Mali to impose reciprocal visa bond requirement for US nationals
Mali has announced that U.S. nationals will be required to post bonds of up to $10,000 for business and tourist visas, following the Trump administration’s decision to include the West African country in its visa bond program.
The United States embassy in Mali stated on Friday that it will require bonds of up to $10,000 for tourist and business visas under the pilot program effective October 23, 2025.
According to a U.S. government notice, the funds will be returned to travelers who leave the country in compliance with the terms of their visas.
In a statement on Sunday, Mali’s foreign ministry expressed regret over the U.S. government’s “unilateral decision,” stating that it undermines an earlier bilateral agreement on long-stay multiple-entry visas.
The statement further argued that, “In accordance with the principle of reciprocity, Mali has decided to introduce an identical visa program, imposing the same conditions and requirements on U.S. nationals as those applied to Malian citizens.”
According to U.S. State Department data from 2015 to 2024, show fewer than 3,000 non-immigrant visas are issued annually to Malian nationals. However, data on the number of visas Mali grants to U.S. citizens was not immediately available.
President Donald Trump has made cracking down on illegal immigration a focus of his presidency, boosting resources to secure the border and arresting people in the U.S. illegally.
President Donald Trump has prioritized cracking down on illegal immigration a focus of his presidency, growing resources for border security and intensifying efforts to arrest individuals living in the U.S. without legal status.
In August, the State Department announced that visa applicants from Zambia and Malawi would be required to pay bonds of up to $15,000.
In response, Zambia’s government raised concerns about the “unnecessary financial strain” this would impose on its citizens. The move highlights growing tensions over U.S. immigration policies and their broader diplomatic implications.
