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.
Life in Mali
Money
3
Currency
West African CFA Franc
XOF
West African CFA Franc
Cost of living
33
Price level · US = 100
World Bank price levels, 2025
Tax
5–37%
Income tax (national)
VAT 18%
Salary tax (ITS) annual barème: 0% up to XOF 330,000, then 5/12/18/26/31%, and 37% above XOF 3,494,130.
Living
1
Happiness
#112 of 145 countries
World Happiness Report 2025
Your edge here Members
What gives you an edge here: passports, visas and permits you hold, work, study, language and family ties
Who it’s for
Foreign nationals with a job offer from an employer in Mali.
Eligibility
Work authorisation needed
A foreigner may not carry out any salaried professional activity in Mali without authorisation under the legislation in force (Law 04-058, art. 17).
Approved work contract
A foreigner wishing to settle in Mali for salaried work must produce a work contract bearing the approval (visa) of the Direction nationale du travail, in addition to the documents in art. 23 (Decree 05-322, art. 28).
Apply after entry
Apply to the immigration authority after you enter Mali if you plan to stay six months or more.
six months or more
Stay length that triggers this rule
Official wording
Any application for a stay of six months or more is made after entering Mali, to the immigration authority (art. 23).
A sneak peek at what's inside
- Next requirementHealth and record checks
- Document checklistWork contract approved by the Direction nationale du travail
- FeesResidence visa stamp duty
The full requirements are for members
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- 1 more requirement
- 8 documents
- 1 fee
- 5 steps
- Processing times and conditions
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Finding places for you…
Official sources
Other routes to Mali
- Visit & tourismMali entry visa
- Status in-countryTemporary residence visa (visa de séjour) and resident card
Work permits in other countries
- MongoliaEmployment residence permit (C category) and investor/executive permit
- Macao SAR ChinaMacao non-resident worker
- MaltaSingle Permit (combined work and residence permit) – Identità Expatriates Unit
- MauritiusOccupation Permit - Professional
- MaldivesWork permit (Entry Pass) and Work e-Visa
- MalawiTemporary Employment Permit
