Mali yellow fever and health entry rules

The yellow fever rule

The WHO International Travel and Health country list of 12 May 2021 states the country requirement at entry for Mali. It says a yellow fever vaccination certificate is required for all travellers aged 9 months or over ¹. The rule does not depend on the country the traveller comes from, according to that entry ¹.

Current government advice matches. The UK FCDO says that to enter Mali a traveller must have a certificate proving yellow fever vaccination ². Canada lists proof of yellow fever vaccination for travellers from all countries ³. The French foreign ministry lists a vaccination record showing the yellow fever vaccine with the passport ⁷. The US State Department lists yellow fever among required vaccinations ⁸.

Where the certificate is checked

The certificate is asked for twice, in the visa application ⁴ and at entry ².

• Visa file. The Embassy of Mali in India lists a copy of the yellow fever vaccination card among documents to upload ⁴.
• Visa file. The Embassy of Mali in Japan lists a yellow fever vaccination certificate among required documents ⁵.
• Entry. The UK and Canada list proof of vaccination as an entry requirement ^2,3.

WHO advice on vaccination

The WHO country list recommends vaccination for all travellers aged 9 months or over going to areas south of the Sahara Desert in Mali ¹. It says vaccination is not recommended for travellers whose trips stay within the Sahara ¹. The entry rule above still applies to all travellers from 9 months ¹.

The WHO yellow fever fact sheet, dated 20 October 2025, says a single dose provides lifelong immunity and no booster is needed ⁶. It says countries may require proof of vaccination under the International Health Regulations and that medical exemptions must be certified ⁶.

Recent yellow fever cases in Mali

Fit for Travel, a public health service of NHS Scotland, reported on 10 December 2019 that WHO was notified on 3 December 2019 of three yellow fever cases in Mali, one of them fatal ⁹. It reported two cases in Bougouni district in Sikasso region and one in Kati district in Koulikoro region, and said these appeared to be the first cases since 2015 ⁹.

Malaria and other health advice

The WHO country list says malaria risk, mainly from P. falciparum, exists all year in the whole of Mali ¹. It gives WHO prevention category C for Mali ¹.

The UK FCDO refers travellers to the TravelHealthPro guide for Mali for recommended vaccines and full medical entry details ². This site does not give medical advice. Travellers can ask a travel health clinic.