Gambia visa and entry requirements

The Gambia Immigration Department says ECOWAS citizens do not need a visa for entry, and lists the countries with a visa exemption agreement — among them the UK, Canada, Australia, Germany, Italy, Spain, the Netherlands and Sweden; the UK government says British visitors get a passport stamp allowing a 28-day stay, and can get 2 extensions of 28 days. The department lists countries whose citizens need only an entry clearance, such as Kenya, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, Jamaica, Barbados and Fiji, and countries that need only a visa, such as the United States, France and Portugal.

Every fact on this page verified on or after: Oct 3, 2026· How this site works

Check requirements for your passport

Requirements differ by nationality. Select your passport above, or scan the full table below.

Visas & entry authorisations

Entry requirements

Passport validity

The UK Foreign Office says your passport must be valid for the duration of your stay.

Verified Oct 3, 2026 · gov.ukCompare every country

Vaccinations

Conditional
  • Yellow fever (International Certificate of Vaccination or Prophylaxis (yellow card)) — WHO lists The Gambia as requiring proof of yellow fever vaccination from travellers aged 9 months or over arriving from countries it determines to be at risk of yellow fever transmission, including travellers who transited more than 12 hours through the airport of such a country.
Verified Oct 3, 2026 · cdn.who.int · International Health Regulations (2005), Article 36Compare every country

Travel insurance

Not officially stated

No official source we could read states whether travel insurance is required to enter Gambia. The UK Foreign Office says to check before you travel that you have appropriate travel insurance for local treatment or unexpected medical evacuation.

Verified Oct 4, 2026 · gov.uk

Onward or return ticket

Required

The Immigration Department says a short visit visa may be issued provided the applicant has a return ticket (or cash equivalent to its cost) or an onward transportation ticket from The Gambia, and that all passengers should fulfil all entry and exit requirements, including return tickets for first-time travellers. Ireland's travel advice says Irish citizens entering without a visa must provide proof of an onward or return ticket within 90 days of arrival.

Verified Oct 3, 2026 · gid.gov.gm · archived copy

Proof of funds

Required

The Immigration Department says a short visit visa applicant must have adequate funds for his maintenance in The Gambia, and lists visible means of sustenance among its entry requirements; no official source we could read states an amount. Ireland's travel advice says Irish citizens entering without a visa must provide proof of sufficient funds.

Verified Oct 3, 2026 · gid.gov.gm · archived copy

Customs & currency

Canada's travel advice says a currency declaration form must be completed on arrival in The Gambia. No official source we could read states a declaration threshold.

Verified Oct 4, 2026 · travel.gc.ca

Yellow fever certificate

WHO lists The Gambia as requiring proof of yellow fever vaccination from travellers aged 9 months or over arriving from countries it determines to be at risk of yellow fever transmission, including travellers who transited more than 12 hours through the airport of such a country.

The 42 countries WHO lists as a yellow fever risk

Requirements normally count any country you have been in shortly before arrival, not only where you boarded.

  • Angola
  • Argentina — Misiones and Corrientes Provinces
  • Benin
  • Bolivia
  • Brazil
  • Burkina Faso
  • Burundi
  • Cameroon
  • Central African Republic
  • Chad
  • Colombia
  • Côte d'Ivoire
  • Democratic Republic of the Congo
  • Ecuador
  • Equatorial Guinea
  • Ethiopia
  • French Guiana
  • Gabon
  • Gambia
  • Ghana
  • Guinea
  • Guinea-Bissau
  • Guyana
  • Kenya
  • Liberia
  • Mali
  • Mauritania
  • Niger
  • Nigeria
  • Panama
  • Paraguay
  • Peru
  • Republic of the Congo
  • Senegal
  • Sierra Leone
  • South Sudan
  • Sudan
  • Suriname
  • Togo
  • Trinidad and Tobago
  • Uganda
  • Venezuela
Compiled Aug 26, 2026 · cdn.who.int · International Health Regulations (2005), Article 36

International Health Regulations (2005), Article 36 and Annex 7; WHO International Travel and Health, Annex 1, 18 November 2022 (revised 3 January 2023)

Country in a nutshell

Currency
Gambian dalasi (GMD, D)
Cards & payments
The UK Foreign Office says The Gambia is primarily a cash-based economy, that an increasing number of hotels and restaurants accept Visa cards but very few accept credit cards, and that there are not many ATMs outside the tourist area of Senegambia, while ATMs elsewhere can be unreliable. Canada says American dollars, euros and CFA francs are widely accepted.
Safety — Exercise caution
The UK Foreign Office says petty theft is a problem in cities and tourist areas, with particular care needed at night at places such as isolated beaches, markets and crowded events; that young men locally known as 'bumsters' approach tourists, particularly on beaches; and that security checkpoints are common on all major routes.Verified Oct 6, 2026 · gov.uk
Power plugs
G · 230V 50Hz
Emergency numbers
Police: 117 · Ambulance: 116 · Fire: 118
Time zone
UTC+0
Tap water
not for drinking. Use bottled

Best time to visit

No official source we could read names a best time to visit. The UK Foreign Office and the Government of Canada say the rainy season runs from June to October; Canada says roads may become impassable.

Tips & warnings

The UK government says British visitors get a passport stamp allowing a 28-day stay when they arrive, and can get 2 extensions of 28 days from the Immigration Office in Banjul or the tourist police stations in the Tourism Development Area. Ireland says Irish citizens can enter without a visa for up to 90 days.

Australia's Smartraveller says malaria occurs year-round across the country and to consider taking anti-malarial medication, ensure your accommodation is insect-proof and use insect repellent.

The UK Foreign Office says to be cautious of young men locally known as 'bumsters' who approach tourists, particularly on beaches, offering help or to act as local guides, and who may also ask for money; it says to be polite but firm in refusing unwanted help. Canada advises politely declining any unsolicited offer.

The UK Foreign Office says 'bumsters' may offer to take you on tours into Senegal, that they are unlikely to follow the correct immigration procedures, and that this could result in you being detained by immigration authorities.

The UK Foreign Office says The Gambia is primarily a cash-based economy, that very few places accept credit cards, and that there are not many ATMs outside the tourist area of Senegambia.

Visa requirements by nationality

PassportsVisas & entry authorisationsMax stay
AfghanistanVisa on arrival—
AlbaniaVisa on arrival—
AlgeriaVisa on arrival—
AndorraVisa on arrival—
AngolaVisa on arrival—
Antigua and BarbudaETA—
ArgentinaVisa on arrival—
ArmeniaVisa on arrival—
AustraliaVisa-free—
AustriaVisa on arrival—
AzerbaijanVisa on arrival—
BahamasVisa on arrival—
BahrainVisa on arrival—
BangladeshVisa on arrival—
BarbadosETA—
BelarusVisa on arrival—
BelgiumVisa-free—
BelizeVisa on arrival—
BeninFree movement—
BhutanVisa on arrival—
BoliviaVisa on arrival—
Bosnia and HerzegovinaVisa on arrival—
BotswanaVisa on arrival—
BrazilVisa on arrival—
BruneiVisa on arrival—
BulgariaVisa on arrival—
Burkina FasoFree movement—
BurundiVisa on arrival—
Cabo VerdeFree movement—
CambodiaVisa on arrival—
CameroonVisa on arrival—
CanadaVisa-free—
Central African RepublicVisa on arrival—
ChadVisa on arrival—
ChileVisa on arrival—
ChinaVisa on arrival—
ColombiaVisa on arrival—
ComorosVisa on arrival—
Costa RicaVisa on arrival—
Côte d'IvoireFree movement—
CroatiaVisa on arrival—
CubaVisa on arrival—
CzechiaVisa-free—
Democratic Republic of the CongoVisa on arrival—
DjiboutiVisa on arrival—
DominicaETA—
EcuadorETA—
EgyptVisa on arrival—
El SalvadorETA—
Equatorial GuineaVisa on arrival—
EritreaVisa on arrival—
EstoniaVisa on arrival—
EswatiniVisa on arrival—
EthiopiaVisa on arrival—
FijiETA—
FinlandVisa-free—
FranceVisa on arrival—
GabonVisa on arrival—
GambiaFree movement—
GeorgiaVisa on arrival—
GermanyVisa-free—
GhanaFree movement—
GreeceVisa on arrival—
GrenadaETA—
GuineaFree movement—
Guinea-BissauFree movement—
GuyanaETA—
HaitiVisa on arrival—
HondurasETA—
HungaryVisa on arrival—
IcelandVisa-free—
IndiaVisa on arrival—
IndonesiaETA—
IranVisa on arrival—
IraqVisa on arrival—
IrelandVisa-free90 days
IsraelVisa on arrival—
ItalyVisa-free—
JamaicaETA—
JapanVisa on arrival—
JordanVisa on arrival—
KazakhstanVisa on arrival—
KenyaETA—
KiribatiETA—
KuwaitVisa on arrival—
KyrgyzstanVisa on arrival—
LaosVisa on arrival—
LebanonVisa on arrival—
LesothoVisa on arrival—
LiberiaFree movement—
LibyaVisa on arrival—
LiechtensteinVisa on arrival—
LithuaniaVisa on arrival—
LuxembourgVisa-free—
MadagascarVisa on arrival—
MalawiETA—
MalaysiaETA—
MaldivesETA—
MaliFree movement—
MaltaVisa on arrival—
MauritiusETA—
MexicoVisa on arrival—
MoldovaVisa on arrival—
MongoliaVisa on arrival—
MoroccoVisa on arrival—
MozambiqueVisa on arrival—
MyanmarVisa on arrival—
NamibiaETA—
NauruETA—
NepalVisa on arrival—
NetherlandsVisa-free—
New ZealandVisa on arrival—
NicaraguaVisa on arrival—
NigerFree movement—
NigeriaFree movement—
North KoreaVisa on arrival—
North MacedoniaVisa on arrival—
OmanVisa on arrival—
PakistanVisa on arrival—
PalestineVisa on arrival—
PanamaVisa on arrival—
Papua New GuineaETA—
PhilippinesETA—
PolandVisa-free—
PortugalVisa on arrival—
QatarVisa on arrival—
Republic of the CongoVisa on arrival—
RomaniaVisa on arrival—
RussiaVisa-free—
RwandaVisa on arrival—
Saint Kitts and NevisETA—
Saint LuciaETA—
Saint Vincent and the GrenadinesETA—
SamoaETA—
San MarinoVisa-free—
São Tomé and PríncipeETA—
Saudi ArabiaVisa on arrival—
SenegalFree movement—
SerbiaVisa on arrival—
SeychellesETA—
Sierra LeoneFree movement—
SingaporeETA—
SlovakiaVisa on arrival—
SloveniaVisa on arrival—
Solomon IslandsETA—
SomaliaVisa on arrival—
South AfricaVisa on arrival—
South KoreaETA—
South SudanVisa on arrival—
SpainVisa-free—
Sri LankaETA—
SudanVisa on arrival—
SurinameETA—
SwedenVisa-free—
SwitzerlandVisa on arrival—
SyriaVisa on arrival—
TajikistanVisa on arrival—
TanzaniaETA—
ThailandETA—
Timor-LesteETA—
TogoFree movement—
TongaETA—
Trinidad and TobagoETA—
TunisiaVisa-free—
TurkeyVisa on arrival—
TurkmenistanVisa on arrival—
TuvaluETA—
UgandaETA—
UkraineVisa on arrival—
United Arab EmiratesVisa on arrival—
United KingdomVisa-free28 days (+28)
United StatesVisa on arrival—
UruguayETA—
UzbekistanVisa on arrival—
VanuatuETA—
VenezuelaETA—
VietnamETA—
YemenVisa on arrival—
ZambiaVisa on arrival—
ZimbabweETA—

Stay lengths are for ordinary tourist visits. Click a nationality for its full guide.

No official page we read states the rule for 19 nationalities, so the table leaves them out: Cyprus, Denmark, Dominican Republic, Guatemala, Hong Kong, Kosovo, Latvia, Macau, Marshall Islands, Mauritania, Micronesia, Monaco, Montenegro, Norway, Palau, Paraguay, Peru, Taiwan, and Vatican City.

Senegal61 of 199 passports visa-freeCabo Verde67 of 199 passports visa-free · 89 eVisa/ETAGhana17 of 199 passports visa-free · 150 eVisa/ETASierra Leone30 of 199 passports visa-free · 169 eVisa/ETA

Frequently asked questions

Do I need a visa for The Gambia?

The Immigration Department says ECOWAS citizens do not need a visa for entry, and lists the countries with a visa exemption agreement — among them the UK, Germany, Italy, Spain, the Netherlands, Sweden, Finland, Canada and Australia; Ireland says Irish citizens can enter without a visa for up to 90 days, and the UK government says British visitors get a stamp allowing a 28-day stay. The department lists countries whose citizens need only an entry clearance, such as Kenya, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, Jamaica, Barbados and Fiji, and says the host presents the original approved clearance on or before the traveller's arrival. It lists countries that need only a visa, such as the United States, France and Portugal, and says visas can be obtained from Gambian embassies, missions and consulates abroad or from immigration officers at the gazetted ports of entry (visa on arrival).

Do US citizens need a visa for The Gambia?

Yes. The Immigration Department lists the United States among the American and Caribbean countries that need only a visa. It says visas can be obtained from Gambian embassies, missions and consulates abroad or from immigration officers at the gazetted ports of entry (visa on arrival).

How long can I stay in The Gambia?

The UK government says British visitors get a passport stamp allowing a 28-day stay on arrival and can get 2 extensions of 28 days from the Immigration Office in Banjul or the tourist police stations in the Tourism Development Area, and Ireland says Irish citizens can enter without a visa for up to 90 days. The Immigration Department says a short visit visa may be issued for a period of 90 days.

Do I need a yellow fever vaccine for The Gambia?

WHO lists The Gambia as requiring proof of yellow fever vaccination from travellers aged 9 months or over arriving from countries it determines to be at risk of yellow fever transmission, a list that includes Senegal. Australia's Smartraveller says you need a valid yellow fever vaccination certificate to enter The Gambia.

When is the best time to visit The Gambia?

No official source we could read names a best time to visit. The UK Foreign Office and the Government of Canada say the rainy season runs from June to October; the UK says heavy rain and storms can disrupt roads and other infrastructure during it.

Sources & verification

Every fact on this page is compiled from and periodically re-checked against these official sources:

Something wrong or out of date? Tell us, with the official source