Owning a weak passport comes with its own challenges which include being aware of the necessary visa and entry requirements for any country you want to visit. With your passport requiring a bit more consideration than other countries, we have compiled all the necessary information on visa and entry requirements that can help you rise above the limitations of your passport and visit Senegal, one of West Africa’s havens.
If you are wondering which airlines to use, here are some international airlines that you can use to get to Senegal: Air Senegal which is the national airline for Senegal, Air France, Royal Air Maroc, Turkish Airlines, Emirates, Ethiopian Airlines, Brussels Airlines, Qatar Airways, Kenya Airways and other airlines. These airlines provide easy options for getting to Senegal, with both direct and connecting flights available from a variety of global cities to Senegal’s primary airport, Blaise Diagne International Airport (DSS), located near Dakar. Keep in mind that flight availability can change depending on when you want to leave and where you live. It is best you research the best travel option by comparing prices and routes.
For Nigerians
While Nigerians do not need a visa for stays of up to 90 days, tourists who plan to stay longer or who wish to remain flexible in their stay options will need to apply for a tourist visa. Tourist visas typically have longer validity periods and permit repeated entries.
Documents that you need during for a visa in Senegal and can be submitted in either French or English. include:
- Passport: Nigerian passports must be valid for travel for a minimum of six months following arrival into the country and have at least two blank pages.
- A completed visa application form.
- Passport-sized photos.
- Proof of funds: You need to provide proof of sufficient funds such as bank statements for the duration of your stay.
- Return Ticket: You need to provide a proof of a return or onward ticket to demonstrate the intent to leave Senegal within the allowed visa-free period.
- Accommodation: You may need to give evidence of lodging, such as a hotel booking confirmation or an invitation letter from a Senegalese host.
- Yellow Fever Vaccination: Visitors to Senegal typically need to present proof of vaccination against yellow fever. Getting a yellow fever vaccine is a must before entering the country.
Visa Free countries
Several nations, particularly those in the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), do not require a visa to enter Senegal. Tourists from ECOWAS member states are normally allowed to stay visa-free for up to 90 days. ECOWAS countries eligible for visa-free access to Senegal include Benin, Burkina Faso, Cabo Verde (or Cape Verde), Côte d’Ivoire, The Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Liberia, Mali, Niger, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, and Togo.
The same goes for countries that are in the European Union. If the citizens of the aforementioned countries wish to stay for more than 90 days then they need to apply for a Senegal visa.
Visa Exempt Countries
The citizens of the following countries are visa exempt from Senegal: All European Union citizens, Algeria, Andorra, Argentina, Australia, Bahamas, Bahrain, Barbados, Benin, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, Comoros, Congo, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Costa Rica, Côte d’Ivoire, Egypt, El Salvador, Ethiopia, Fiji, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Haiti, Honduras, Iceland, India, Israel, Jamaica, Japan, Kenya, Kiribati, Kosovo, Kuwait, Lesotho, Liberia, Liechtenstein, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Mali, Marshall Islands, Mauritania, Mauritius, Micronesia, Monaco, Morocco, Namibia, Nepal, New Zealand, Niger, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Russia, Rwanda, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, San Marino, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Solomon Islands, South Africa, South Korea, Sri Lanka, Suriname, Swaziland, Switzerland, Thailand, Timor Leste, Togo, Tunisia, Turkey, Tuvalu, Uganda, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United States, Vanuatu, Vatican City, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.
Other visa exemptions may include:
- Foreign nationals with diplomatic passports
- A Laissez-Passer from global bodies such as the United Nations, World Health Organizations and so on. You have to be traveling on duty to get one of these passports.
Visa on arrival
The majority of Senegal’s diplomatic posts’ websites strongly suggest that foreign visitors from other countries that are not visa-free get visas in advance. Therefore, we recommend that you contact the nearest Senegal diplomatic mission for updated information on entrance requirements and to apply for a visa.
Embassy Visa Applications
You can get visas at Senegalese embassies and consulates abroad for citizens of countries that are not visa exempt or visa on arrival. It is best that you get in touch with the nearest Senegalese diplomatic post for the most up-to-date and accurate information on visa application requirements, documents, and processing periods. Visa and entry requirements can change so you should verify information before you begin making any travel plans
To get a visa, the first thing you need to do is to contact the embassy. After that, you gather the documents required and submit your application and necessary documents to the embassy. Depending on the embassy requirements, you may be called for an interview and wait for your visa. Please note that they can reject your visa even if you all the necessary information and documents.
The time it takes to get a Senegal visa after applying varies from country to country. While some embassies claim that two or three days are needed to obtain a visa, others can take up to a week. However, it is extremely important to begin the visa application procedure as soon as possible. Before you book your flight though, here are some essential things to know before visiting Senegal.
