Move From Mali to Canada With Licensed Immigration Consultants
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Choosing to immigrate to Canada is an important and personal decision. RightWay Canada Immigration Services supports individuals and families in Mali who are pursuing permanent residence, study or work opportunities, family reunification or another Canadian immigration pathway. Our role is to make the process clearer, more manageable and carefully prepared from the beginning.
Our team of licensed Canadian immigration consultants is regulated by the College of Immigration and Citizenship Consultants (CICC) and works in accordance with Canadian immigration requirements. Since 2016, RightWay Canada has assisted 114 clients from Mali and earned multiple industry recognitions, along with a strong reputation reflected in positive client reviews.
Every immigration case is different. We take the time to understand each applicant’s circumstances and goals, assess the available options and provide clear guidance on eligibility, required documents and the steps ahead. Our support goes beyond completing forms, helping applicants approach the process with greater clarity and confidence. Book a consultation with a licensed immigration consultant to discuss your individual situation. Information about our services and pricing is available on our fees page.
Mali to Canada Spousal Sponsorship
Applicants applying for spousal sponsorship from Mali must follow the country-specific IRCC instructions alongside the standard sponsorship application checklist. These instructions identify the additional forms and supporting documents that may be required for an application involving Malian nationals.
For Mali applicants, the requirements include IMM 5562 for travel history, IMM 5546 for certain applicants with a senior government, military, defence, police, or National Service history, and military card or booklet copies where applicable. Additional documents are also required when a child’s Malian birth certificate was not issued at the time of birth.
Required Forms
Applicants from Mali must complete the following country-specific forms where applicable:
- Supplementary Information – Your Travels [IMM 5562]
- Required for the principal applicant.
- Required for all family members included in the application who are 18 years old or older.
- Details of Military Service [IMM 5546]
- Required for anyone included in the application who has ever:
- held a high-ranking or senior official government position, or
- served in the military, army, defence, or police unit, including National Service.
- Required for anyone included in the application who has ever:
If IMM 5546 applies, submit a copy of all pages of the person’s military card or booklet, including blank pages.
Children's Documents
If a child’s birth certificate issued by Mali was not issued at the time of birth, submit copies of:
- the supplementary judgment
- another official document naming the parents
- school documents listing the parents, if available
- the household registry
If school documents listing the parents cannot be obtained, provide an explanation.
Mali to Canada Study Permit
Applicants applying for a Canada study permit from Mali must follow the Dakar visa office instructions for local document requirements. These instructions are listed in the Dakar Visa Office Additional Document Checklist — IMM 5826, which is used together with the standard Canada study permit checklist.
For Mali applicants, IMM 5826 focuses on recommended application timing, post-secondary study records, a one-page study plan, bank and source-of-funds documents, sponsor undertaking letters, third-party support evidence, and scholarship or funding documents where applicable.
Required Forms
Mali study permit applicants must follow the Dakar Visa Office Additional Document Checklist for study permits.
Country-specific checklist:
Intake Timing
The Dakar visa office gives recommended submission dates for Mali study permit applicants.
Recommended timing:
- for the fall session, beginning in September, apply before June 15
- for the winter session, beginning in January, apply before October 15
- for the summer session, beginning in May, apply before February 15
Applications submitted after these dates may not be finalized before the start of the academic session.
Student Records
Applicants from Mali must provide evidence of current or previous post-secondary studies.
Required student records include:
- copies of transcripts from any post-secondary educational institution attended
- copies of certificates, diplomas, or degrees granted by any post-secondary educational institution attended
Applicants must also provide a one-page study plan.
The study plan should explain:
- why the applicant wants to study in Canada in the accepted program
- the applicant’s overall educational goal
- why the applicant is not pursuing a similar program in the country of residence
- what research the applicant has done into studies in the country of residence or citizenship
- how the program will improve employment opportunities in the country of residence or citizenship
- what ties the applicant has to the country of residence or citizenship
If the applicant has been out of full-time education for more than two years, they must provide a curriculum vitae or resumé.
Financial Documents
Applicants from Mali must provide financial documents showing their ability to support the proposed studies.
Required financial documents include:
- copies of bank statements for at least four months
- documents showing the source of any lump-sum deposits
- additional documents showing a reliable source of funds
The Dakar visa office instructions require applicants to clearly document where the funds came from, especially where large deposits appear in the account history.
Funding Support
Applicants who are supported by a parent or sponsor must provide financial support documents.
Required support documents include:
- a letter of undertaking from the parent or sponsor
- financial documents from the parent or sponsor
If a third person is sponsoring the studies, that person must provide:
- bank statements
- employment records
- documents showing the source of funds
- a letter with current contact information explaining why they will finance the studies
- details of their relationship to the applicant
- the number of dependants they have
- the amount of support they will provide
- a copy of their photo identification, such as a national identity card or passport
If the sponsor is a relative, the applicant must provide proof of relationship, such as birth certificates, guardianship documents, or custodian documents.
If the sponsor is in Canada, the applicant must also provide proof of the sponsor’s legal status in Canada and a copy of the summary page of the sponsor’s most recent Canada Revenue Agency income tax statement.
If the applicant has a scholarship, financial assistance, or an award from a government or other funding agency, they must provide an official letter showing the full amount, duration, and conditions of the award.
Mali to Canada Visitor Visa
Applicants applying for a Canada visitor visa from Mali must follow the Dakar Visa Office Instructions, IMM 5865, alongside the standard temporary resident visa requirements. These are visa-office instructions for Mali applicants; IRCC does not publish a separate Mali-only checklist.
For Mali applicants, documents not in English or French require certified translations. Legible photocopies are generally required, but birth and police certificates must be originals; a birth attestation is not accepted. The checklist outlines financial, employment, business, student, family-visit, and minor-travel documents, as well as CAN+ eligibility for qualifying legal residents.
Visa Office
IRCC does not publish a separate Mali-only visitor visa checklist.
For visitor visa applications from Mali, the official visa-office document available through IRCC is the Dakar Visa Office Instructions, IMM 5865 E (02-2018).
These are Dakar visa-office instructions for Mali applicants.
Document Rules
The Dakar checklist says that documents not in English or French must include a certified translation.
It also says applicants should submit legible photocopies, except that the birth certificate and police certificate must be original documents.
The checklist notes that the original birth certificate extract must be submitted and that a birth attestation is not accepted.
Financial Documents
The Dakar checklist gives specific financial-document examples.
For applicants paying for their own trip, the checklist lists:
- original personal bank statements for the past six months
- pay slips for the past six months
For applicants who own a business, the checklist lists:
- business registration certificates
- tax returns
- certificates of qualification
- business financial statements
- original commercial bank statements from the past six months
If a third party is paying for the trip, the checklist lists:
- letter of financial custodianship
- recent bank statements for personal accounts
- work contract showing salary
- pay slips
- term deposit statements showing the person’s name, account balance, and date the account was opened
- copy of the person’s photo identification, such as a national identity card or passport
For employees, the checklist asks for an employer letter and pay slips from the past six months. The employer letter must be dated no more than two months before the application is submitted and must show:
- profession
- salary and allowances
- years of service
- leave authorization for the planned trip to Canada
For entrepreneurs or autonomous workers, the checklist lists:
- financial statements related to the business activity for the last two years
- letters patent
- business licence
For students, the checklist lists:
- recent letter of enrolment
- transcripts from the educational institution
Specific Situations
The Dakar checklist includes some situation-specific document items.
For applicants visiting a Canadian host who is a blood relative, the checklist lists proof of the relationship, such as:
- host’s original birth certificate
- family booklet
For business travel, the checklist lists:
- financial statements
- letters
- letters patent
- business licence
- transaction reports
- prospectus
- documents showing business contacts in Canada
- proof of relationships with businesses in Canada
- invitation from Canadian business contacts confirming the nature and duration of the business trip
- Canadian point of contact, business address, telephone number, and explanation of the visit
- employer letter showing purpose of trip, date hired, position, salary, approved leave dates, and who will cover travel costs
For a seminar, trade show, or conference, the checklist lists:
- invitation from the Canadian organization
- registration and hotel confirmation
- written confirmation from the organization covering travel and stay costs, if applicable
- employer letter confirming the trip, specific reason and duration, and employment details
For students requesting a visa renewal to return to Canada, the checklist lists:
- passport valid for the remaining duration of studies
- valid study permit
- admission letter or proof of registration for the upcoming session
- transcripts from completed sessions
- airplane ticket or reservation
- valid Certificat d’acceptation du Québec, if applicable
- Canadian bank statements for the past 12 months
For minors, the checklist lists:
- passport
- notarized permission to travel signed by both parents, or notarized custody document, if applicable
- child’s birth certificate
- both parents’ birth certificates
- proof of registration for the next school year
- most recent transcript
For a minor travelling alone or with an adult other than a parent, the checklist also lists:
- notarized letter from the guardian in Canada who will receive the child
- notarized parental authorization from both parents
CAN+ Program
The Dakar checklist includes a CAN+ section that specifically lists Mali among the countries covered by this facilitation program. The checklist says CAN+ may apply to legal residents of:
- Burkina Faso
- Cameroon
- Côte d’Ivoire
- Gabon
- Mali
- Senegal
The checklist says applicants must have been issued a multiple-entry temporary resident visa to Canada or the United States in the last five years and must have had no immigration infractions in any country.
