Procedures

PROCEDURES FOR VARIOUS APPLICATIONS

(A) BUSINESS INCORPORATION

1. Any Investor investing an amount equal to or above US$ 50,000.00 shall be required to make an application for an Investment Licence from Malawi Investment Promotion Agency (MIPA);
   
2. The applications shall be accompanied by a Business Proposal providing full details of the project and its requirements; (expatriate staff, land etc.)


3. A non-refundable processing fee of US$ 200.00, or its equivalent, shall apply in all cases of new applications for an investment licence.


4. Upon receipt of the application, the Malawi Investment Promotion Agency (MIPA) shall process the application and a background check on the company shall be conducted. The application shall be summarised and sent to the Investment Approval Committee for appraisal and approval;


5. When the Committee is satisfied with the application, it shall approve and issue an investment licence;


6. Upon approval, the investor shall be required to pay US$ 800.00 or an equivalent amount in Malawi Kwacha (MK) for the investment certificate.


7. All companies shall be incorporated with the registrar of companies.

Exchange rate: US$ 1.00 = MK 142.00 (July 2008)

Note:  New investors shall be required to state their project requirements (staffing, land, incentives applications etc.) at this stage so that issuance of the Investment Licence shall be complete covering all investment requirements.

(B) BUSINESS RESIDENCE PERMIT (BRP) AND TEMPORARY EMPLOYMENT PERMIT (TEP)

The following is the procedure for obtaining a Business Residence Permit (BRP) or Temporary Employment Permit (TEP):

1. New applications for Business Residence Permits (BRP) shall include duly completed immigration application forms for BRP, a business proposal that shall include full details of the proposed investment project, 2 passport size photos, and a police clearance report from last country of residence.


2. New applications for a Temporary Employment Permit (TEP) shall include duly completed immigration application forms, 2 copies of curriculum vitae of the applicant, passport size photos, copies of certificates and the organisation chat;


3. The applications shall be submitted to the Malawi Investment Promotion Agency – MIPA (Secretariat) and the processed applications shall be presented before the Investment Approval Committee which shall approve or reject, as the case may be;


4. The General Manager/Chief Executive of Malawi Investment Promotion Agency (MIPA) shall immediately obtain the Temporary Employment Permit (TEP) and the Business Residence Permit (BRP) from the Chief Immigration Officer;


5. Upon approval of the Business Residence Permit (BRP) or the Temporary Employment Permit (TEP), the investor shall be required to pay a processing fee of MK 10,000.00 for both permits and an issuance fee of MK 500,000.00 and MK120,000.00 for Business Residence Permit (BRP) and Employment Permit (EP) respectively.

Exchange rate: US$ 1.00 = MK 142.00 (July 2008)

(C) LAND

The process shall be as follows:

1. An investor shall submit an application to Malawi Investment Promotion Agency (MIPA) for allocation of land for investment;


2. The application shall be accompanied by a Business Proposal that will give detailed information of the project.


3. The Malawi Investment Promotion Agency (MIPA) shall process the application for the Investment Approval Committee;


4. Upon allocation of land, the General Manager / Chief Executive of Malawi Investment Promotion Agency (MIPA) shall then work with Ministry of Lands for issuance of a Title Deed.


5. All the payments made by investors on issuance of land shall be paid to Ministry of Lands through the Malawi Investment Promotion Agency (MIPA).