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Country guide

Mali

Visa

Visa required

Vaccinations

Required

Currency

West African CFA Franc (XOF)

Time zones

No UTC/GMT offset

Dialing code

+ 223

Best time to go

October to February

Drinking water

All water should be regarded as being potentially contaminated. Milk is unpasteurised.

Visa guide

Visa requirements

Visas are required by SA passport holders.

  • Application form: Visa application form is to be fully completed. Personal details such as name(s) and surname must match the passport details exactly. Omissions or errors in the application may cause delays in the process.
  • Passport: Valid for at least 6 months & Copy of bio page
  • Invitation letter and/or employer's letter:

a) For visit visa: An invitation letter from the contact person in Mali or hotel reservation
b) For business visa: A business letter from the Malian partner company and/or an employment letter from the local company. The Embassy is entitled to verify the authenticity of the documents provided.

  • Proof of funds: Where the invitation letter, the business letter, or the employment letter does not state that expenses related to the stay in Mali will be catered for, the applicant shall provide their most recent three months.
  • Ticket reservation: A round-trip airline ticket or booking must be available. The ticket or reservation must show exactly the point of entry and arrival date in Mali as well as the exit point and date of departure from Mali.
  • Photographs: Two recent passport colour photos
  • Vaccination Certificate: Original of the yellow fever vaccination certificate.

Issuing authorities

Mali Embassy
876 Pretorius Str, Arcadia, Pretoria
Tel: 012 342-0676 / 012 342 7464

Visa processing time

Ordinary visa: 5 working days
Express visa: 3 working days

Visa validity

Visas are valid for one month from date of entry.

Visa cost

R510.00 (Express visa is an additional R300).
Once the application is submitted, visa fees are non-refundable, regardless of the outcome of the request.

SA representative

SA Embassy
Hamdallaye ACI 2000, Batiment Diarra, Bamako
Tel: +223 20 29 29 25/30
E-mail: nyembem@dirco.gov.za
Web: dirco.gov.za/mali/

Health / vaccinations

Compulsory: Yellow Fever
Recommended: Hepatitis A & B, Meningitis, Rabies, Typhoid, Tetanus, Polio
Malaria Risk

Public holidays

2026: Jan 1, 20; Mar 20, 26; Apr 6; May 1, 25; Jun 26; Aug 26; Sep 22; Dec 25

Please check with relevant authorities for the latest updates before travel.

Last updated: 30 July 2026