Mali currency and cash rules for travellers

Which rules apply

The rules for travellers are in Annex II of Regulation n°09/2010/CM/UEMOA on the external financial relations of UEMOA member states, signed in Ouagadougou on 1 October 2010 ². The BCEAO, the regional central bank, publishes the text in its collection of banking and financial laws ¹.

Mali customs publishes a page on the control of means of payment that uses the same terms ³. It defines a non-resident as a person whose main centre of interest is abroad, and a resident as a person whose main centre of interest is in a UEMOA member state ³. The regulation treats banknotes issued by the BCEAO separately from foreign banknotes and other means of payment such as travellers' cheques and cards ¹.

Visitors who live outside UEMOA

The table follows Articles 26 to 28 of Annex II as published by the BCEAO ¹.

Residents of Mali and other UEMOA states

• No declaration is needed to carry BCEAO banknotes when travelling within UEMOA states (Article 22) ².
• Travellers going to states outside UEMOA must declare foreign currency above the equivalent of 1,000,000 CFA francs (Article 23) ².
• Each person may take banknotes other than BCEAO notes up to the equivalent of 2,000,000 CFA francs. Larger sums may travel as travellers' cheques, prepaid cards or other means of payment (Article 23) ¹.
• On return, foreign banknotes and foreign currency payment instruments may be brought in freely, but amounts above the equivalent of 1,000,000 CFA francs must be declared (Article 24) ². Foreign means of payment worth more than the equivalent of 500,000 CFA francs must be surrendered to an authorised intermediary within 8 days of entry (Article 24) ^1,2.
• Payment and withdrawal cards may be used abroad for usual personal travel expenses (Article 25) ¹.

Where official sources differ

The Mali customs page shows a table in which residents carry banknotes and foreign currency payment instruments with no limit and no formalities ³. Article 24 of Regulation n°09/2010/CM/UEMOA, in the copy hosted by UMOA-Titres, says residents bringing in foreign currency must declare amounts above the equivalent of 1,000,000 CFA francs ². The BCEAO compilation carries the same Article 24 ¹. The customs page gives no date for its table ³.

The US State Department page on Mali, last updated 25 January 2021, says there are no currency restrictions for entry or exit ⁴. The UEMOA regulation and the Mali customs page both set declaration duties ^1,3. The UK FCDO says travellers must declare anything that may be prohibited or subject to tax or duty, and links to the Mali customs website for details ⁶.

Gold, art and goods leaving Mali

Mali customs says travellers can export gold objects up to 500 grams without authorisation ⁵. Larger exports need an authorisation from the Minister of Commerce, a titling certificate and prior approval from the Minister of Finance or a representative ⁵.

Non-commercial goods worth up to 250,000 FCFA (FOB) need only a verbal declaration on departure. Goods above that value need a written declaration through a licensed declarant ⁵. Art objects need an authorisation from the Minister of Arts and Culture ⁵. The UK FCDO says cultural or archaeological objects need an export permit from the Ministry of Arts and Culture, obtained from the director of the National Museum ⁶.

Sending banknotes by post

Sending means of payment abroad by post or any other means, including foreign banknotes, needs prior authorisation from the department in charge of external finance (Article 29) ². Sending or receiving BCEAO banknotes between a resident and a correspondent outside UEMOA is prohibited (Article 29) ². The BCEAO and authorised banks may send items without prior authorisation if each item is stamped and carries a description slip (Article 30) ².