Mali
France
France visa for Malian citizens
Entry requirement
Malian citizens must obtain a visa before travelling to France.
- Where to apply
- 1 mission
- Visa guide
- France visa guide
Checked 31 October 2026 · Passport Index · Confirm at ml.ambafrance.org
Which France visa?
Uniform Schengen visa (type C) for tourism
Key facts
- Maximum stay
- Up to 90 days in any 180-day period
- Fee
- €90
- Processing time
- Usually 15 days after lodging the file, up to 45 days in individual cases; allow extra time to obtain an appointment.
For the tourist visa, France’s official sources give a standard fee of €90, and applications are made on france-visas.gouv.fr. Processing time, as France states it: Usually 15 days after lodging the file, up to 45 days in individual cases; allow extra time to obtain an appointment. Longest stay on the tourist visa: Up to 90 days in any 180-day period.
French missions in Mali
France has 1 mission in Mali, with its embassy in Bamako.
France: visa decisions in Mali
| Year | Applications | Visas issued | Refused | Refusal rate | Multiple-entry share |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 13,414 | 7,647 | 6,138 | 44.5% | 31.5% |
| 2024 | 2,565 | 2,144 | 265 | 11.0% | 42.3% |
| 2025 | 2,116 | 1,760 | 311 | 14.9% | 25.8% |
In 2025, France’s embassy and consulates in Mali (Bamako) received 2,116 applications for short-stay Schengen visas and issued 1,760. The refusal rate was 14.9%. The refusal rate rose by 3.9 points from 11.0% in 2024. Applications fell by 18% compared with 2024 (2,565).
For comparison, all Schengen states together refused 42.5% of the applications lodged in Mali that year. France’s consulates worldwide refused 14.2%. France was the 3rd most applied-for Schengen state in Mali.
You apply to the Schengen state that is your main destination (the longest stay or the main purpose; the state of first entry only when there is none), so a lower rate elsewhere is no reason to apply there. The figures cover applications lodged in Mali, by any nationality: mostly citizens, but also residents from other countries.
Source: European Commission, Directorate-General for Migration and Home Affairs, visa statistics for consulates 2023–2025 (© European Union, reused under CC BY 4.0). Short-stay (type C) visas. How these figures are made
French citizens travelling to Mali
FranceMali Visa required Mali visa for citizens of France
Travel advice for France
- US State Department Level 2: Exercise increased caution
- UK Foreign Office (FCDO) No advice against travel
- German Foreign Office No travel warning
What the US, British and German foreign ministries tell their own citizens about travelling there, in each ministry’s own terms.
Malian citizens planning a trip to France can compare how foreign ministries rate it: the US State Department rates France at Level 2, exercise increased caution (updated 20 October 2026), the UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office does not advise against travel to France (updated 22 October 2026) and the German Foreign Office has no travel warning for France (updated 28 October 2026). Each ministry writes for its own citizens.
Good to know
How long Malian citizens can stay in France
How long Malian citizens may stay in France is set by the visa issued, and the visa type must match the purpose of the trip.
How Malian citizens apply
In Mali, applications go to the French embassy in Bamako, or to a visa centre acting for France; fees, documents and processing times are published by France.
France and the Schengen area
A Schengen visa issued by France lets Malian citizens travel in all Schengen states; apply to France when it is the main destination of the trip.
France’s neighbours for Malian citizens
Switzerland, Germany, Belgium, Luxembourg, Italy, Andorra, Monaco and Spain require Malian citizens to obtain a visa in advance.
French citizens travelling to Mali
French citizens need a visa for Mali, obtained before travel. The rule is the same in both directions between Mali and France.
Frequently asked questions
Do Malian citizens need a visa for France?
Malian citizens must obtain a visa before travelling to France.
Where is the French embassy in Mali?
The French embassy in Mali is in Bamako.
How much does the France tourist visa cost?
France’s official sources give a standard fee of €90 for the tourist visa. Processing time: Usually 15 days after lodging the file, up to 45 days in individual cases; allow extra time to obtain an appointment.
Do French citizens need a visa for Mali?
French citizens need a visa for Mali, obtained before travel.
Can Malian citizens enter France visa-free?
No; Malian citizens need a visa for France obtained in advance.
Visa data: Passport Index via passport-index-data, as of 31 October 2026. Rules change, sometimes overnight. Confirm with the embassy or the official government portal before you book.