How to Enter Senegal
Do I need a passport or visa to enter?
As of July 1, 2013, a valid passport, visa, and evidence of yellow-fever vaccination are required for entry into Senegal. A meningitis vaccination is highly recommended if the traveler is arriving from or has recently traveled to an endemic area. Travelers unable to provide proof of vaccinations may be required to pay for and receive vaccinations at the Dakar airport.The official website for purchasing the visa is hosted by Société Nationale d'Edition de Documents Administratifs et d'Identification. Since the visa is biometric, U.S. citizens wishing to travel to Senegal must first pay the visa fees (approximately $67) before appearing in person to be fingerprinted. This can be accomplished at either the Senegalese Embassy, in Washington, D.C., or the Senegalese Consulate in New York City prior to travel. As long as they have applied and paid for the visa in advance, travelers may also retrieve their visas at Leopold Sedar Senghor Airport in Dakar, Senegal, or other posts along the Senegalese border. You may be denied entry if you lack the proper documentation before arriving in Senegal.
Travelers should obtain the latest information on entry requirements from the Embassy of Senegal, 2031 Florida Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20009, telephone (202) 234-0540. Overseas inquiries should be made at the nearest Senegalese embassy or consulate.
Special Travel Circumstances in Senegal
Senegalese law requires that all persons carry personal identification at all times, and all Senegalese law enforcement officials have the authority to challenge suspicious activity and to request personal identification. Be aware that they may request personal identification even without cause, which is generally not the case in the United States. If a U.S. citizen does not cooperate and provide identification, she/he may be detained for up to 48 hours without the filing of formal charges.
Tourist tax: Please note that in some locations, such as the popular tourist attraction, Goree Island, local officials may charge tourists a tax when they visit. While legal, notices of the tax and where to pay it are not always clearly posted. If in doubt, please ask the official for paperwork and a receipt once the tax is paid.
Customs Regulations: You are not permitted in the country without clearance by Senegalese customs officials with the following items: computers and computer parts, video cameras and players, stereo equipment, tape players, auto parts, and various tools and spare parts. Airport customs officials may hold such items if brought in as baggage or carry-on luggage. Travelers should check with the Embassy of Senegal in Washington, D.C., regarding these restrictions. (See Entry Requirements section above for contact information.)
Senegalese customs authorities encourage the use of an ATA (Admission Temporaire/Temporary Admission) Carnet for the temporary admission of professional equipment, commercial samples, and/or goods for exhibitions and fair purposes. ATA Carnet Headquarters, located at the U.S. Council for International Business, 1212 Avenue of the Americas, New York, NY 10036, issues and guarantees the ATA Carnet in the United States. For additional information, call (212) 354-4480, send an email to atacarnet@uscib.org or visit the United States Council for International Business website for details.
Currency: Senegal’s currency is the CFA, which is pegged to the EURO. Travelers can obtain cash from some ATMs in Senegal. Travelers can get cash and/or traveler's checks through international credit cards, such as Master Card, Visa, and American Express, by presenting their credit card at a local financial institution sponsoring their card.
U.S. Government Sanctions: Until further notice, all U.S. citizens in Senegal and Guinea-Bissau are advised to not subscribe to or purchase services or equipment from Senegal's new telecommunications company, Sudatel/Expresso. The U.S. Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) has identified Sudatel as a company owned or controlled by the Government of Sudan. U.S. sanctions prohibit U.S. citizens from doing business with companies owned or controlled by the Government of Sudan unless authorized by OFAC. In addition, there may be other companies operating in Senegal which, given their relationship with countries subject to sanctions, might also be on OFAC’s list. For further information, you may email the OFAC compliance division at OFAC_feedback@do.treas.gov or call the OFAC hotline at 202-622-2490.
Disclaimer
You are responsible for ensuring that you meet and comply with foreign entry requirements, health requirements and that you possess the appropriate travel documents. Information provided is subject to change without notice. One should confirm content prior to traveling from other reliable sources. Information published on this website may contain errors. You travel at your own risk and no warranties or guarantees are provided by us.