Good deals, mistakes to avoid and common beliefs: Malawi

Save the country's emergency numbers

Ambulance 998, fire 999, police 990 or 997; these numbers are unreliable, ask your hotel for local numbers.

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Choose a safe home

There is a risk of burglary and violent assault, including by armed gangs.

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Travelling between cities

Long-distance buses between major cities are generally safe; minibuses, overcrowded and poorly maintained, are not recommended. Do not board a Lake Malawi ferry that looks overloaded.

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On the road: risks to know

Road safety is poor and fatal accidents are frequent, made worse by the lack of emergency care; police rarely patrol. Hitchhiking and "matola" (rides in the back of open vehicles) are dangerous.

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Pension: the annual life certificate

Anyone receiving a French state pension while living here must prove they are alive every year: the life certificate is completed by a competent local authority or validated in the "Mon certificat de vie" app, without travelling. Without a reply within 2 months, pension payments are suspended.

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Know how many months you can last before you leave

Before committing, enter your savings, your income on site and your planned expenses in the My project budget: AfriPilot calculates how many months you can last at that pace. Many returns fail after six to twelve months because this calculation was never done.

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Keep an untouchable reserve

Set aside several months of expenses that you will not use for settling in: health emergencies, a delayed income, an early return.

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Start with a modest lifestyle, then adjust

In the first months, people often overestimate their needs: housing, car, staff, outings. Start simply, watch your real spending for three months, then step up if your budget allows. The reverse is much harder.

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Start with temporary accommodation

Book temporary accommodation (furnished flat, residence, family) for the first weeks, so you can visit several neighbourhoods at different times of day before choosing.

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Do not sign a long lease before testing the neighbourhood

Check rush-hour journeys, water and power cuts, noise, safety at night, and access to schools and healthcare. A long lease signed too quickly is one of the costliest mistakes.

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Keep rent to a reasonable share of your budget

Starting with a high rent is a frequent cause of running out of savings. Compare several neighbourhoods and standards; the My project budget warns you when housing exceeds the ServAfrica benchmark of 35% of monthly expenses.

What changes the gain: Depends on the neighbourhood, the standard and the length of the lease.

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Insist on a written lease and a receipt for every payment

The contract should state the term, rent, deposit, advance requested, charges and repairs. Pay nothing before visiting and checking that the person is really the owner or their authorised agent.

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Plan for and negotiate the rent advance

Several months of rent in advance are often requested when moving in. This amount can frequently be negotiated; include it in your one-off expenses rather than discovering it at signing.

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Compare several schools, not just the most expensive

Most countries have good schools at reasonable fees. Visit at least three, ask about results, class sizes and all fees (registration, canteen, uniforms, transport). Price alone does not guarantee quality.

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Count transport in the cost of school

A distant school also costs morning and evening journeys. Compare the school bus, a private taxi booked for school hours or a closer school before hiring a driver.

What changes the gain: Depends on distance, number of children and timetables.

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No full-time driver as soon as you arrive

For regular journeys (school, work, errands), first try private taxis booked by the hour or half-day. A full-time driver is only justified if your real needs call for one.

What changes the gain: Depends on the number of daily journeys and waiting time.

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Do not buy a car in the first month

First try local transport and your real journeys. A car also costs insurance, maintenance, fuel, parking and sometimes a driver.

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Have any used vehicle inspected

Before buying, have the vehicle checked by an independent mechanic and verify the papers (registration, owner, customs clearance, insurance, roadworthiness) with the relevant offices.

• Avoid a scam
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Group your errands with a booked taxi

For several errands on the same day, compare single rides with a taxi booked for several hours. Before leaving, agree on the price, duration, stops, waiting time and return.

What changes the gain: Depends on the number of stops and waiting time.

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Get a local SIM card on arrival

A local line cuts roaming costs and makes taxis, deliveries, mobile payments and contacts easier. Bring your passport: SIM registration is often mandatory.

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Open a mobile money account

In many countries, mobile money is used every day (shopping, bills, transfers). Compare operator fees and keep some cash for places that do not accept it.

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Prepare your means of payment before you leave

Check withdrawal and payment fees abroad with your bank, tell it about your trip, take two cards from different networks and some cash. Each destination's Money guide says where cards are accepted.

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Locate ATMs and exchange offices near your home

Find the ATMs that accept your card and the authorised exchange offices near your home. Only change money in official places, never in the street.

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Compare money transfer fees

Pension, salary or savings: compare fees and exchange rates between your bank, transfer services and local accounts. A small difference per transfer adds up over a year.

What changes the gain: Depends on the amount, frequency and exchange rate applied.

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Prepare to open a local account in a single visit

Find out which documents are required (passport, residence permit, proof of address, sometimes proof of income) and bring them all at once to avoid several trips.

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Locate a pharmacy, clinic and hospital before you need them

In the first days, locate a pharmacy, a medical centre and a hospital near your home, and note the emergency numbers from the Health guide. If something happens, you will not lose time.

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Do not leave without health and repatriation insurance

Check what your current insurance covers abroad and for how long. A hospital stay or evacuation without cover can be very expensive.

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Take your treatments and their prescriptions

Bring a supply of your usual medicines in their packaging with the prescription, and ask your doctor for advice before leaving. Some medicines are hard to find or need authorisation depending on the country.

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Cut your food budget in the first weeks

When you do not yet know the neighbourhood, compare the options: ready meals from supermarkets, local restaurants, the market, delivery, cooking at home. Restaurants mainly used by expatriates are often the most expensive.

What changes the gain: Depends on the neighbourhood and your habits.

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Find your nearby market and supermarket

The market is often cheaper for fresh produce, the supermarket handy for the rest. Note delivery days and compare a few basic prices before settling into habits.

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Plan for drinking water

Depending on the country and neighbourhood, tap water is not always safe to drink. Plan for bottled water or a suitable filter and ask how often water is cut in your area.

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Ask about power cuts

Before choosing a home, ask how often the power goes off and whether there is a generator, an inverter or solar panels. Protect your appliances with voltage regulators.

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Put domestic staff arrangements in writing

Guard, cleaning, gardening: set out duties, hours, pay and leave in writing, find out the country's declaration obligations and do not hire more staff than you need at first.

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Ask for written quotes and references

Tradesperson, mover, agency: ask for several written quotes and client references, and pay only a reasonable deposit, with the balance at the end of the job.

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Scan all your important documents

Passport, civil status records, diplomas, contracts, prescriptions: keep a digital copy in the My project vault and paper copies kept apart from the originals.

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Start residence procedures early

Residence permit, resident card, work permit: find out before leaving which documents are required, often legalised or translated, and file without waiting for your visa to expire.

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Use official sites for visas and authorisations

Private sites imitate official visa portals and charge much more. Use the official address given in the Entry and residence guide.

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Sort your belongings before moving

Freight and customs duties are expensive. Compare the cost of shipping an item with buying it locally, and read the customs rules in the Entry and residence guide before shipping.

What changes the gain: Depends on volume, shipping method and customs duties.

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Never pay for land without a title check

Check with the competent land office that the title exists and who holds it, involve a notary and a surveyor, and be wary of rushed sales or unusually low prices. Pay nothing to an intermediary without proof of their mandate.

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Do not fund a construction remotely without checks

Pay in instalments tied to verified progress (dated photos, a visit by a trusted third party), keep every receipt and allow a margin for the unexpected. AfriPilot's Remote control tool lists useful measures.

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Test your business before investing heavily

Start small and measure real demand and your costs for a few months before buying equipment or signing a long commercial lease. AfriPilot's Invest Check and profitability calculator help you work out the figures.

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Put any local partnership in writing

Partner, manager, supplier: define roles, money contributed, account access and how to part ways in writing. Never give all access to a single person.

• Avoid a scam
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Register your business through the official one-stop shop

Use the one-stop shop or official registry listed in Start a business rather than an unauthorised intermediary, and keep the receipt for each formality.

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Do not depend on a single person on site

Family, friend or manager: entrusting all your errands, money and keys to one person creates a risky dependency. Keep control of your accounts, get several opinions and keep proof of every payment.

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Adopt a few safety habits on arrival

Read the destination's Safety guide, avoid travelling at night off main roads, do not show valuables and share your movements with someone close in the first weeks.

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Prefer local leisure to expatriate venues

Beaches, markets, cultural events, local outings: ask residents for advice. Places mainly used by expatriates are often much more expensive.

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Check the internet connection before choosing where to work

If you work remotely, test the connection at home, compare providers and find a coworking space as a fallback.

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Prepare for your pension to be paid abroad

Ask your pension funds about payment abroad, the annual life certificate and social security agreements. The destination's Retirement guide summarises what exists.

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Set a daily travel budget

Plan an amount per day for accommodation, meals, transport and visits, and track it. Agree on the price of transport and purchases before committing.

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