Practical info for Mali
Emergencies, embassy, entry requirements, money: the essentials before you go, with the official source and the date each piece of information was checked.
Embassy and entry requirements shown for travellers from: United Kingdom.
Emergency numbers
Official sources give different numbers for some services: each number is shown with its source.
- Policeaccording to GOV.UK, 10/07/202617
- Policeaccording to the French embassy, 27/03/2026101
- Policeaccording to Poland's foreign ministry, 30/06/2026331
- Medical emergenciesaccording to GOV.UK, 10/07/202615
- Fire brigadeaccording to GOV.UK, 10/07/202618
- Fire brigadeaccording to the French embassy, 27/03/2026122
- Gendarmerieaccording to the French embassy, 27/03/2026111
Source: France Diplomatie, GOV.UK, French embassy, Portal das Comunidades Portuguesas, Ministerstwo Spraw Zagranicznych RP · verified on 26/10/2026
Embassy and consulates
- British Embassy BamakoEmbassy
- Address
- Cité du Niger II, Bamako, Mali
- Consular emergency line
- To call us in an emergency or send us an online enquiry use our contact form: https://www.contact.service.csd.fcdo.gov.uk/posts/mali/british-embassy-bamako
Consular emergency numbers (emergencies only): FCDO, London (24 hours): +44 20 7008 5000.
Entry requirements
The rules depend on your passport: check them here before you book, for every traveller, children included.
Official page: GOV.UK (FCDO), updated 10/07/2026 ›
Source: GOV.UK · verified on 26/10/2026
Safety and travel advice
Highest level according to GOV.UK (FCDO): FCDO advises against all travel to the whole country.
FCDO advises against all travel to Mali
FCDO advises against all travel to the whole of the Mali due to the unpredictable security conditions.
Find out more about why FCDO advises against travel.
Source: GOV.UK · verified on 26/10/2026
Currency and payments
Currency: CFA Franc (BCEAO) (XOF).
The ECB does not publish a reference rate for XOF.
Source: SIX Group (ISO 4217), European Central Bank, EU Publications Office · verified on 26/10/2026
Time difference
Local time: UTC+00:00, the same time as in London (calculated on 26/10/2026).
The clocks change in London on 28/03/2027: the difference may change that day.
Source: IANA (time zones) · verified on 26/10/2026
Driving
Driving licence, according to GOV.UK (FCDO): “You can use a UK photocard driving licence to drive in Mali. If you still have a paper driving licence, you may need to update it to a photocard licence or get the 1949 version of the international driving permit (IDP) as well.”
Source: GOV.UK · verified on 26/10/2026
Mobile networks
Networks listed by the eSIMs we checked: Orange (Airalo).
Source: Airalo · verified on 26/10/2026
eSIM prices for Mali
7 days, 5 GB · prices checked on 26/10/2026
3 brands compared, not an exhaustive listWhy this ranking?
Ranked by price: for each brand, the cheapest plan that covers 7 days and 5 GB.
Not an exhaustive comparison: 3 brands out of the dozens that sell eSIMs. The list of brands compared is in our Methodology.
eSIMeter is published by Mocom SAS, which sells Sirocco: the site is funded by those sales. No other brand pays us.
Frequently asked questions
What are the emergency numbers in Mali?
Police: 17 (according to GOV.UK, 10/07/2026) ; Police: 101 (according to the French embassy, 27/03/2026) ; Police: 331 (according to Poland's foreign ministry, 30/06/2026) ; Medical emergencies: 15 (according to GOV.UK, 10/07/2026) ; Fire brigade: 18 (according to GOV.UK, 10/07/2026) ; Fire brigade: 122 (according to the French embassy, 27/03/2026) ; Gendarmerie: 111 (according to the French embassy, 27/03/2026). Official sources give different numbers for some services: each number is shown with its source.
How do I contact the embassy or consulate in Mali?
British Embassy Bamako, Cité du Niger II, Bamako, Mali. Consular emergency numbers (emergencies only): FCDO, London (24 hours): +44 20 7008 5000.
What are the entry requirements for Mali?
The rules depend on your passport: check them here before you book, for every traveller, children included. Official page: GOV.UK (FCDO), updated 10/07/2026.
What is the travel advice for Mali?
Highest level according to GOV.UK (FCDO): FCDO advises against all travel to the whole country. FCDO advises against all travel to Mali FCDO advises against all travel to the whole of the Mali due to the unpredictable security conditions. Find out more about why FCDO advises against travel.
What currency is used in Mali?
Currency: CFA Franc (BCEAO) (XOF). The ECB does not publish a reference rate for XOF.
What is the time difference in Mali?
Local time: UTC+00:00, the same time as in London (calculated on 26/10/2026). The clocks change in London on 28/03/2027: the difference may change that day.
What should I know about driving in Mali?
Driving licence, according to GOV.UK (FCDO): “You can use a UK photocard driving licence to drive in Mali. If you still have a paper driving licence, you may need to update it to a photocard licence or get the 1949 version of the international driving permit (IDP) as well.”
Which mobile networks operate in Mali?
Networks listed by the eSIMs we checked: Orange (Airalo).