Gambia Travel Guide

Passports

Country	Passport Required	Visa Required	Return Ticket Required
Other EU	Yes	No/1	Yes
USA	Yes	Yes	Yes
Canadian	Yes	No	Yes
Australian	Yes	No	Yes
British	Yes	No	Yes

Passport valid for at least three months following departure date required by all nationals referred to in the chart above.

Passport Notes

(a) Some nationals will require a transit visa; enquire with airline for details. (b) All visitors must hold return or onward tickets, all documents for their next destination and sufficient funds for their stay.

Visas

Not required by all nationals referred to in the chart for stays up to 90 days except:
(a) nationals of the USA;
(b) 1. nationals of Austria, Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Estonia, France, Greece, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovak Republic, Slovenia and Spain;
(c) transit passengers continuing their journey by the same or first connecting aircraft within two hours provided holding valid onward or return documentation and not leaving the airport.

Note: Tourists and others traveling on last-minute bookings will be allowed entry without a visa but will be required to submit their passport to the department of immigration in Banjul within 48 hours to be issued a proper visa. Nationals not referred to in the chart above are advised to contact the embassy to check visa requirements (see Important Addresses).

Visa Note

Extensions are available from the Gambian immigration department in Banjul.

Types of Visa and Cost

Tourist and business: £20 (single-entry); £40 (multiple-entry).

Validity

Visas start from date of entry. Single-entry visas are valid for six months. Multiple-entry visas are valid for 12 months. Extensions are possible and should be applied for at the immigration office in The Gambia.

Applications to:

Consulate (or consular section at embassy).

Working Days Required

Two.

Travel Warnings

Most visits are trouble free.

Visitors should not travel by road from The Gambia to Casamance in southern Senegal. Travelers are also advised against all road travel in the Casamance region to the west of Kolda, other than on the N4 national highway, for which visitors are advised against all but essential road travel, and on the main road from Ziguinchor to Cap Skiring, which is often used by groups of tourists during the daylight hours.

Crime against tourists is increasing and visitors should take sensible precautions, and remain vigilant, in public places.

Care should be taken when driving or walking on roads, particularly at night, due to unpredictable driving standards and lack of street lighting.

Malaria is prevalent in The Gambia.

The threat from terrorism is low, but travelers should be aware of the global risk of indiscriminate terrorist attacks, which could be against civilian targets, including places frequented by foreigners.

This advice is based on information provided by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office in the UK. It is correct at time of publishing. As the situation can change rapidly, visitors are advised to contact the following organizations for the latest travel advice:

British Foreign and Commonwealth Office
Tel: 0845 850 2829.
Website: www.fco.gov.uk

US Department of State
Website: http://travel.state.gov/travel

Health Care

Visitors are advised to bring sunscreen, insect repellent and indigestion/diarrhoea medicines; all of these can prove expensive in The Gambia. The government plays a dominant role in health services but private practices exist in the urban and resort areas. Health insurance is strongly advised. Prescription drugs should be carried in labelled containers.

Vaccinations

Vaccination	Special Precaution
Diphtheria	Sometimes
Hepatitis A	Sometimes
Malaria	Yes
Rabies	Sometimes
Tetanus	Yes
Typhoid	Sometimes
Yellow Fever	Sometimes*

Special Notes

* A yellow fever vaccination certificate is required from all travelers over one year of age arriving from endemic or infected areas. Travelers arriving from non-endemic zones should note that vaccination is strongly recommended for travel outside the urban areas, even if an outbreak of the disease has not been reported and they would not normally require a vaccination certificate to enter the country.