Bakau New Town

Passport validity requirements 

To enter The Gambia, your passport must be valid for the duration of your stay.

Check with your travel provider that your passport and other travel documents meet requirements. Renew your passport if you need to.  

You will be denied entry if you do not have a valid travel document or try to use a passport that has been reported lost or stolen. 

Dual nationals

When returning to the UK, British citizens must carry a valid British passport or certificate of entitlement. See Dual citizenship.

Visa requirements 

You do not need a visa to visit The Gambia. You’ll get a stamp in your passport that allows you to stay for 28 days when you arrive.  

You can get 2 extensions of 28 days from the Immigration Office in Banjul or the tourist police stations in the Tourism Development Area.

You’ll need a residence permit for longer stays. For more information contact the Gambian High Commission in the UK. 

Airport tax 

You must pay an Airport Security Fee when you arrive in and leave the country. The fee is 20 US dollars, which can also be paid in euros, British pounds, or local currency. Visa credit cards are accepted but card machines are often out of service. You can pay the fee at marked kiosks in Banjul International Airport. Children aged 1 or under and passengers transiting are exempt. 

Entry through land borders 

If you are driving across the border in a private vehicle you may be asked to pay a vehicle registration fee. 

Vaccine requirements 

To enter The Gambia, you must have a certificate to prove you’ve had a yellow fever vaccination if you’re coming from a country listed as a transmission risk.

You may need a yellow fever certificate for onward travel to some other countries, due to the risk of yellow fever in The Gambia.

For full details about medical entry requirements and recommended vaccinations, see TravelHealthPro’s The Gambia guide.  

Customs rules 

There are strict rules about goods you can take into or out of The Gambia. You must declare anything that may be prohibited or subject to tax or duty. 

Customs rules 

There are strict rules about goods you can take into or out of The Gambia. You must declare anything that may be prohibited or subject to tax or duty. 

Emergency services in The Gambia  

There is no equivalent to the UK’s 999 emergency number in The Gambia. Individual police stations and fire stations have their own numbers (these are often mobile numbers, as many do not have a landline). There are no publications listing these numbers so it is best to visit in-person to ask for emergency contact details at local stations.  

Contact your travel provider and insurer 

Contact your travel provider and your insurer if you are involved in a serious incident or emergency abroad. They will tell you if they can help and what you need to do. 

Refunds and changes to travel 

For refunds or changes to travel, contact your travel provider. You may also be able to make a claim through insurance. However, insurers usually require you to talk to your travel provider first. 

Find out more about changing or cancelling travel plans, including: 

• where to get advice if you are in a dispute with a provider 
• how to access previous versions of travel advice to support a claim 

Support from FCDO 

FCDO has guidance on staying safe and what to do if you need help or support abroad, including: 

• finding English-speaking lawyers and funeral directors in The Gambia  
• dealing with a death in The Gambia 
• being arrested or imprisoned in The Gambia 
• getting help if you’re a victim of crime  
• what to do if you’re in hospital  
• if you’re affected by a crisis, such as a terrorist attack 

Contacting FCDO 

Help abroad  

See how to get help from the UK government abroad including in an emergency. 

Help in the UK  

You can call FCDO in London if you need urgent help because something has happened to a friend or relative abroad.  

Telephone: 020 7008 5000 (24 hours)  

Find out about call charges

Get travel advice updates  

Sign up to get email notifications when this travel advice is updated.  

Follow FCDO: 

• travel advice on X

• travel advice on Facebook *[FCDO]: Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office

Before you travel 

No travel can be guaranteed safe. Read all the advice in this guide. You may also find it helpful to: 

• see general advice for women travellers
• read our guide on disability and travel abroad
• see general advice for LGBT+ travellers
• read about safety for solo and independent travel
• see advice on volunteering and adventure travel abroad

Travel insurance 

If you choose to travel, research your destinations and get appropriate travel insurance. Insurance should cover your itinerary, planned activities and expenses in an emergency. 

About FCDO travel advice

The Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) provides advice about risks of travel to help British nationals make informed decisions. Find out more about FCDO travel advice. 

Get travel advice updates

Sign up to get email notifications when this travel advice is updated. 

Follow FCDO:   

• travel advice on X

• travel advice on Facebook

• Travel Aware on Instagram

Laws and cultural differences  

The Gambia is an Islamic country. Respect local traditions, customs, laws and religions. Make sure your actions do not cause offence, especially during the holy month of Ramadan or if you intend to visit religious areas. There may be serious penalties for doing something that might not be illegal in the UK but is in The Gambia. 

Ramadan  

Ramadan is a holy month for Muslims. The dates vary by year and country. During this time, you should be respectful of those who are fasting.  

Get more advice when you arrive from your tour guide, hotel or business contacts.  

You should also:  

• check opening hours of shops and restaurants  
• be aware that driving may be erratic, particularly when people are trying to get home at dusk  
• be patient and show tolerance 

Personal ID 

As a foreign national, you must carry ID such as a passport. The police will usually accept a printed copy. 

Public offences 

There are severe penalties for any form of sexual offence against a child. There are reports of increased child sex tourism. Report any incidents to the police. 

Detainment 

It is not always possible for the British High Commission to gain early access to detained British nationals in The Gambia. 

Although the law specifies that detainees cannot be held for longer than 72 hours without charge, this is regularly exceeded. 

The death penalty applies for a number of crimes including arson, murder and treason. A pause on the death penalty is in place. 

Illegal drugs and prison sentences 

There is a zero tolerance towards illegal drugs. This includes importing, exporting, or possession of drugs. Do not accept packages on behalf of anyone without knowing the contents. 

Sentences for those found in possession of drugs can be severe, including fines or prison sentences. Cases of entrapment by Gambian authorities are not uncommon. 

LGBT+ travellers 

There is a zero tolerance towards LGBT+ people in The Gambia. Same-sex relationships are illegal and could lead to lengthy prison sentences. 

Gambian law criminalises the act of men dressing as women with a 5-year jail term. 

Read more advice for LGBT+ travellers. 

Money 

The Gambia is primarily a cash-based economy. Check with your tour operator or hotel before travelling. An increasing number of hotels and restaurants accept Visa cards but very few accept credit cards. There are not many ATMs outside the tourist area of Senegambia. In other locations, ATMs can be unreliable.