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

Yes. A Malian passport does not allow visa-free entry to the Schengen area; a short-stay (Type C) visa is needed for a tourist stay in Germany. Germany must be your main destination or first point of entry for the application to fall under its embassy in Bamako.

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 fee90 EUR

  Schengen scale: €90 for an adult, €45 for a child aged 6 to 11, free below 6. Some facilitation agreements set a lower rate, the consulate confirms which applies to you.

• Application centre feeCapped at €45

  The Visa Code caps an external provider’s service fee at half the visa fee. It is charged on top, and it is not refunded either.

• 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 valid passport, the printed and signed Videx form, biometric photos, proof of accommodation, a flight reservation and evidence of funds. Travel medical insurance covering at least €30,000 across the Schengen area is mandatory. The visa fee is generally €90 for an adult; confirm the exact amount with the embassy.

Fill in the online Videx form, then book an appointment with the German Embassy in Bamako or the drop-off centre it designates. You attend in person to submit the file and give your biometric fingerprints. Check the embassy's website for the submission channel in force at the time of your application.

• Your application goes to the state that is your main destination. If Germany is where you spend the longest, it handles the file, whatever the entry point.
• With no main destination, the competent state is the one you enter first.
• If Germany has no consulate in Mali, another Schengen state may act on its behalf under a representation arrangement, or the file goes to the post accredited for your country.

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 usually takes 15 to 45 days, so apply several weeks ahead because appointments in Bamako can be limited. As Mali is a yellow-fever zone, keep your international vaccination certificate up to date. Ensure your passport stays valid for at least three months beyond your planned exit from the Schengen area.

Do not apply to Germany if the core of your trip takes place in another Schengen country. An incomplete file, non-compliant insurance or insufficient proof of funds often leads to refusal. Keep a full copy of the file and avoid non-refundable costs before the visa is granted.