Do China passport holders need a visa to visit ML?

Chinese ordinary passport holders need a visa to enter Mali. There is no eVisa or visa-on-arrival for tourists; you must obtain a paper/sticker visa from a Malian embassy or consulate before you travel. As of 2026-05-31, a Chinese citizen holding an ordinary (private) passport must obtain a visa before traveling to Mali for tourism or a short visit. Mali does not operate an electronic visa (eVisa) portal and does not grant visa-on-arrival to Chinese ordinary passport holders. The only route is a traditional consular sticker visa applied for in advance at the Embassy of Mali in Beijing (or an authorized visa center). A bilateral visa-waiver agreement exists only for holders of Chinese diplomatic and service (public affairs) passports, who may stay up to 90 days without a visa; this exemption does NOT extend to ordinary passports. A short-stay tourist visa typically allows up to 30 days, requires a passport valid at least 6 months with at least two blank pages, proof of onward/return travel, accommodation details, and (commonly) a yellow fever vaccination certificate. Travelers should also note that Mali has significant security concerns, and many governments advise against travel to large parts of the country; this does not change the visa requirement but is important for trip planning.