Government prescribes National ID as primary official identification document for Malawian citizens

A National Identification Document issued by the National Registration Bureau is the official primary identification document for Malawian citizens to be used by financial institutions and designated non-financial businesses and professions in Malawi, according to a Gazette Notice number 67 on Official or Identification Documents Notice issued by the Minister of Finance, Economic Planning and Development, honourable Goodall Gondwe, on 10 August 2018.
This development has come about to enable implementation of customer due diligence (CDD) obligations of financial institutions and designated non-financial businesses and professions provided under Section 16 of the Financial Crimes Act.
Apart from a valid National ID, a Malawi citizen can also present a valid passport issued by the Department of Immigration and Citizenship Services, and biometrics captured by relevant authorities.
For foreign nationals, the requirement is provision of a valid Passport bearing a valid business or residence permit, or valid refugee identity bearing a recognizable photograph and proof of refugee status from competent authorities of a designated refugee camp or valid asylum seeker identity bearing a recognizable photograph and proof of asylum seeker status from competent authorities of a designated asylum camp.
In 2017 Malawi implemented a national identification registration program in which over 9 million people had been registered and issued with National IDs.
Financial institutions in Malawi include banks, insurance firms, money transfer service providers, foreign exchange bureaus, and other institutions regulated under the Financial Services Act. On the other hand, designated non-financial businesses and professions include lawyers, accountants, real estate agents, gaming operators, and dealers in precious stones and metals.
In a related development, the Minister has also issued a Gazette Notice for simplified CDD for customers whose monthly income or monthly withdrawals do not exceed K300,000. Customers under this category are expected to be identified using a valid Driver’s Licence issued by an appropriate authority, a valid Traffic Register Card issued by an appropriate authority, a birth certificate for minors, a valid student identification from a recognized learning institution authenticated by a Commissioner for Oaths, and valid employee identification authenticated by a Commissioner for Oaths.