Border crossing | Customs and Immigration

Senegal

Details

Verified:
about 1 month ago
Altitude:
4.4 masl
Contributor:
tembo.tadaima

Amenities

Something not right?

Description

Border crossing on Dakar-Banjul road. Senegal immigration and customs come first, then the Gambian. On the Gambian side, we were faced with requests for cash in exchange for letting us go with our prescription medicines.

Photos

Why? By checking in after you’ve visited a place you let others know this place is still functional. You can also add or correct any information.

Add To Favorites

Latest Check-Ins

Rather quick and uncomplicated border, on Senegalese side as well as Gambian side and as described below.

HOWEVER and unfortenuately, the Gambia douane's officer demanded 100 EUR (!!) for a 10 day passavant after customs'control made a (short) inspection of our caravan-guess we have been the chosen ones that morning...
As we know it is for free, we insisted calmly, but strongly not to pay anything. A short and rather intense discussion evolved and suddenly the officer decided ("because we spoke proper English and he had a good day"...) to let us pass on with the passavant for free.
>> We would recommend to all you guys in the same situation not to pay and wait the officer(s) out instead.

Report Check-In

asked for money in Senegalese side and Gambian side (heading south)
Senegalese asked for 2000cfa per motorbike and one officer was very aggressive and intimidating. After a wait if 15 minutes and speaking to another officer we could go - requested they did not stamp out Carnet as we'd re-enter Senegal and it was no problem
Gambia asked for 5000CFA in both the first and second office.
I spoke with the main officer, Ausman in the first office and I think reading his full name from his name badge made him back down on the charge.
using his name in the second office and saying they told us it was free and we'd spoken to the embassy got our passavant stamped after just a few minutes wait

Report Check-In

German Passports, Carnet de Passages
Two Motorcycles

Quite easy border in our experience. Took us a bit more than an hour including money exchange. Can confirm most of what has been written: Ignore money changers on Senegalese side, there are two yellow booths on the Gambian side offering good rates.
We were asked to pay on the Senegalese side for registering our Bikes in a book. We refused after telling them the German Embassy told us it is free and that we are not allowed to pay without receipts. Let us go after 3 minutes.
Another demand on the Gambian side when we wanted to pick up our stamped Carnets. Same arguments from our side, same result, let us go right away. No check for prescription drugs.

Report Check-In

Senegal -> Gambia

Senegal side painless, no hassle. Only fee was 1000 CFA (for everyone, incl Gambians and Senegalese) to register vehicle in the book. Asked the douane officer to not close my carnet.

On Gambia side got a 7-day passe-avant (5000 CFA for senegalese and other foreigners alike). Another police woman later said she needed to stamp it and demanded another 2000 CFA (hate to pay those but was hard to get out of).

Visa-free for Canadian, American had to pay 7000 dalasi (which we paid in CFA and got an awful exchange rate). For some reason I didn't change CFA to dalasi at one if the two yellow money changer tellers just a few meters beyond on the right.

Overall about one hour all told.

Report Check-In

Senegal -> Gambia

3 minutes car search at Senegalese side. They look for drugs and medications.

Senegalese officer asked for 2.000 cfa pp for passport stamp. No receipt -> no money. The locals paid the 2.000 cfa. Officers let me go after 5 min.

Just next to the Senegalese border is the Gambian border only drive 20 meters. Don’t pass it.

Gambia:
- passavant for 10 days without fee
- German passport free entry
- USA passport 7.000 Dalasi for a 5 year visa, no other option, cheaper in Dakar

- be aware (Gambia): drug control wears civil, no uniforms

Exchange:
1 USD = 65 Dalasi at official office (in Gambian)

Report Check-In

Gambia to Senegal

Easy and straightforward. Immigration got our information, then stamped our passports, then we didn’t do customs for our CDP because we never stamped out of the southern part of Senegal to save pages in our CDP. There is a customs check just down the road that is easy to miss. Make sure you stop, they just looked through CDP, but was straightforward and they were friendly.

Report Check-In

Massive scam. Refused to pay the 5000cfa (without cdp) then they started asking for €50 or a police escort to the capital worth €1200. After an hour or so we paid the €50.

Report Check-In

Easy and fast border crossing. Crossing from Senegal to Gambia on a motorbike took a little more than 30 minutes. No payments made whatsoever (with CDP). One Police officer on the Gambian side asked for money for police stamp, but let it go quickly after I said No. No questions asked about medicine. Guy to exchange money (Senegal side) tried very hard to scam me. There is a proper currency exchange office on the Gambian side, would recommend to use that one.

Report Check-In

Senegal to Gambia
It has been a very easy border for us. On the Senegalese side everything went very smoothly without any payement.
On the Gambian side we were asked to pay 5.000CFA for the passavant (we don't have a CDP) and also 5.000CFA for a stamp. We told them we knew it was free and that we would not pay without receipt. After some minutes we could go without any payment.

Report Check-In

Senegal - Gambia
Senegalese customs guy tried to charge us for writing our details into his book. We didn’t pay. That was the only time at the border (both sides!) we were asked for money. Can’t relate to other reports, everything went very smooth, friendly and organized.

Report Check-In

SCAM ALERT!! Do not pay to have your Carnet stamped. We refused to pay and were let go an hour later …

Report Check-In

At every stop they are asking for money. But from stop to stop it got cheaper and cheaper. first was 5000 second 2000 and third 1000 but even the locals payed something. Depending on your pations and language skill i guess.
No one knew how a Carnet worked so I had to show Senegal how they stamp me out and I crossed into gambia without. Got a pice of paper instead.
Good luck and have fun

Report Check-In

We arrived very late around 23;00

Very fast and very simple pass 10 minutes

nothing paid

https://youtu.be/MX4HXGhk3h8

Report Check-In

[.................... inappropriate content removed by admin ....................]

Report Check-In

We entered gambia from Senegal here. Very easy and quick crossing, no hassle at all and everybody was friendly. They wanted a 200 dalasi fee for the exit stamp. We wanted a receipt which they didn't want to give, so we could leave without paying.
We were not searched for anything. Lucky day :)

Report Check-In

added photo with visa requirements 2020-02-23

Report Check-In

They checked the whole car. Looked for “drugs”. We had some prescription medicine and had to pay a lot because "they are not allowed" in Gambia.

Report Check-In

Senegal side no problem, Gambia side still running the visa required scam, NZ passports no visa required, a disgrace to the good people of Gambia.

Report Check-In

Very easy boarder crossing.
Senegal side was a matter of minutes. No hasseling, no request for money.

The Gambia side was not a problem either. They asked for 400 Gambia-$ after signing in the book. I refused to pay without receipt and after 5 mins the lady gave up.
Me (Swiss) and my friend (US of A) needed a visa. (55€ or 35000 CFA or 3000 GMD)
Gambian custom searched our car for about 30min for drugs and perscripded medicin. They were seeking in every corner of the car. Annoying but hey were very friendly. I guess they just need to search a certain amount of cars per day and today was our bad luck.
CPD was stamped in just outside of the immigration building.
No payments at all besides the visas if you need one.

Report Check-In

Went from Senegal to Gambia without paying anything. They will ask, just say no, without a receipt. They asked 1000 CFA on Senegal side to stamp pasavant. On Gambia side, had to go to 4 different places and they all asked: first guy just copied passport info in a book and asked for a donation. Told him I prefer to donate to schools. Second was immigration which said I need a visa. I showed him a snapshot from a website (accessgsmbia.com) that said I don’t need it. He asked 5000 CFA/passport for stamping, I refused and he gave up. Went to get the TIP, same story: asked 5000CFA and gave eventually. Then last guy checks everything and puts another stamp. He asked for 10000 CFA and gave up eventually. DON’T PAY WITHOUT RECEIPT! They will scream, get angry, act like the world is about to end and then let you go.

Report Check-In

Crossed the border today with no problem on Senegal side. Customs charged 5000 CFA which I think was a scam. Then police tried same charge next door to stamp out documents and we refused and we were eventually left go after about 20 mins. They wanted 5000 Cfa also.

Report Check-In

Easy crossing, Senegalese side really easy. Gambia needed vaccination document and for the stamp of the Carnet he wanted 5.000cfa. Told him no, just with receipt. Let me go without paying anything.

Report Check-In

Easy Boarder no help needed!

Coming from Senegal:
First customs building in the middle of the road to export the vehicle (CdP).
To the right side of the road there is the police office. On the right counter you get youre exit stamp. Then enter the building to get the stamp for the vehicle.

Drive forward until you found Gambia building to the right (guy in a yellow west showed me to parc).
On the right counter you can do the CdP.
On the left counter the police. They will send you in the back to do the visa. Get 3 months single entry for 40000.- CFA or 3000.- Dalasi. One day transit visa would also be possible.
They will check again at the counter and then you can leave.

Report Check-In

Border crossing on Dakar-Banjul road. Senegal immigration and customs come first, then the Gambian. On the Gambian side, we were faced with requests for cash in exchange for letting us go with our prescription medicines.

Report Check-In

Cookies help us deliver our services. By using our services, you agree to our use of cookies. Learn More.