PassportSouth Africa

Trip checklist: Senegal

For South African passport holders. Last checked 5 October 2026.

Visa requirement

We're still confirming this with official sources. What we've found so far: Visa on arrival. Check with the embassy before you rely on it.

Permitted stay

You can stay up to 30 days per visit, and you can apply to extend.

Before you go

  • Passport validity

    At least 6 months beyond arrival. Wikipedia states this for visa on arrival; UK advice says the same for UK visitors.

  • How to apply

    If visa on arrival applies, arrive by air at Dakar (Blaise Diagne International Airport) with a passport valid 6 months, a return air ticket and proof of accommodation. Fee not published. No official Senegal e-visa portal was confirmed.

  • Where South Africans apply

    On arrival at Dakar airport, if eligible. Otherwise the tourist visa is issued by Senegalese diplomatic missions; the mission covering South Africa (Embassy of Senegal in Pretoria) was not confirmed.

  • Return or onward ticket

    A return air ticket is required for visa on arrival. UK advice also says to carry proof of return travel or risk being refused entry.

  • Accommodation or invitation

    Proof of accommodation is required for visa on arrival, and UK advice says the same.

  • Vaccinations, including yellow fever on return to South Africa

    SENEGAL: A yellow fever certificate is required if you arrive from a yellow fever transmission risk country; infants under 9 months are excluded (UK advice). Arriving direct from South Africa this does not apply, but it does if you route via a risk country. SOUTH AFRICA: Senegal is on South Africa's yellow fever risk list. Everyone over 1 year old, South Africans included, returning to South Africa from Senegal, or after an airport transit of more than 12 hours there, must show a valid yellow fever certificate on arrival in South Africa. Get vaccinated at least 10 days before travel; the certificate is valid for life.

  • Arrival forms

    Non-residents must declare currency over 1,000,000 CFA francs on entry (US advice).

  • Confirm with the embassy

    Rules change. Check the official source before you book.

Research sources

  1. 1. UK FCDO (Other government, gov.uk) https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/senegal/entry-requirements
  2. 2. DIRCO, South African High Commission Canberra (Other government, dirco.gov.za) https://dirco.gov.za/canberra/yellow-fever/
  3. 3. US Department of State (Other government, travel.state.gov) https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/international-travel/International-Travel-Country-Information-Pages/Senegal.html
  4. 4. Wikipedia (Reference, en.wikipedia.org) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Visa_requirements_for_South_African_citizens
  5. 5. Wikipedia (Reference, en.wikipedia.org) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Visa_policy_of_Senegal

From doineedavisa.co.za/senegal. Always confirm with the embassy before you travel.