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Country guideLast checked October 17, 2026

Visas and immigration in Mali

3 routes from official government sources, grouped by type. Each guide covers who it's for, the requirements and where to apply.

Visit & tourism 1
Work permits 1
Status in-country 1

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Visiting Mali

Short-stay rules by passport, from official sources. Last checked October 17, 2026.

22 passports visa-free
227 passports need a visa

Passports that can visit without a visa

Algeria
Andorra
Benin
Burkina Faso
Cameroon
Cape Verde
Chad
Côte d’Ivoire
Gambia
Ghana
Guinea
Guinea-Bissau
Liberia
Mauritania
Monaco
Morocco
Niger
Nigeria
Senegal
Sierra Leone
Togo
Tunisia

Visit & tourism1 pathway

Mali entry visa
Most foreigners need a visa to enter Mali, obtained from a Malian embassy or consulate. The Embassy of Mali in Washington charges US citizens USD 185 for all visa types except official and diplomatic visas, and US citizens can receive up to a 5-year multiple-entry visa. The embassy states that no visa is required for ECOWAS citizens and for citizens of Algeria, Cameroon, Andorra, Monaco, Chad, Gambia, Morocco, Mauritania and Tunisia. Mali left ECOWAS in January 2025 and is part of the Alliance of Sahel States (AES); the security situation is very serious and many governments advise against all travel.
Temporary only
Last checked October 17, 2026
View requirements

Work permits1 pathway

Salaried employment: work contract approved by the Direction nationale du travail, with a residence visa or resident card
Under Mali's Law 04-058 on the entry, stay and settlement of foreigners and Decree 05-322, foreigners may not take salaried work without authorisation. A foreigner who wants to settle in Mali for salaried work must provide a work contract approved (visé) by the Direction nationale du travail, along with the standard residence documents. The application goes to the Border Police Directorate (Direction de la Police aux Frontières) through its official online residence portal, after arriving in Mali.
May lead to permanent residence
Last checked October 17, 2026
View requirements

Status in-country1 pathway

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Official sources

Government pages behind these routes.

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