If you’re an Australian planning to travel to Senegal, here’s the lowdown on visas.

Arrival at Dakar (DSS) Airport:

Australians can obtain a visa on arrival at Dakar’s Blaise Diagne International Airport (DSS). It’s straightforward and saves you the hassle of pre-arranging paperwork.

Crossing Land Borders:

If you’re planning to enter Senegal via a land border, you must have a visa before you get there. You can’t get one on the spot – they’re strict about it, and you’ll be turned back if you don’t have it sorted beforehand.

Where to Apply for a Senegalese Visa:

Visas are typically issued free of charge at Senegalese embassies. I’ve personally applied for and received a visa in the following countries:

• Mauritania

• The Gambia

• Guinea-Bissau

• Mali

A Word of Caution:

I attempted to apply for a Senegalese visa in Conakry, Guinea, but was told that applications had to be made in Guinea-Bissau instead. It’s always worth double-checking, as requirements can change without much notice.

Your Experiences Matter:

If you’ve successfully obtained a Senegalese visa somewhere else, please share your experience in the comments below. It’ll help other travellers avoid unnecessary detours.

Safe travels, and remember – get that visa sorted before reaching the land border!