Malawi’s immigration system turned into a marketplace: fake visas for MK2 million

• Inside the alleged network where an Indian restaurant worker and corrupt officials reportedly sold visas, work permits and tip-offs to foreign nationals bypassing Malawi’s borders

A shadowy parallel immigration operation is reportedly producing fake visas, work permits and residence permits for foreign nationals in Malawi, allegedly working hand-in-glove with corrupt immigration officials to bypass the country’s border controls entirely.

At the centre of the alleged network is a man identified only as Sadiq, an Indian national who works at a popular restaurant in Blantyre — and who, according to reports, has built a reputation within sections of the city’s Asian community as the man to see when official immigration channels won’t cut it.

Foreign nationals looking to enter Malawi or extend their stay without going through proper procedures allegedly turn to Sadiq, who is said to work alongside sympathetic immigration officials embedded at key checkpoints, including the airport.

According to the reports, the operation runs with military precision: on the day a person is due to arrive, members of the alleged network reportedly ensure that officers on duty at the airport are themselves part of the arrangement — meaning fraudulent documents sail through without being flagged by anyone outside the group.

New arrivals are then said to be provided with temporary accommodation, before being told they will need to “regularise” their stay — at which point Sadiq allegedly steps in, reportedly charging MK2 million per permit.

Some of those involved are then said to find employment in Indian and other Asian-owned businesses, despite holding what are alleged to be fraudulent or highly questionable immigration papers.

Even more troublingly, when immigration crackdowns are planned to root out those without valid permits, corrupt officials allegedly tip Sadiq off in advance — reportedly warning him which locations and individuals to steer clear of, at a further cost of MK2 million per person, some of which is said to line the pockets of officials complicit in the scheme.

The alleged racket comes against the backdrop of a sharp rise in foreign nationals arriving in Malawi from countries including Pakistan, Bangladesh, Kuwait and India in recent months — alongside a worrying uptick in serious crimes involving foreign Asian nationals, among them murder, human trafficking, money laundering and kidnapping.

Meanwhile, genuine applicants attempting to renew legitimate permits through official channels have reportedly faced mysterious delays, with documents said to go missing or applications repeatedly stalling — only to be miraculously located within hours once the applicant turns to Sadiq for help.

More than ten foreign nationals are said to have come forward claiming direct knowledge of, or first-hand experience with, the alleged network’s activities.

Sources suggest officials are already aware of the concerns swirling around the operation, but claim little has been done to shut it down — with suspicions that individuals within the system itself may be profiting from its continued existence.

The allegations raise serious questions about the integrity of Malawi’s immigration system, with calls growing for a full and urgent investigation into how deep the alleged network runs.

The Department of Immigration and Citizenship, along with the individuals named in connection with the claims, have yet to respond to the allegations.