Image Alt

Travel Information

Tourists traveling to The Gambia enjoy several convenient visa privileges and entry options, making it an attractive destination for international visitors. These visa-related facilities include visa upon arrival, visa waivers, and in some cases, the acceptance of national ID cards in place of traditional passports. These measures are implemented to promote tourism, facilitate travel, and enhance the country’s appeal as a tourist destination.

VISA APPLICATION AND PROCESSING CHANNELS

Visa application channels are means through which Gambian visas can be processed and obtained. The available visa application channels are;

  1. Gambian embassies, High Commissions and Consulates abroad: All visas issued by Gambian authorities for the purpose of travelling and entry are processed and obtained at Gambian embassies, High Commissions and Consulates abroad. However, this does not supersede any instruction or embargo that may be generated to refuse, refer, cancel and deny any applicant in his/her individual capacity or authority.
  2. Recognised ports of entry (visa on arrival): This is a visa application process that allows certain holders of passports of other nationals to obtain a visa upon arrival at the port of entry in the Gambia. An immigration officer at any port of entry could act in the capacity of the Director General of Immigration to perform immigration functions (Sec. 2(5)) of the 1965 Immigration Act Cap: 16. The delegation of immigration functions includes the issuance of visas upon request by any person in a prescribed form.

VISA EXEMPTION

  1. This consideration for entry into the Gambia is for nationals who do not require a visa. Citizens from the list below are not required to acquire a Gambian visa to enter the country due to the visa abolition agreements in force, guided by certain entry
    • AU
    • ECOWAS
    • Commonwealth
    • UAE and Turkish citizens.
    • Tourist on Chartered flights and Tour
    • Schengen/European Union citizens including the United Kingdom and
    • Nordic
    • Baltic and Balkan
    • Diplomats and consular
    • Holders of conventional card for
    • Workers of international organisations such as; UN, AU, EU, IMF

Entry conditions / Requirements;

  • Be in possession of a valid travel document to enter the Gam
  • Must enter the Gambia through a recognised entry
  • Must have visible means of sustenance while in the

Must not be in the category of prohibited immigrants

Note: It is worth noting that visa waiver agreements are not permanent as diplomatic ties change from time to time. Therefore,foreign nationals are advised to follow updates on latest visa waiver agreements and entry requiremellts from various channels. However, the Gambia Immigration department through the Ministry of Interior oft/re Republic of the Gambia at any given time has the prerogative to determine and or change tile entry requirements or conditions of foreign nationals intending to travel to the Gambia by regulations and the unfolding security situations.

MANDATORY VISA

All nationals who are required by regulation must be in possession of a valid visa to enter the Gambia. This type of visa is issued to individual citizens or organisations that do not fall in the exemption category and intend to travel to the Gambia for official or personal visits.

VISA CATEGORIES AND TYPES

  1. Single-Entry Visa (SEV): This is a visa valid for one journey or single entry into the Gamb Holders of this visa are prohibited from engaging in any gainful activity or employment without the prior approval of the Director General oflrnmigration.

Entry conditions/requirements;

  • Invitation letter from a family or friend in the Gambia, with a copy of the national document of the host or residence permi
  • Passport valid for at least six (6) months with at least two (2) blank visa pages for
  • Return ticket or its equivalent in
  • Evidence of sufficient funds.
  • Must not be in the category of prohibited immigrants
  • Hotel reservation or host’s full address and contact in the Gambia

II. Multiple-Entry Visa (MEV): A multiple-entry visa enables the holder to travel to the Gambia more than once within its validity period. Holders of this visa are prohibited from engaging in any gainful activity or employment without the prior approval of the Director General of Immigration.

Entry conditions/requirements;

  • Invitation letter from a family or friend in the Gambia with a copy of the national document of the host or residence permit.
  • Passport valid for at least six (6) months with at least two (2) blank visa pages for
  • Return ticket or its equivalent in
  • Evidence of sufficient
  • Must not be in the category of prohibited
  • Hotel reservation or host’s full address and contact in the Gambia.

III. Transit Visa (TV): A transit visa is issued to transit passengers who wish to enter the Gambia with an onward ticket to their final destination. Transit can be direct or indirect.
I. Direct transit; this happens when a passenger temporarily stops within the precinct
of the entry point without a change of conveyance with an onward ticket to the intended destination. Such a passenger will not be required to pay a visa as he/she is confined within the precinct of the airport, not beyond 48 hours. They are issued with transit pass.
II. Indirect transit; this happens when a passenger stops within or outside the precinct of the entry point beyond 48 hours, and waits to connect with another conveyance to reach the intended destination. Such passengers are required to pay for a single­ entry visa whose validity does not exceed seven (7) days.

Entry conditions/requirements;
✓ Transit passengers must possess an onward ticket to the intended destination or its equivalent in cash.

✓ The traveller must have a boarding pass and or departure stamp showing his or her port of departure.
✓ Passport valid for at least six (6) months with at least two (2) blank visa pages for
endorsement.
✓ Evidence of sufficient funds to handle transit expenses.
✓ Must not be in the category of prohibited immigrants.
✓ Hotel reservation or host’s full address and contact in the Gambia.

CLASSES OF VISAS & CODES

  1. Tourist Visa (GMBl): A tourist visa is a single-entry visa issued to persons who travel to the Gambia on their own initiative for tourism. This class of visa is issued to foreign nationals who do not fall in the visa exemption category to enhance their travel to the Gambia as tourists aboard commercial

Entry conditions/requirements;

  • Passport valid for at least six (6) months with at least two (2) blank visa pages for endorseme
  • Evidence of sufficient funds to handle tourism
  • Hotel reservation or host’s full address and contact in the
  • Medical certificate confirming the traveler is free from communicable diseases and deemed mentally fit by medical authorities at any port of
  • Must not be in the category of prohibited

2. Business visa (GMB2): This class of visa is issued to foreign nationals who wish to visit or travel to the Gambia for business purposes such as meetings, conferences, professionals, contract negotiation, marketing, sales, job interviews, trade fairs and

Entry conditions/reguirements;

  • A request authorising the need for a planned business activity in the
  • Business registration
  • Financial statement
  • Passport valid for at least six (6) months with at least two (2) blank visa pages for endorsemen
  • Return ticket or its equivalent in
  • Evidence of sufficient
  • Must not be in the category of prohibited
  • Hotel reservation or host’s full address and contact in the Gambia

3. Student visa (GMB3): This visa class is issued to foreign nationals who intend to travel to the Gambia to pursue education or its related fields. Holders of this visa include students, scholars and course participants and are prohibited from engaging in any local employment except when they change their status for the rightful employment eligibility.
Entry conditions/requirements;
✓ Letter from an approved institution in the Gambia.
✓ Passport valid for at least six (6) months with at least two (2) blank visa pages for endorsement.
✓ Return ticket or its equivalent in cash.
✓ Evidence of sufficient funds.
✓ Must not be in the category of prohibited immigrants.
✓ Hotel reservation or host’s full address and contact in the Gambia.

4. Journalist visa (GMB4): This is a single-entry visa issued to those who wish to visit the Gambia for media coverage and journalism. This type of visa is issued only to journalists and media practitioners, subject to the prior approval of the Ministry of Information, Media and Broadcasting Services (MIMBS).
Entry conditions/requirements;
✓ Approved clearance from the MIMBS through the Ministry ofForeignAffairs (MoFA) and the Ministry of Interior (MOI).
✓ Passport valid for at least six (6) months with at least two (2) blank visa pages for endorsement.
✓ Return ticket.

✓ Evidence of suflicient funds.
✓ Must not be in the category of prohibited immigrants.
✓ Hotel reservation or host’s full address and contact in the Gambia.
V. Religious visa (GMBS): This category of visa is issued to religious officials who wish to visit the Gambia for religious services such as preaching, religious seminars or conferences. This category of visa is issued to religious clerics to perfonn religious services only, and it does not give any right to engage in gainful or economic activity. It is subject to the prior clearance of the relevant religious authority.
Entry conditions/requirements;
✓ Approved clearance from the relevant ministry and or religious authorities.
✓ Passport valid for at least six (6) months with at least two (2) blank visa pages for endorsement.
✓ Return ticket.
✓ Evidence of sufficient funds.
✓ Must not be in the category of prohibited immigrants.
✓ Hotel reservation or host’s full address and contact in the Gambia.

 

ENTRY CLEARANCE ASA REQUIREMENT

Entry clearance is a security control mechanism meant to streamline and regulate foreign nationals coming into the Gambia. The entry requirements at ports of entry in the Gambia are not only regulated by visas, but also by entry clearance, issued to persons before travelling to the Gambia. It covers foreign nationals where Gambian embassies or consulates are not present and do not fall within the visa exemption category. Entry clearance requires a host to take up immigration responsibilities in a prescribed form before issuance. However, travelers who do not fulfil the entry requirements for reasons which may include being diagnosed with communicable diseases or deemed mentally unfit by medical authorities at any port of entry, may be refused entry as provided for in Section 13 (1b) of the 1965 Immigration Act.

REVOCATION/CANCELLATION OF VISA OR ENTRY CLEARANCE

Foreign nationals issued with a Gambian visa or entry clearance to travel to the Gambia may be subjected to cancellation or revocation if the persons fall within the following categories, as stated below in line with Section 6 (3) of the 1965 Immigration Act.
✓ Appearance on the suspect index.
✓ Prohibited immigrants.
✓ Imposters/fraudsters.
✓ Those engaged in criminal activities.

LIST OF COUNTRIES IN THE EXEMPTION LIST

EU MEMBER STATES
1. Austria
2. Belgium
3. Bulgaria
4. Croatia
5. Cyprus
6. Czech (Czech Republic)
7. Denmark
8. Estonia
9. Finland
10. France
11. Gennany
12. Greece
13. Hungary
14. Ireland
15. Italy
16. Latvia
17. Lithuania
18. Luxembourg
19. Malta
20. Netherlands
21. Poland
22. Portugal
23. Romania
24. Slovakia
25. Slovenia

26. Spain
27. Sweden
28. Switzerland


COMMON WEALTH MEMBER STATES (AFRICAN COUTRIES)


1. Botswana
2. Cameroon
3. Gabon
4. Ghana
5. Kenya
6. Kingdom ofEswatini
7. Lesotho
8. Malawi
9. Namibia
10. Nigeria
11. Rwanda
12. Seychelles
13. Sierra Leone
14. South Africa
15. Togo
16. Uganda
17. United Republic of Tanzania
18. Zambia
19. The Gambia
20. Mozambique
21. Mauritius


ASIAN MEMBER STATES OF THE COMMON WEALTH
1. Bangladesh
2. Brunei Darussalam
3. India
4. Malaysia
5. Maldives
6. Pakistan
7. Singapore
8. Sri Lanka


CARRIBEAN AND AMERICAS MEMBER STATES OF THE COMMON WEALTH


I. Antigua and Barbuda
2. Bahamas

3. Barbados
4. Belize
5. Canada
6. Dominica
7. Grenada
8. Guyana
9. Jamaica
10. Saint Lucia
l l . St Kitts and Nevis
12. St Vincent and the Grenadines
13. Trinidad and Tobago


EUROPEAN COMMONWEALTH MEMBER STATES


1. Cyprus (both a member of the EU and the Commonwealth)
2. Malta (both a member of the EU and the Commonwealth)
3. United Kingdom: England, N/Ireland, Scotland and Wales


PACIFIC MEMBER STATES OF THE COMMON WEALTH

1. Australia
2. Fiji
3.Kiribati
4. Nauru
5. New Zealand
6. Papua New Guinea
7. Samoa
8. Solomon Islands
9. Tonga
10. Tuvalu
11. Vanuatu

NORDIC MEMBER STATES
1. Aland
2. Denmark
3. Faroe Islands
4. Finland
5. Greenland
6. Iceland

7. Norway

8. Sweden

UNITED KINGDOM

  1. England
  2. Northern Ireland
  3. Scotland
  4. Wales

BALTIC STATES

  1. Estonia
  2. Latvia
  3. Lithuania

BALKAN STATES

  1. Slovenia
  2. Croatia
  3. Serbia
  4. Bosnia and Herzegovina
  5. Montenegro
  6. North Macedonia
  7. Kosovo
  8. Albania
  9. Romania
  10. Bulgaria
  11. Greece

AU MEMBER STATES

  1. Burundi
  2. Cameroon
  3. Central African Republic
  4. Chad
  5. Congo
  6. D.R Congo
  7. Equatorial Guinea
  8. Gabon
  9. Sao Tome and Principe
  10. Comoros
  11. Djibouti
  12. Eritrea
  13. Ethiopia
  14. Kenya
  15. Madagascar
  16. Mauritius
  17. Rwanda
  18. Seychelles
  19. Somalia
  20. South Sudan
  21. Sudan
  22. Tanzania
  23. Uganda
  24. Algeria
  25. Egypt
  26. Libya
  27. Mauritania
  28. Morocco
  29. SAHRAWI Republic
  30. Tunisia
  31. Angola
  32. Botswana
  33. Eswatini
  34. Lesotho
  35. Malawi
  36. Mozambique
  37. Namibia
  38. South Africa
  39. Zambia
  40. Zimbabwe
  41. Benin
  42. Burkina Faso
  43. Caba Verde
  44. Cote d’Ivoire
  45. Ghana
  46. Guinea
  47. Guinea-Bissau
  48. Liberia
  49. Mali
  50. Niger
  51. Nigeria
  52. Senegal
  53. Sierra Leone
  54. Togo

Copyright © Gambia Tourism Board