Visa for Afghanistan from Mali: price, documents and processing time 2026

Yes. As a Malian citizen you must obtain a visa to enter Afghanistan, even for a simple tourist stay. There is no exemption and no visa on arrival for Malians, so the application must be made before you travel. Build this step into your planning well in advance.

The published fee is the government charge alone. Two or three other lines are added before the visa is in the passport, and they are what makes the final bill.

• Government feeNot published in a source we can verify

  Paid to the state, non-refundable if the visa is refused.

• Application centre feeVariable, set by the operator

  Only when the post uses an external centre. The amount is set locally and we do not publish a figure we cannot verify.

• Agency or online serviceOptional, added on top

  Never compulsory. An intermediary fills the form for you, it does not change the decision or the processing time.

• ExtrasVariable

  Courier return, SMS tracking, compliant photo, insurance, sworn translation or legalisation, depending on what the post requires.

We only display amounts published by an official source. Confirm the total before paying anything.

Prepare a Malian passport valid for at least 6 months on the date of entry, the completed application form, compliant passport photos and the usual supporting documents (purpose of travel, accommodation, itinerary or invitation letter). The fee amount and the precise document list are not guaranteed here: they depend on the Afghan mission and must be checked directly with it before any payment.

Applications are lodged with the Afghan embassy or consulate responsible for Mali. Because no Afghan mission is based in Bamako, you will need to establish which regional post handles Malian files, or use the official online portal if it is available. Contact it beforehand to learn the submission method, appointment arrangements and how the passport is returned.

Then the application goes to the post accredited for Mali, often in a neighbouring capital, or to a state acting on its behalf. Confirm which post is competent with the official source before travelling to a third country to apply, a rejected file at the wrong counter costs the trip and the fee.

The regime follows your nationality, not where you live. If you reside in Mali but travel on another country's passport, the rule on this page is not yours. Filing usually still happens from your country of residence, at the post competent for it, but the requirement itself comes from your passport.

Processing time is not guaranteed and can lengthen if your documents must be shipped outside Mali; ask the relevant mission for a current estimate. Also check the health entry requirements, as a yellow-fever certificate is commonly requested from travellers coming from West Africa. Finally, review your government's travel advice, as the situation in Afghanistan remains unstable.

Do not count on regularising at the border: without a visa, boarding or entry may be refused. Do not rely on unofficial intermediaries charging surcharges or promising unrealistic timelines. Check that the form matches the passport exactly, and do not forget your vaccination card if yellow fever is required.