Mali Extrait de Casier Judiciaire for Ecuador Tourist Visa

The Extrait de Casier Judiciaire — specifically the Bulletin N°3 — is an official extract from Mali's criminal records registry. It certifies that the holder has no criminal convictions recorded in the Malian judicial system.

As a former French colony, Mali's legal system follows the French civil law tradition. The criminal record system uses the same three-tier bulletin structure inherited from France, where Bulletin N°3 is the personal extract available to the individual — the version you need for visa applications.

Ecuador requires this document for all visa applicants over the age of 18. You must submit one from Mali and one from every other country where you have lived for the past five years. If you have lived in multiple countries since 2021, a separate background check from each country is required in addition to the Malian one.

The Extrait de Casier Judiciaire is not issued by a single centralized office. The issuing court depends on your place of birth:

• Born in the Bamako District: Your certificate is issued exclusively by the Tribunal de Paix à Compétence Étendue de la Commune III (Peace Court with Extended Jurisdiction of Commune III, Bamako). This is the only court in Bamako authorized to issue criminal records, regardless of which commune you live in.
• Born outside Bamako: Your certificate is issued by the Tribunal de Paix à Compétence Étendue (TPCE) or Tribunal de Première Instance in the jurisdiction of your birthplace — that is, the court serving the town or region where you were born.
• Born abroad (Malian citizens born outside Mali): Your certificate is issued by the Procureur de la République near the Cour d'Appel de Bamako (Public Prosecutor at the Bamako Court of Appeal).

The process is governed by Decree N°95-255/P-RM of June 30, 1995, which sets the procedures and fees for criminal record bulletins.

Since February 2026, the Ministry of Justice and Human Rights — in partnership with AGETIC (Agence des Technologies de l'Information et de la Communication) — has launched an online portal at [casiercasier.gouv.ml](https://casiercasier.gouv.ml) for digital submission of criminal record requests.

There are two application channels: the new online portal and the traditional in-person process.

Option A — Online Application (Recommended)

Mali launched digital criminal record requests in February 2026 through the E-Casier Judiciaire portal:

1. Visit https://casiercasier.gouv.ml/demande/faire
2. Complete the digital application form with your full legal name, date and place of birth, address, profession, and family status
3. Upload the required supporting documents (see Required Documents section below)
4. Submit the request and note your tracking reference number
5. Track the status of your request through the portal
6. Once processed, the certificate is delivered digitally — it carries the same legal validity as the traditional paper version

The platform is accessible throughout Mali and is designed for both residents and members of the Malian diaspora.

Option B — In-Person Application

1. Go to the criminal record and nationality certificate office at the appropriate court for your birthplace (see Issuing Authority section above)
2. Present yourself at the counter and provide your residence address, profession, and family situation
3. Submit your birth certificate extract and any required identification
4. The office agent records your information on an official form and transmits it to the greffier en chef (chief clerk)
5. The chief clerk searches the criminal records files to verify no convictions exist, then registers your application
6. The form is submitted for signature to the Procureur de la République (Public Prosecutor) or Juge de Paix à Compétence Étendue (Peace Judge with Extended Jurisdiction)
7. After signature, the certificate is returned to the criminal records office for collection

Important: Even if you obtain your certificate through the online portal, it still requires authentication by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs before Ecuador will accept it. The digital certificate has the same legal force but must still pass through the full legalization chain.

Gather these before starting your application:

• Extrait d'acte de naissance (birth certificate extract) — this is the primary required document
• Valid national identity card (NINA card) or valid Malian passport
• Passport-sized photograph (for in-person applications)
• Proof of residence (may be requested for verification)

For the online portal, you will need digital scans of these documents in a standard image or PDF format.

Important: Ensure the name on your birth certificate extract exactly matches the name on your passport. Discrepancies between documents are a common cause of delays and may require you to restart the process.

Online portal (casiercasier.gouv.ml): - Processing time varies — the platform is relatively new (launched February 2026), so processing speed may still be stabilizing. Expect 3–7 working days as a reasonable estimate, though delays are possible during high-demand periods.

In-person at the court: - Standard processing: 2–5 working days in Bamako (Commune III court) - Outside Bamako: Processing times at regional courts can be longer, ranging from 1–2 weeks depending on the court's caseload and staffing - Peak periods: Delays of up to 2 weeks are possible during periods of high demand

Practical note: The in-person process in Bamako has historically been described as challenging, with long waits and administrative bottlenecks at the Commune III court. The online portal was specifically designed to address these issues. If the portal is functioning reliably, it is the better option.

The official fee for a criminal record extract (Bulletin N°3) in Mali is 750 FCFA (approximately $1.20 USD), as established by Decree N°95-255/P-RM.

This is one of the lowest criminal record certificate fees in the world. However, the certificate itself is only one component of the total cost — authentication and translation will be significantly more expensive.

Additional costs to budget for:

*FCFA amounts refer to the West African CFA Franc (XOF). Exchange rates fluctuate — verify current rates at the time of application.*

This is the most important and time-consuming part of the process.

Mali is not a member of the Hague Apostille Convention. Ecuador is.

For countries inside the Hague Convention, a simple apostille stamp is sufficient to authenticate a document for Ecuador. For Mali, apostille is not available. Instead, your Extrait de Casier Judiciaire must go through a longer authentication chain called consular legalization:

1. Court of jurisdiction → issues the Extrait de Casier Judiciaire
2. Ministère des Affaires Étrangères et de la Coopération Internationale (Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation), Bamako → authenticates the court's signature and official seal
3. Embassy or Consulate of Ecuador → legalizes the document so Ecuador's immigration authority (Ministerio de Relaciones Exteriores) will accept it

Skipping any step in this chain will result in automatic rejection of your visa application.

Step 2 — Ministry of Foreign Affairs Authentication:

Take your original Extrait de Casier Judiciaire to the Ministère des Affaires Étrangères et de la Coopération Internationale in Bamako.

• Bring the original certificate, a copy of your passport or national ID, and payment for the authentication fee
• The Ministry will verify the signature and seal of the issuing court and apply an official authentication stamp
• Processing typically takes 3–7 working days

Step 3 — Ecuador Embassy/Consulate Legalization:

Ecuador does not maintain an embassy in Mali. You will need to have your document legalized by the nearest Ecuadorian diplomatic mission accredited to cover Mali. Options include:

• Embassy of Ecuador in Abuja, Nigeria — 10 Marakesh Street, off Kumasi Crescent, off Aminu Kano Crescent, Wuse II, Abuja. Tel: +234 90 545 454 25. Email: eecunigeria@cancilleria.gob.ec
• Embassy of Ecuador in Nairobi, Kenya — another option depending on accreditation
• Embassy of Ecuador in Pretoria, South Africa — another potential option

Contact the Ecuadorian Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Cancillería) to confirm which embassy is accredited to handle consular legalization for documents originating from Mali. This is a critical step — legalization by the wrong embassy may not be accepted.

What to bring to the Ecuador Embassy: - Ministry of Foreign Affairs authenticated original certificate - Photocopy of your passport - Completed consular application form (obtain from the embassy) - Legalization fee (confirm directly with the embassy before traveling)

Important: Contact the designated embassy by email well in advance to confirm they handle Malian documents, confirm current fees, and secure an appointment. Appointment slots at Ecuadorian embassies in Africa can be limited.

Ecuador requires all documents not in Spanish to be translated by a certified translator before submission. Your Extrait de Casier Judiciaire will be in French and must be translated into Spanish.

Translation requirements: - Must be performed by a certified or sworn translator - The translator's signature and certification must appear on the translated document - The translation must cover the entire document, including the authentication stamps and legalization annotations added during the diplomatic chain

Timing: Get the translation done after the full authentication and legalization chain is complete. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ecuador Embassy will each add stamps, annotations, and reference numbers to your document. If you translate before these steps, you will need to pay for the translation again.

Recommended service: EcuadorTranslations.com provides certified French-to-Spanish translation and notarization for Malian and other foreign documents. Standard turnaround is approximately $150 per document. This service is experienced with the specific format and terminology of Francophone African judicial documents, which contain legal vocabulary that general translators may handle inaccurately.

Ecuador's immigration authority (Ministerio de Relaciones Exteriores / Cancillería) enforces specific rules for criminal record documents:

1. The 180-Day Validity Rule

Your Extrait de Casier Judiciaire must be issued within 180 days of your visa application submission date.

Critical rule that most applicants misunderstand: The 180-day clock pauses while Ecuador is actively reviewing your application. The certificate does not expire during processing. If Ecuador takes 60 days to process your application, those 60 days do not count against the 180-day window.

This means: - The 180-day limit applies only to the window between the issuance date on the certificate and the date you submit your visa application - Once submitted, the clock stops — your certificate remains valid throughout the review period regardless of how long it takes

Practical guidance: Aim to submit your visa application within 90–120 days of your certificate's issuance date. This gives you a comfortable buffer for any delays, document requests, or back-and-forth with the consulate.

2. Background Check from Every Country of Residence

Ecuador requires a criminal record certificate from your country of origin (Mali) and from every country where you have resided for the past five years. If you have lived in France, Senegal, or any other country since 2021, you must obtain a separate background check from each of those countries, each with its own authentication or apostille and Spanish translation.

3. Full Authentication Chain Required

Because Mali is not a Hague Convention member, your document must go through the complete consular legalization chain (court → Ministry of Foreign Affairs → Ecuador Embassy). Documents with only partial authentication will be rejected.

4. Certified Spanish Translation

The translated document must be submitted alongside the authenticated original. Ecuador will not accept untranslated documents, even if the reviewing officer speaks French.