China visa requirements for Malians

Travel and visa requirements

Basic Travel Requirements for Malians visiting China

Travelers are required to fulfill the following requirements in order to apply for a Chinese Visa.

  • An original Malian passport valid for at least 6 months from the intended arrival date. There should be at least 2 blank pages for visa stamp.
  • Duly completed and signed visa application form.
  • If the applicant is a minor, the parents/legal guardians have to sign the form.
  • A notarized copy of the birth certificate of the minor, as well as a letter of consent from both parents, is needed.
  • A valid means of identification of the parents is also important.
  • Two passport-size photographs (48 x 33mm) taken on a white background.
  • Valid travel document.
  • Proof of financial support for the duration of stay.
  • Proof of accommodation.
  • Return or onward ticket.
  • Documentation confirming the purpose of travel.
  • Copy of travel itinerary.

China Visa for Malians

Facts about China

China, officially the People's Republic of China is a country in East Asia and the world's most populous country, with a population of around 1.404 billion in 2017. Covering approximately 9,600,000 square kilometres, it is the third or fourth-largest country by total area.  China’s political system was based on hereditary Monarchies or dynasties beginning with the semi-mythical Xia dynasty in 21st Century BCE.


China as a whole was ravaged by feudal warlordism with Japan during World War II. The Chinese civil war resulted in a division of territory in 1949 when the communist party of China led by Mao Zedong established the people’s republic of China on mainland China. Also the Kuomintang led nationalist government retreated to the Island of Taiwan where it governed until 1996 when Taiwan changed to democracy.


China’s economy has been one of the world’s fastest-growing with its annual growth rates consistently above 6 per cent. According to the World bank China’s GDP grew from $150 billion in 1978 to $12.24 trillion in 2017. In 2018, its GDP increased to $13.5 trillion (90 trillion yuan). Since 2010, China has been the country with the world’s second-largest economy by nominal GDP and the largest economy in the world by purchasing power parity in 2014.


China is also the world’s largest exporter and second-largest importer of goods and also the home to some of the world’s largest tech giants such as Huawei, Baidu, Tencent and Alibaba as it is the world’s most technologically advanced nation. Since 2019, China has the highest number of rich people in the world.

Types of China Visa

Types of Visa Processing Time Duration of Stay
Tourist visa 4 working days 3 months
Business visa 4 working days 90 days
Student visa 4 working days Duration of study
Work visa 4 working days 30 days

General Requirements for China Visa

  • An original Malian passport valid for at least 6 months from the intended arrival date. There should be at least 2 blank pages for visa stamp.
  • Duly completed and signed visa application form.
  • If the applicant is a minor, the parents/legal guardians have to sign the form.
  • A notarized copy of the birth certificate of the minor, as well as a letter of consent from both parents, is needed.
  • A valid means of identification of the parents is also important.
  • Two passport-size photographs (48 x 33mm) taken on a white background.
  • Valid travel document.
  • Proof of financial support for the duration of stay.
  • Proof of accommodation.
  • Return or onward ticket.
  • Documentation confirming the purpose of travel.
  • Copy of travel itinerary.
China Tourist visa China Business visa China Student visa China Work visa

China Tourist Visa Eligibility & Requirements

  • With the Chinese tourist visa (L visa), you can visit China for tourism, leisure or other recreational activities.
  • Proof of accommodation which could be a copy of a Chinese hotel booking for the whole duration of your stay is required.
  • If you intend to stay at your friend or relative’s house, you won’t need to book a hotel. However, your friend/relative will have to send an invitation letter and a valid means of identification to you.
  • The invitation letter must contain the purpose and duration of the trip
  • The Tibet Autonomous Region requires special permits for tourist travel and it can be gotten through a Chinese travel agent. If you enter a restricted area without the requisite permit, you could be fined, taken into custody, and deported for illegal entry.
  • Failure to register with the police within 24 hours of arrival in the country could result in fines and deportation. 
  • You will be required to carry valid passports and Chinese visas or residence permits at all times in the country.
  • Police regularly conduct unannounced drug tests on people suspected of drug use - including foreign citizens. Police may require you to provide a urine, blood, or hair follicle sample on short notice, and may force you to participate in the collection.
  • Police, school administrators, transportation officials, and hotel staff may check your visa to make sure you have not overstayed. If you overstay your visa’s duration, you may be denied service by hotels, airports and train stations, as well as face fines and detention.
  • Overstaying your visa is an offense so you should be ready to leave China before your visa expires or face a ban from entry.
  • The Chinese tourist visa is categorized into 3, based on the number of entries allowed:
    • Single Entry — allows one entry, costs XOF 20,000 and is valid for 3 months. 
    • Double Entry — allows two entries costs XOF 30,000 and is valid for 6 months. 
    • Multiple Entry — allows multiple entries and costs XOF 40,000 for a validity of 6 months while the multiple entry visa valid for one year costs XOF 60,000.

China Business Visa Eligibility & Requirements

  • The business visa is issued to travelers visiting China to carry out business and other commercial activities.
  • The China M visa is issued for business and trade purposes while the F visa is for business activities that are non-commercial.
  • For the F visa, visitors can visit China to conduct lectures, an investigation, scientific and cultural exchanges, study tours.
  • Original and a notarized copy of the business registration certificate and tax clearance are required during the visa application.
  • You are also required to provide an invitation letter issued by a registered Chinese company or organization.
  • The invitation letter should include the full details of the applicant visiting China.
  • If the inviting company will be responsible for the financial expenses of the applicant, it should be stated in the letter.
  • It is illegal to work in China with a business visa. If you want to legally work in China, you should apply for a work visa.
  • The duration of stay for the F visa is usually 30 days.
  • In case that you need to be in China for a longer period of time, make it clear during your application, stating the exact reason you will be needing more time. If your reason is valid enough, your request will be granted and you will get more time.
  • The China business visa can be extended to up to 120 days, but this process can take time so you are advised to start your extension request in time.
  • The validity period of the China M visa is three months (90 days) in most cases.
  • The M visa can be issued for single-entry, double-entry or multiple-entries:
    • Single Entry — allows one entry, costs XOF 20,000 and is valid for 3 months. 
    • Double Entry — allows two entries, costs XOF 30,000 and is valid for 6 months. 
    • Multiple Entry — allows multiple entries and costs XOF 40,000 for a validity of 6 months while the multiple entry visa valid for one year costs XOF 60,000.

China Student Visa Eligibility & Requirements

  • The study visa is for Malians who have been admitted into a Chinese learning institution.
  • The China student visa is of two categories:
    •    X1 - issued for a study that lasts more than 6 months.
    •    X2 - issued for a study that lasts less than 6 months.
  • X2 visa is issued for single-entry only while X1 visa can be issued for multiple entries and it is usually valid for up to 5 years.
  • You are required to fill and provide the JW201 (or JW202) form issued by the Chinese Ministry of Education if applying for the X1 Visa.
  • A letter of admission from the Chinese school you are enrolling in is necessary.
  • JW201 is for those studying in China on a full scholarship or partial scholarship while JW202 is for those studying in China by self-support or partial scholarship.
  • You will need to submit a valid medical certificate when applying for a student visa.
  • Those who intend to go to China for research, lecture, scientific, cultural exchange and study tour should not apply for the study visa but the business non-Commerce Visa (F) which is normally issued for single or double entry only.
  • Proof of where you will be staying for the duration of your study in China is required for the study visa.
  • You are also required to show proof that you can cover your expenses for the duration of study in China.
  • The study visa costs about $90.

China Work Visa Eligibility & Requirements

  • The work visa is for a traveller who intends to legally work in China.
  • You must have been offered a job in China to apply for a work visa.
  • You are also required to obtain an employment permit while securing a China work visa (Z visa).
  • You can get the employment permit issued by the Chinese government through the embassy in Mali.
  • The age limit is 18 - 60 for all applicants. However, there is some flexibility in these requirements, so if you are not in this age range and can find a willing employer, they may still be able to obtain approval for you.
  • A holder of the Z visa must enter China within 90 days of the visa issue and must register at a local public security bureau within 30 days of arrival in China.
  • In order to apply for the China Z visa, please take note of the following:
  • You must submit your original passport, plus a photocopy of the name page. Visas can only be stamped on your original passport.
  • The passport should have at least 12 months validity left and at least 2 blank visa pages for visa stamping. If this is not the case, you must renew your passport first before starting your application.
  • If you have a valid China visa in another passport, you will need to submit that passport together with the new passport when applying for a new visa.
  • Foreigners that work in China has been divided into 3 classes:
    • Class A (high-level talents)
    • Class B (professional personnel)
    • Class C (foreigners who are nontechnical or service workers hired on a temporary/seasonal basis).
  • Certain jobs might not be valid enough to get a work visa and if you are caught working with the wrong visa, you risk paying a fine that ranges between 5,000 and 20,000 Chinese Yuan, and may even end up in prison from between five to fifteen days.
  • This Z visa only allows a stay duration of 30 days from the date of arrival in China, during which time you and your employer must seek a Temporary Residence Permit that will cover for the duration of your contract, to a minimum of 90 days and a maximum of 5 years. 
  • The work visa is a single entry visa with the duration of stay being 000, which means the duration is to be determined by the Temporary Residence Permit you get after entering China.
  • The China residence permit will be issued at the bureau to replace the Z visa.
  • Unlike the Z visa, the residence permit allows multiple entries into China for one year.
  • The work visa costs $90.

China Visa Fees

Visa Type

Sub Types

Visa Fees

Tourist visa

20000.00 (CNY)

Business visa

20000.00 (CNY)

Student visa

90.00 (USD)

Work visa

90.00 (USD)

China Visa Application Centres & Embassies in Mali

Location

Address

Bamako

No. 2259 Route de Koulikoro, Quartier Hippodrome, Bamako, Mali.

chinaemb_ml@mfa.gov.cn

+223-20213597

Frequently Asked Questions

Is it safe to visit China?

China is an extremely safe country and it is rare to see occurrences of violent crimes so it is safe to walk alone on the streets any time of the day and even at night. Women travelers can also be rest assured that they can walk the streets freely, use public transportation without any concern, and board cabs without any incident. Nevertheless, travelers are advised to use common sense and not create chances for pickpockets to take your wallet or electronic devices in crowded areas. 

Are there any clothing restrictions in China?
China is very receptive to all sorts of dressing styles so there are hardly any restrictions. You can wear any outfit that you are comfortable in, just make sure to bring clothes and shoes that match the season.
When visiting a temple in China, especially Buddhist temples, it is important that your shoulders and knees are covered. This means no sleeveless shirts and no short skirts, dresses or shorts.
What is the widely accepted currency in China?
The official currency of the Republic of China is the renminbi often abbreviated as RMB. There are no issues with changing foreign currencies while in China as there is a good network of banks in the country. ATMs are also readily available in China.
What language is spoken in China?
The official Chinese language is Standard Mandarin which is mostly based on the Beijing dialect called Putonghua. Many regions, especially in the southeast and south of the country also have their own local dialect. The older generation might only speak their local dialect but it shouldn't be a problem for travelers. Though the English language is taught in schools, it is rare to see conversations happen in English unless you visit the English corner where citizens practice their English on Friday evenings or Sundays in public parks.