How to Get a Mali Visa in The US
In November, I knew I had to head to Washington, DC to get my visa to go to Libya. However, I figured that since I was heading all the way to the nation’s capital, I might as well pick up another visa while I was in town. The only country I found I could reliably get a multi-year visa same day was Mali.
It’s a country that has long fascinated me, with the name Timbuktu just evoking images of a city far away from the rest of civilization.
As of November 2022, the following is needed to obtain a visa to Mali.
2 passport photos (one glued to each form)
A copy of the yellow fever vaccine certificate
A hotel booking (this was not listed on the website, but I made a booking while at the counter and emailed it to
consularsection@maliembassy.us .
A money order for $160 (if you want same-day processing, add $50)
I dropped off my application right after they opened at 9 am, and I was told to come back around 4 pm to pick up my passport.
I returned around 3:30, trying my luck at getting the passport a bit early, but the visa still hadn’t been processed. I got the chance to sit in their very comfortable lobby and talk with a lovely Malian couple living in Atlanta. The embassy also has some incense (or something like that) burning, so the smell is really good.
Please note US Citizens are charged $160 for a visa to Mali, no matter the duration of the visa they receive. Therefore, I decided to try to get the longest term visa possible, five years. To get this visa, one has to specially ask for it and get permission from the Ambassador.
Minutes before they closed at 5 pm, the officer told me my passport was ready and informed me that the Ambassador agreed to give me the 5-year validity. Score!
All in all, getting a visa to Mali in Washington, DC, is a breeze. Simply fill out the form, drop off the papers, and pick it up the same day. I’m very excited to visit Mali soon!