Visa for Travel to Mali

Here are the instructions on how to get a visa for travel to Mali, the jewel in West Africa's crown.

Citizens of the United States can get a visa to travel to Mali as a tourist for a maximum of 30 days. It is possible to apply for the visa application form online, but they do need you to mail lots of details before your visa application can be accepted.

How to Get a Visa for Travel

Here's a breakdown of the step by step instructions you need to follow in order to visit this beautiful country, often referred to as the jewel in West Africa's crown.

  1. Either apply online for an application form, or download an offline pdf form. You can't fill the form in online, you've got to print it off first, fill it in by hand and then post it off to VisaHQ.com in Washington DC. You'll find the forms on visahq.com for Mali and many other countries, and the postal address where you need to send it
  2. When you post the form off to Washington you must also include your original passport, copies won't do, it must be the original and must have at least 6 months validity remaining on it
  3. Include 2 passport type photographs with the form too. Be careful not to chop the top of your head off if you go in one of those little booths; spin the stool around so that you're the right height! Maybe it would be just safer to pay a photographer, it doesn't cost much and at least you're guaranteed to get a good photograph
  4. A copy of a yellow fever certificate, you must be immunized against yellow fever before your trip
  5. Itinerary – it is important that the authorities know where you will be at all times. You need to include confirmed details of your travel arrangements both there and back, just to make sure that you do intend to come back!
  6. Hotel reservations – you need to inform the authorities where you will be staying at each leg of your journey. Basically, they need to know where you'll be and when from the moment you enter the country until the moment you leave
  7. Letter of invitation – if you're not actually staying in a hotel but visiting friends or family, then a letter of invitation from them can take the place of the hotel reservation information. They've got to write a letter to the Embassy of Mali, stating the relationship to the applicant, the exact dates of the visit and an address and telephone number of where the applicant will be staying.

Now it might sound like a whole heap of fuss just to visit your sister, or your granny, but once you set foot in this beautiful country you'll be glad you made the effort. The visas are valid for a maximum of 5 years.