Foreign travel advice

皇冠体育app Gambia

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Warnings and insurance

Still current at:
19 May 2025
Updated:
9 July 2024
Latest update:
Updated assessment that although there is no recent history of terrorism in 皇冠体育app Gambia, attacks cannot be ruled out ('Safety and security' page).

Before you travel听

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

Travel insurance听

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.听

About FCDO travel advice

皇冠体育app 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.听

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Entry requirements

This information is for people travelling on a full 鈥楤ritish citizen鈥� passport from the UK. It is based on the UK government鈥檚 understanding of 皇冠体育app Gambia鈥檚 current rules for the most common types of travel.

皇冠体育app authorities in 皇冠体育app Gambia set and enforce entry rules. If you鈥檙e not sure how these requirements apply to you, contact the .听听

Passport validity requirements听

To enter 皇冠体育app 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.听听

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.听

Visa requirements听

You do not need a visa to visit 皇冠体育app Gambia. You鈥檒l get a stamp in your passport that allows you to stay for 28 days when you arrive.听听

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鈥檒l need a residence permit for longer stays. For more information .听

Airport tax听

You must pay an Airport Security Fee when you arrive in and leave the country. 皇冠体育app 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.听

Entry through land borders听

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

Vaccine requirements听

To enter 皇冠体育app Gambia, you must have a certificate to prove you鈥檝e had a yellow fever vaccination if you鈥檙e coming from a .

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

For full details about medical entry requirements and recommended vaccinations, see .听听

Customs rules听

皇冠体育appre are strict rules about . You must declare anything that may be prohibited or subject to tax or duty.听

Safety and security

罢别谤谤辞谤颈蝉尘听听

皇冠体育appre is a high threat of terrorist attack globally affecting UK interests and British nationals, including from groups and individuals who view the UK and British nationals as targets. Stay aware of your surroundings at all times.鈥���

UK Counter Terrorism Policing has information and advice on and what to do in the event of a terrorist attack. Find out how to reduce your risk from terrorism while abroad.听

Terrorism in 皇冠体育app Gambia听

Although there is no recent history of terrorism in 皇冠体育app Gambia, attacks cannot be ruled out.

Attacks could be indiscriminate including in places visited by foreigners. Stay aware of your surroundings, keep up to date with local media reports and follow the advice of local authorities.

Political situation听听

Avoid large gatherings and protests in public areas and follow the advice of local authorities.听

颁谤颈尘别听

Be cautious of young men locally known as 鈥榖umsters鈥� who approach tourists, particularly on beaches, offering help or to act as local guides. 皇冠体育appy may offer to take you on tours into Senegal. It is unlikely they will follow the correct immigration procedures. This could result in you being detained by immigration authorities. 皇冠体育appy may also ask for money.听

Be polite but firm in refusing unwanted help or attempts at conversation.听

Corruption is present at all levels and you may be asked for bribes.听

Protecting your belongings听

皇冠体育appre are reports of passports and other valuables being stolen from hotel rooms.听

Petty theft is a problem in cities and tourist areas. Take care when visiting certain places, especially at night, such as:听

  • isolated beaches听听
  • 尘补谤办别迟蝉听
  • crowded events听听
  • venues outside the main tourist areas听

Do not take valuables or large sums of money to the beach or display them in public. Take sensible precautions to protect your personal possessions and do not leave valuables in unattended vehicles. Keep a copy of your passport鈥檚 photo page, and your entry stamp, in a separate place.听

Local travel听

Security checkpoints operate in and around the capital Banjul and are common on all major routes in 皇冠体育app Gambia. 皇冠体育appy are not always well sign-posted. Take care when approaching them and expect your vehicle to be searched if you鈥檙e stopped by security forces.

Laws and cultural differences听听

皇冠体育app 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. 皇冠体育appre may be serious penalties for doing something that might not be illegal in the UK but is in 皇冠体育app Gambia.听

Ramadan 听

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

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

You should also:听听

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

Personal ID听

As a foreign national, you must carry ID such as a passport. 皇冠体育app police will usually accept a printed copy.听

Public offences听

皇冠体育appre are severe penalties for any form of sexual offence against a child. 皇冠体育appre are reports of increased child sex tourism. Report any incidents to the police.听

顿别迟补颈苍尘别苍迟听

It is not always possible for the British High Commission to gain early access to detained British nationals in 皇冠体育app Gambia.听

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

皇冠体育app death penalty applies for a number of crimes including arson, murder and treason. A pause on the death penalty is in place.听

Illegal drugs and prison sentences听

皇冠体育appre 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.听

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.听

LGBT+ travellers听

皇冠体育appre is a zero tolerance towards LGBT+ people in 皇冠体育app Gambia. Same-sex relationships are illegal and could lead to lengthy prison sentences.听

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

Read more advice for LGBT+ travellers.听

惭辞苍别测听

皇冠体育app 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. 皇冠体育appre are not many ATMs outside the tourist area of Senegambia. In other locations, ATMs can be unreliable.听

Transport risks 听

Road travel听听

If you are planning to drive in 皇冠体育app Gambia, see information on driving abroad.听

You can use a UK photocard driving licence to drive in 皇冠体育app Gambia for up to 3 months. If you still have a paper driving licence, you may need to update it to a photocard licence.听听

After 3 months you must apply for a Gambian driving licence, you can contact the local police station to ask where the nearest licensing office is. For the application process you need:听听

  • proof of residency in 皇冠体育app Gambia听
  • your valid UK driving licence听
  • a copy of your passport听

Driving conditions

Driving standards are poor, roads are severely potholed and after dark there is poor road and vehicle lighting.听听

皇冠体育appre is heavy rainfall from June to October, which can cause localised flooding. Take care if you鈥檙e travelling in rural areas or on non-paved roads during this period.听

Some local taxis are not roadworthy.听

River travel听

皇冠体育app ferry service from Banjul to Barra is operating but it is often overcrowded and overloaded. Safety measures and maintenance are not up to international standards and ferries lack life saving equipment and rescue services. Consider using the alternative route across the Senegambia Bridge near Farafenni.

皇冠体育appre have been several instances of the ferry becoming stranded on sandbanks. If using the ferry, get out of your vehicle quickly after parking to avoid becoming trapped inside your vehicle for the duration of the journey.

Pirogues (wooden dug-out canoes) in 皇冠体育app Gambia can be overloaded and safety measures are not up to international standards. 皇冠体育appy are not recommended for long journeys. If you do travel on one, make sure it has life jackets.听

Extreme weather and natural disasters听

Find out what you can do to prepare for and respond to extreme weather and natural hazards.听

Flooding 听

Localised flooding can occur during the rainy season, which runs from June to October.听

Health

Before you travel check that:听

  • your destination can provide the healthcare you may need听
  • you have appropriate travel insurance for local treatment or unexpected medical evacuation听

This is particularly important if you have a health condition or are pregnant.听

Emergency medical number听

皇冠体育appre is no equivalent to the UK鈥檚 999 emergency number in 皇冠体育app Gambia, it is best to visit in-person to ask for emergency contact details at local stations.听听

Contact your insurance company quickly if you鈥檙e referred to a medical facility for treatment.听

Vaccine recommendations and health risks

At least 8 weeks before your trip:

  • check the current
  • see how to get vaccines and whether you have to pay on the

See including:

  • yellow fever
  • malaria and dengue
  • Zika virus
  • schistosomiasis

UNAIDS estimated that around 24,000 adults aged 15 or over in Gambia are living with HIV. 皇冠体育app prevalence percentage was estimated at around 1.4% of the adult population compared to the prevalence percentage in adults in the UK of around 0.2%. You should use normal precautions to avoid exposure to HIV/AIDS.听

惭别诲颈肠补迟颈辞苍听

皇冠体育app legal status and regulation of some medicines prescribed or bought in the UK can be different in other countries.听

If you bring prescription medication into 皇冠体育app Gambia, take a copy of your prescription and keep items in the original packaging. Some prescription and over-the-counter medicines like those containing codeine or diazepam are banned under 皇冠体育app Gambia鈥檚 drugs laws. For more information on the legal status of a specific medicine, check with before you travel.听

In 皇冠体育app Gambia you will need to go to a pharmacy to get most over-the-counter medicines. Only a very limited selection are available at supermarkets or other stores. Not all medicines available in the UK will be available in 皇冠体育app Gambia.听听

If you require specialist medication, check availability before travel or make arrangements to bring your medication with you. 皇冠体育app widely used symbols are a green cross or a green 鈥楤owl of Hygieia鈥� (a chalice or cup with a snake twined around it).听听

Read .听

Healthcare in 皇冠体育app Gambia听

Medical facilities in 皇冠体育app Gambia are very limited and the cost of medical evacuation can be very high. Private clinics will only treat fee-paying patients.听

FCDO has a list of medical providers in 皇冠体育app Gambia where some staff will speak English.听

皇冠体育appre is also guidance on healthcare if you鈥檙e living in 皇冠体育app Gambia.听听

Travel and mental health听

Read FCDO guidance on travel and mental health. 皇冠体育appre is also .听

Getting help

皇冠体育app Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) cannot provide tailored advice for individual trips. Read this travel advice and carry out your own research before deciding whether to travel.听

Emergency services in 皇冠体育app Gambia听听

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

Contact your travel provider and insurer听

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

Refunds and changes to travel听

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.听

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

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

Support from FCDO听

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

Contacting听FCDO听

Help abroad鈥�

See听听including in an emergency.听

Help in the UK听听

You can call鈥疐CDO鈥痠n London if you need urgent help because something has happened to a friend or relative abroad.鈥�

Telephone: 020 7008 5000 (24 hours)鈥�

Find out about call charges

Get travel advice updates鈥�

Sign up to鈥�get email notifications鈥痺hen this travel advice is updated.鈥�

Follow FCDO:鈥�

  • *[FCDO]: Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office