Ready to explore The Gambia’s beaches, wildlife and vibrant culture? By the time you finish this article, you’ll know precisely
• whether you need a visa
• how to apply (online, on arrival or at an embassy)
• what fees and documents you must prepare
• how to extend your stay
• ways to dodge common hassles
Do You Need a Visa to Enter The Gambia?
Not everyone needs one. Your nationality and intended length of stay determine the rules.
Visa-Exempt Countries
Citizens of these states don’t require a visa for visits up to 90 days, according to Wikipedia’s article on the Gambia’s visa policy:
– Australia
– Belgium
– Canada
– Finland
– Germany
– Iceland
– Indonesia
– Italy
– Luxembourg
– Morocco
UK Citizens: 28-Day Short-Stay Waiver
If you hold a UK passport, you can stay up to 28 days without a visa. Longer visits require an ordinary tourist visa from the High Commission in London, applied for at least two weeks before departure, per the Gambia High Commission London’s visa requirements.
How to Secure Your Gambia Tourist Visa
There are three main routes: online, on arrival and through an embassy.
1. Online Application
Most travelers find this the smoothest option. You’ll need:
– A passport valid for your entire stay, with at least one blank page
– A digital passport-style photo (color, taken within the last six months)
– A computer-generated travel itinerary
– A credit/debit card for payment
Step-by-step:
1. Visit iVisa’s Gambia visa application portal.
2. Complete the form, upload documents.
3. Pay the fee.
4. Receive an electronic visa, print it, and show it on arrival.
2. Visa on Arrival
If your country isn’t visa-exempt, you can obtain a visa at Banjul International Airport for most nationalities. Typical stays range from 21 to 30 days depending on where you’re from, according to the UK Government’s entry requirements for Gambia.
Fee at arrival: USD 108 for U.S. citizens, as listed in TravelDocs’s guide to Gambia visa on arrival.
3. Embassy or Consulate Application
If you prefer handling things in person:
– Locate the nearest Gambian embassy via the Ministry of Foreign Affairs – The Gambia’s visa requirements page.
– Submit your application form, photos, itinerary, and passport.
– Pay the embassy fee in advance (U.S. citizens pay USD 200 at the Gambian Embassy in Washington, D.C., per the Embassy of The Gambia, Washington D.C.’s consular services).
– Collect your stamped passport once processed.
Fees, Validity and Special Entry Rules
- Validity: Tourist visas generally allow a single entry up to 30 days.
- Passport: Must be valid for your whole stay with one blank page for the visa stamp.
- Yellow Fever Certificate: Required if you arrive from an area at risk of yellow fever transmission, as noted in the World Health Organization’s yellow fever fact sheet.
- Visa Fees: Vary by nationality and application method (online, on arrival or embassy).
Extending Your Stay and Overstay Penalties
- Extension: You can request longer stays at the Department of Immigration in Banjul, per the Department of Immigration – The Gambia’s official site, usually before your visa expires.
- Overstay Fine: If you outstay your visa, you’ll pay USD 15 for each extra month in cash at the airport on departure, according to the Department of Immigration’s regulations.
Pro Tips to Dodge Common Hassles
- The Gambian Embassy’s website sometimes goes offline—always verify details via phone or email.
- Print two copies of your travel itinerary; attach one to your application.
- Sign visa forms in blue or black ink only.
- Arrive with your yellow fever certificate and passport photos, even if you apply online.
Final Boarding Call
You’ve got the essentials: who needs a visa, how to apply, fees, extensions and avoidable slip-ups. Pack your bags, double-check your documents, and get ready to discover why The Gambia’s warm beaches and friendly markets draw over 330,000 visitors each year, according to the World Bank’s data on international tourism arrivals in Gambia.