Gambia Visa Guide 2026: Requirements, Fees, and Processing Times

(THE GAMBIA) Entry to The Gambia in 2026 is straightforward for many travelers: you either enter visa-free for up to 90 days, use visa on arrival for $108 and a 30-day stay, or apply through an embassy in advance. The biggest trip-stopper is simple—arrive without your yellow fever vaccination certificate and you risk being refused entry or held for health measures.

This matters most for people flying into Banjul, including families visiting relatives, business travelers on tight schedules, and tourists booking last-minute deals. It also matters for Gambians and dual nationals planning onward travel, because U.S. policy changes in 2025–2026 raised the cost and difficulty of U.S.-bound trips without changing The Gambia’s inbound welcome for visitors.

Start with the right entry route: visa-free, visa on arrival, or embassy visa

Before you book non-refundable flights, match your passport to the entry option that applies to you.

• Visa-free entry (up to 90 days): The list includes ECOWAS nationals, the UK, full EU members, many Commonwealth countries (including Australia and Canada), and other named countries such as Iceland, Indonesia, Luxembourg, Morocco, and Finland. Travelers arriving under these arrangements still face local registration expectations, including registering your passport in Banjul within 48 hours in the cases described.
• Visa on arrival (typically 30 days): Many nationalities can obtain a visa on arrival at Banjul International Airport for $108 in cash, with the amount “subject to change.” This route suits spontaneous travel, but only if your documents are ready.
• Advance visa required: Nationals listed in the government’s Annexure C/D/E categories need clearance or a visa in advance, with examples in the guide including countries such as Kenya and Malawi. U.S. citizens are highlighted as people who can choose either on-arrival processing or an embassy application.

For the most dependable, official list, check the Gambia Immigration Department guidance before departure and again close to travel because reciprocal arrangements can shift: the department’s visa information is published on its official visa guidance page.

According to analysis by VisaVerge.com, travelers who run into problems at arrival most often fail on basics—missing vaccine proof, insufficient passport space, or incorrect assumptions about eligibility based on another country’s rules.

The non-negotiables: documents you must have in hand

Whether you apply in advance or use visa on arrival, the core requirements in the 2026 guide are consistent. Get these ready first, then decide your application channel.

Bring:

• Passport valid for the entire stay, with at least one blank page.
• Yellow fever vaccination certificate (the international card), described as mandatory for all visitors and “enforced at entry.”
• Two passport-sized photos (requested for embassy processing in the guide).
• Proof of itinerary, such as flight bookings and hotel reservations.
• Proof of funds, with the guide noting a practical benchmark of $50–100/day recommended.
• Any purpose-specific letters, such as an invitation letter for business travel, or a letter referenced for missionaries in the guide’s service-provider examples.

A small detail that causes big stress: keep your yellow fever card with your passport, not in checked luggage. Immigration and health screening take place before you fully enter the country, especially at Banjul airport.

Important: Yellow fever proof is treated as seriously as your passport at arrival. Missing it can lead to refusal or health isolation procedures.

A five-stage journey to approval, entry, and staying compliant

1) Confirm eligibility and pick your channel (same day)

Make a single decision: visa-free, visa on arrival, or embassy.
If you qualify for visa-free entry, focus on post-arrival compliance steps. If you plan to use visa on arrival, confirm you can pay $108 in cash and carry the required documents. If you need an embassy visa, move to stage two.

Dual nationals should also decide which passport to present. The guide advises that those who have a Gambian passport should use it for entry where applicable.

2) Build a complete file before you submit (1–14 days)

Collect your passport photos, itinerary proofs, and bank evidence, and schedule your yellow fever vaccine early enough to travel. The guide recommends getting vaccinated 10+ days before travel so the certificate is valid for entry checks.

If you are applying through a consulate, the guide notes that digital submissions are rising at select locations. Prepare scans even if you expect to submit paper.

3) Apply through the route you chose (same day to several weeks)

• Visa on arrival in Banjul: Complete the process at the airport. The guide frames it as “instant” once you reach the desk with the right documents and cash. Expect document checks, then an entry stamp for a 30-day stay.
• Embassy or consulate application: Options include in-person or mail submissions, including the Washington, D.C. location for U.S.-based applicants. Processing times vary widely by category, from 2–10 business days in faster channels to 4–8 weeks for some categories such as student or media.
• Agent or visa service: Paid services offer expedited timelines, with total costs shown in broad ranges like $238–$549, plus shipping figures such as $45–$130 for FedEx in some examples. These services can reduce handling burden, but they do not remove the need for correct documents.

4) Receive the visa or entry stamp, then register and extend if needed (same day to 90 days)

Approved visas appear as a sticker in the passport or an e-stamp, depending on the channel. If you entered visa-free, comply with registration expectations in Banjul within 48 hours where the guide says it applies.

If you need more time in country, extensions can be handled at Banjul Immigration for 30–90 days extra. Build buffer time into your plans so you are not racing an expiry date with a weekend or holiday closing offices.

5) Avoid overstays and departure penalties (ongoing)

The guide sets a clear penalty: $15 per month for overstays, payable in cash at departure. Overstays also raise the risk of future entry trouble and possible bans, a serious issue for travelers who expect to return for family visits or repeated work trips.

Costs and timelines you can plan around

Travelers mainly care about cost and processing time. The guide provides these practical figures:

• Visa on arrival: $108, granted for a 30-day stay, processed at the airport.
• Embassy fees and services: Wide ranges are listed:
• $100–$335+ service in the quick glance.
• Examples of multi-entry embassy fees described as $100–$250.
• A U.S. embassy fee point described as hitting $200 for pre-travel processing.
• Agent service totals given as $238–$549, plus shipping (e.g., $45–$130).
• Processing times: Typical outcomes in 2–10 business days, with “rush” options in the 3–7 days range; some embassy routes can reach 4–8 weeks.

Practical planning rule from the guide: apply 10–30 days early, especially around holidays when workloads spike.

Health screening at Banjul: what authorities check

The guide ties tighter checks at Banjul Airport to post-2025 outbreak concerns and says screening focuses on yellow fever compliance. That puts your vaccine card in the same importance category as your passport.

The guide also mentions malaria prophylaxis and vaccines such as hepatitis A/B and typhoid as recommended by clinics or CDC-style advice, even though they are not entry requirements. Treat those as travel health planning, not immigration paperwork.

A special note for Gambians and frequent U.S. travelers

The guide flags major U.S. policy shifts affecting Gambians traveling to the United States 🇺🇸, while noting these changes do not alter The Gambia’s inbound rules.

• U.S. Visa Bond Pilot (Oct 11, 2025): Gambians seeking U.S. B-1/B-2 visas may face a $5,000–$15,000 bond and must enter and depart through BOS/JFK/IAD.
• U.S. partial visa ban (Jan 1, 2026): The U.S. suspends Gambian immigrant visas, B-1/B-2, and F/M student visas, and shortens others, citing overstay concerns and noting historical data showing 20%+ overstay rates for Gambians.

For families, that means a student’s U.S. plan may collapse even when a trip to The Gambia remains easy. For employers, it means business travel planning needs tighter compliance and earlier decision-making, especially where bonds or restricted ports of entry apply.

Quick checklist (ready to print or save)

1. Verify your passport’s entry category: visa-free, visa on arrival, or advance visa.
2. Ensure passport validity and at least one blank page.
3. Carry your yellow fever vaccination certificate (keep it with your passport).
4. Prepare two passport photos, proof of itinerary, and proof of funds (aim for $50–$100/day).
5. Have $108 in cash if you plan to use visa on arrival.
6. Register in Banjul within 48 hours if your entry arrangement requires it.
7. Plan extensions early; avoid $15/month overstay penalties.

Key takeaway: For travel to The Gambia in 2026, the most critical items are the correct entry channel, a valid passport with space, and the yellow fever vaccination certificate.