Pet import requirements for Mali
What Mali asks for before a dog or cat can enter — the microchip, the rabies work, the permit and the paperwork — and how far ahead you need to start. We handle all of it on a move we arrange.
Import rules change, and they change without notice. Last verified 2026-06-03 by the country-profile service Furry Freight uses; profile last updated 2026-04-08. Confirm every requirement with the authority named below, or with us on (424) 421-1650, before you book a flight or start any vet work.
Mali at a glance
| Requirement | For Mali |
|---|---|
| Microchip Required | All pets must be microchipped with a 15-digit, non-encrypted microchip that complies with ISO 11784/11785 standards |
| Rabies | The pet must be vaccinated against rabies as follows: a) For a primary vaccination: It must be administered no less than 30 days and no more than 12 months prior to travel, and… |
| Import permit Required | Import permit is required for all pets entering Mali |
| Quarantine | Pets entering Mali that fully comply with all import requirements, in cluding holding a valid import permit, are not subject to quarantine upon arrival |
| Minimum age to travel | For puppies and kittens, the minimum import age is 12 weeks, as this is the earliest age at which they can receive their first rabies vaccination |
| Customs clearance | Highly Recommend |
| Agent at destination | Strongly advised |
Where this fits in the timeline. The order matters more than the effort: a rabies vaccination given before the microchip was implanted does not count in most regimes, and a titer test drawn too early restarts a waiting period. On a move we handle, we check your pet's existing dates against these rules on the free consultation before anything is booked.
The detail
Mali is a landlocked country located in West Africa. Because Mali is in Africa And Middle East, transit countries on the way can impose extra live-animal rules even when the destination file looks straightforward. Pets entering Mali that fully comply with all import requirements, in cluding holding a valid import permit, are not subject to quarantine upon arrival.
Import requirements
For puppies and kittens, the minimum import age is 12 weeks, as this is the earliest age at which they can receive their first rabies vaccination.
However, puppies or kittens younger than 12 weeks may be permitted entry if they are accompanied by their mother and her rabies vaccination is valid and up to date.
- Import Permit
- International Veterinary Health Certificate (issued within 14 days of departure)
- Valid Rabies Vaccination (primary or booster, with accepted vaccine types)
- Core Vaccinations (Dogs: Distemper, Hepatitis, Parvo, etc. / Cats: FVRCP)
- ISO-Compliant Microchip (15-digit, non-encrypted)
- Internal & External Parasite Treatment (within 14 days of entry)
- Minimum Age Requirement (12 weeks; younger pets must travel with mother)CITES Permit (required for CITES-listed species)
All pets entering Mali are considered commercial.
When exporting from a specific country, are then different requirements? (Example: Different requirements coming from a country at war, or high-risk rabies, or a country that animals cannot be imported from. )
NONE
Identification and microchip
All pets must be microchipped with a 15-digit, non-encrypted microchip that complies with ISO 11784/11785 standards. If your pet's microchip does not meet these specifications, you must provide a compatible microchip scanner upon entry*.*
The microchip number must be clearly recorded in both the vaccination booklet/certificate and the in ternational health certificate.
Rabies and vaccinations
The pet must be vaccinated against rabies as follows:
a) For a primary vaccination: It must be administered no less than 30 days and no more than 12 months prior to travel, and the animal must have been at least 3 months old at the time of vaccination.
b) For a booster vaccination: It must be administered within 12 months before the date of shipment.
Dogs: Must be vaccinated against Rabies, Canine Distemper, Adenovirus (in cluding Hepatitis), Parainfluenza, Parvovirus, and Leptospira (canicola and icterohaemorrhagiae strains).
Cats: Must be vaccinated against Rabies, Feline Rhinotracheitis, Calicivirus, and Panleukopenia.
Tests and treatments
None. Mali has not published any tests requirements for pets entering into Mali.
Pets must be treated for both in ternal and external parasites by a licensed veterinarian within 14 days prior to entry, and this treatment must be clearly recorded on the in ternational health certificate.
Health certificate and permits
Mali has not published a standardized national health certificate for pet imports. As such, the of ficial health certificate used in the country of origin—provided it meets in ternational standards and is duly endorsed—is accepted for entry.
Import permit is required for all pets entering Mali.
Sanitary Certificate / Export Clearance
Quarantine
Pets entering Mali that fully comply with all import requirements, in cluding holding a valid import permit, are not subject to quarantine upon arrival.
However, pets arriving without a valid import permit or with in complete documentation may be placed under mandatory quarantine at a government-approved facility for up to 14 days, at the owner's expense. This measure is enforced to safeguard public health, protect local animal populations, and prevent the in troduction of in fectious diseases.
Restrictions and banned breeds
At present, there are no of ficially published breed-specific bans or restrictions for pet importation into Mali.
Customs, agents, and airports
Highly Recommend
Highly Recommended
Bamako's Modibo Keita International Airport BKO
Timbuktu TOM
Export notes
Export Health Certificate signed, stamped and dated within 3 days, of arriving, by a licensed government veterinarian in country of origin.
Microchip
To exit a sanitary certificate from the Veterinary Department (see entry) and a rabies vaccination certificate are required.
Other pets / CITES / extra rules
General CITES Import Requirements:
- Valid CITES Permits:
- All imports must be accompanied by the appropriate CITES permits or certificates, issued by the Management Authority of the exporting country. These documents confirm that the trade is legal, sustainable, and traceable, in accordance with Articles III, IV, and V of the Convention.
- Non-Detriment Findings (NDFs):
- For species listed in Appendix II, a Scientific Authority must determine that the export will not be detrimental to the survival of the species. This assessment ensures that the trade does not threaten the species' existence in the wild.
- Legal Acquisition Findings:
Ministère de l'Environnement, de l'Assainissement et du Développement Durable
Direction Nationale des Eaux et Forêts (DNEF)
Inspecteur Général Fatoumata KONE KANOUTE, Directrice Générale des Eaux et Forêts
+223 76 38 67 91; +223 69 51 10 80
Zone Tabakoro, Est logements sociaux
Route de Ségou
B.P. 275 – Bamako, Mali
SEE CITES
Official contacts
Mali Customs
Monday to Thursday: 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
Friday: 8 a.m. to 12 p.m.
+223 20 20 34 07
ccentreentreprises@douanes.ml
Email Info:brpc@douanes.ml
M le Directeur General de l'ElevageMinistere Charge du Developpement Rural
BP E/281
Bamako
Dr. Soumana Diallo
Chef des Services veterinaires
Division Preventions des Risques
Protrection des animaux et des vegetaux
BP E/281, Bamako
Tel: +233 22 80-24; Fax: +223 22 80-24
Dr. Mamadou Racine N'Diaya
Tel: +233 24 05-61; Fax: +223 24 05-61
Email: dprpav@cefib.com
Current as of June 2025
Disclaimer
Import rules change without much warning. Confirm every vaccine date, test, permit, and crate routing with the destination veterinary authority before you travel. This page is a planning brief for Furry Freight customers, last checked against the IPATA country profile dated 2026-06-03.
Next: measure your dog, find the kennel size, then get a free travel quote. Moving on military orders? PCS moves. Going to Hawaiʻi instead? Hawaiʻi has its own regime.
Other destinations: Algeria · Angola · Bahrain · all destinations
Official sources for Mali
Questions about moving a pet to Mali
Does my dog or cat need a microchip for Mali?
All pets must be microchipped with a 15-digit, non-encrypted microchip that complies with ISO 11784/11785 standards
From the country profile, last verified 2026-06-03.
What rabies vaccination does Mali require?
The pet must be vaccinated against rabies as follows: a) For a primary vaccination: It must be administered no less than 30 days and no more than 12 months prior to travel, and…
Do I need an import permit to bring a pet into Mali?
Import permit is required for all pets entering Mali
Will my pet be quarantined on arrival in Mali?
Pets entering Mali that fully comply with all import requirements, in cluding holding a valid import permit, are not subject to quarantine upon arrival
How old does a puppy or kitten have to be to travel to Mali?
For puppies and kittens, the minimum import age is 12 weeks, as this is the earliest age at which they can receive their first rabies vaccination