Last Updated:
October 6, 2007 19:30
EDT
Still Valid:
November 15, 2007 23:00
EST
|
|
1. RECENT UPDATES
Phone numbers in Section 5 of this Travel Report have been updated.
See our Current Issues page for more information on flooding in The Gambia.
BACK TO TOP
2. WARNINGS AND RECOMMENDATIONS
There is no Official Warning for this country.
OFFICIAL REGISTRATION RECOMMENDATION: We offer a registration service for all Canadians travelling or living abroad. This service is provided so that we can contact and assist you in an emergency in a foreign country, such as a natural disaster or civil unrest, or inform you of a family emergency at home. Registration can be done on-line or by contacting a Canadian government office abroad. For more information, see our FAQs on Registration of Canadians Abroad.
BACK TO TOP
3. SAFETY AND SECURITY
The decision to travel is the sole responsibility of the traveller. The traveller is also responsible for his or her own personal safety. The purpose of this Travel Report is to provide Canadians with up-to-date information to enable them to make well-informed decisions.
Tourist facilities are limited outside of Banjul. Most Canadian visitors to The Gambia do not experience problems.
However, you should be aware that pickpockets are active on ferries and in crowded markets. Ensure your personal belongings and travel documents are secure and do not show signs of affluence. Check with local authorities to determine which beaches are safe. You should avoid isolated beaches.
Violent demonstrations can occur suddenly. You should keep informed of local developments that could affect your safety.
It is dangerous to cross the Gambia River on wooden pirogues due to overcrowding and the lack of security measures.
BACK TO TOP
4. ENTRY/EXIT REQUIREMENTS
The following information on entry and exit requirements has been confirmed with the Gambian authorities and, to the best of our knowledge, was valid on January 5, 2006. However, entry and exit requirements are subject to change.
It is the sole prerogative of each country to determine who is allowed to enter. All countries have special requirements for persons intending to reside for extended periods (usually more than 90 days) or who plan to work, study, or engage in non-tourist activities. To obtain information on specific entry requirements, contact the nearest diplomatic or consular office of the country or countries to be visited. Violations of entry and exit requirements may result in serious penalties.
Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada’s Office of Protocol provides contact details for the High Commission for the Republic of The Gambia and its consulates, where you can obtain further information on entry and exit requirements.
A valid Canadian passport is required for Canadians intending to visit The Gambia. The passport must be valid for at least six months beyond the date of your expected departure from the country. Canadians must also be in possession of a visa.
Tourist Visa: Required
Business Visa: Required
Employment Permit: Required
Transit Visa: Required (for a stay over 24 hours)
Travellers are required to carry evidence of a yellow fever vaccination.
A US$20 airport tax is charged upon departure.
A Certificate of Canadian Citizenship (CCC) is not a travel document. Airlines are known to refuse boarding to dual national Canadian passengers returning to Canada, travelling on a passport that requires a visa to enter Canada, regardless of whether the passenger presents a valid CCC as proof of Canadian citizenship. A Canadian passport is the only reliable and universally accepted travel and identification document for the purpose of international travel. It proves your admissibility to enter Canada.
Selling, altering, or allowing another person to use your passport is a criminal offence. It could lead to the laying of charges and imprisonment if convicted. It could also lead to the denial of future passport services.
Special and diplomatic passport holders should verify visa requirements for this and other countries, as they may differ from those that apply to regular passport holders.
Any adult travelling with children may be required to show evidence of parental/custodial and/or access rights. Foreign and Canadian authorities may also require evidence that the adult has the consent of the parents, legal guardian, and/or the court to travel with the children. Some countries may not permit children to enter or, in some cases, leave the country without proper documentation such as a letter of consent or a court order.
Although same-sex marriages are legal in Canada, many countries do not recognize them. Attempting to enter as a same-sex married couple may result in refusal by local officials. For more information, contact the foreign government office accredited to Canada.
BACK TO TOP
5. CANADIAN GOVERNMENT CONTACTS
There is no resident Canadian government office in The Gambia. You can obtain consular assistance and further consular information at the following address:
Gambia, The - BANJUL, British High Commission
Address: 48 Atlantic Road, Fajara, Banjul
Postal Address: P.O. Box 507, Banjul,
Tel.: 220 4495133
Fax: 220 4496134
E-Mail: bhcbanjul@gamtel.gm
The Embassy of Canada in Dakar, Senegal, has consular responsibility for The Gambia. The address is as follows:
Senegal - DAKAR, Embassy of Canada
Address: corner of Galliéni and Amadou Cissé Dia Streets, Dakar, Senegal
Postal Address: P.O. Box 3373, Dakar,
Tel.: 221 33-889-47-00
Fax: 221 33-889-47-20
E-Mail: dakar@international.gc.ca
Internet: http://www.dakar.gc.ca
For emergency assistance after hours, call the Embassy of Canada in Dakar, Senegal, and follow the instructions. You may also call the Department in Ottawa at 613-996-8885.
BACK TO TOP
6. LOCAL LAWS AND CUSTOMS
You are subject to local laws. A serious violation may lead to a jail sentence. The sentence will be served in local prisons.
Canadians arrested or detained have the right to contact the responsible Canadian government office (embassy, high commission, etc.) listed in Section 5 above. Arresting officials have a responsibility to assist you in doing so. Canadian consular officials can provide a list of local lawyers upon request.
The procedures required in legal proceedings or police investigations may be different from the procedures in force in the Canadian legal system. Canadians wishing to undertake such proceedings can expect to face long delays and additional efforts in order to resolve their case. The Government of Canada cannot intervene in ongoing legal proceedings in other countries, unless requested to do so by local authorities. Such requests are rare.
In December 2004, as a result of amendments to the Criminal Code of The Gambia, the offences of libel, sedition and slander were criminalized. Persons who break this law are now punishable by prison terms, without any option of a fine.
The majority of the population is Muslim.
Islamic practices and beliefs are closely adhered to in the country’s customs, laws, and regulations. Common sense and discretion should be exercised in dress and behaviour. Visitors should dress conservatively (e.g., women should wear a headscarf and also cover their arms and legs). Respect religious and social traditions to avoid offending local sensitivities. The use of drugs and alcohol is prohibited. Transgressions could be punished by detention or other penalties.
Penalties for importing or exporting drugs or contraband are strict. Never accept packages from strangers and pack all luggage yourself.
Some medications and skin bleaching creams are subject to strict import and export laws. Visitors could face fines of up to US$2,000 and/or three years' imprisonment if they arrive in The Gambia with substances containing hydroquinone, hydrocortisone, betamethasone, flucinonide, clobestatol, or clobestatone. Canadians should contact the High Commission for the Republic of The Gambia in Washington, D.C. (see below) for specific information regarding customs requirements.
Homosexual activity is illegal.
You should not photograph airports or military installations.
BACK TO TOP
7. LOCAL TRAVEL AND CURRENCY
In the greater Banjul area, main roads are paved but narrow, potholed, and poorly lit. Most roads outside the capital are unpaved. Overland travel can be difficult without a four-wheel-drive vehicle, particularly during the rainy season (see below). Avoid driving outside urban areas after dark. Contact the nearest police station if involved in a traffic accident. Stop at all security roadblocks and checkpoints and cooperate with the local authorities.
You should be careful when travelling overland to the Casamance region in Senegal, as separatist rebels operate in this area. Travellers have been attacked on roads leading north from Ziguinchor to Banjul and from Bignona to Sedoba, near the Gambian border. You should view the report for Senegal before departing.
An International Driving Permit (IDP) is recommended.
The currency is the dalasi (D). A currency declaration form must be completed on arrival. Certain regional currencies may not be accepted or exchanged, including currency from Algeria, Ghana, Guinea, Mali, Morocco, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, Cape Verde, Mauritania, and Tunisia. Credit cards are accepted at most hotels, provided prior arrangements are made.
Canadian currency and traveller's cheques are not widely accepted worldwide. Check with your bank for information on Automated Banking Machine (ABM) services in other countries. You can also check the VISA ATM locator page or the MasterCard ATM locator page for the addresses of ABMs around the world. Your bank can advise if you need a new personal identification number (PIN) for overseas access to your account. Credit cards and debit cards should be used with caution due to the potential for fraud and other criminal activity. ABMs should be used during business hours inside a bank, supermarket, or large commercial building. Leave copies of your card numbers with a family member in case of emergency.
BACK TO TOP
8. NATURAL DISASTERS AND CLIMATE
The rainy season extends from June to October. You should keep informed of regional weather forecasts and plan accordingly.
BACK TO TOP
9. TRAVEL MEDICINE PROGRAM
The Public Health Agency of Canada and the World Health Organization (WHO) report on disease outbreaks that occur throughout the world. For the latest travel health advisories and related information, visit the Public Health Agency of Canada’s Travel Medicine Program Web site.
The Public Health Agency of Canada is following the incidence of meningitis in and around the African meningitis belt. This belt extends from Guinea to Senegal in the west to Ethiopia and western Eritrea in the east. Epidemics most often occur during the dry season (December to June) in this region. Since the mid-1990s, meningitis has occurred on an unprecedented scale and has spread beyond the usual boundaries. Additional information and health recommendations concerning meningitis can be obtained through the Public Health Agency of Canada's Travel Medicine Web site.
The Public Health Agency of Canada strongly recommends that your travel plans include contacting a travel medicine clinic or physician six to eight weeks before departure. Based on your individual risk assessment, a health care professional can determine your need for immunizations and/or preventive medication and advise you on precautions to avoid disease. Travellers are reminded to ensure that their routine (childhood) immunizations (e.g., tetanus, diphtheria, polio, and measles) are up to date.
Standards of medical care may differ from those in Canada. Treatment may be expensive, and payment in advance may be required. Travellers are advised to arrange for medical insurance prior to departure. Prescription medications should be kept in the original container and packed in carry-on luggage.
The Public Health Agency of Canada also recommends that travellers who become sick or feel unwell on their return to Canada seek a medical assessment with their personal physician. Travellers should inform their physician that they have been travelling or living outside of Canada.
BACK TO TOP
10. ADDITIONAL HEALTH INFORMATION
Medical facilities are very limited. Some medical treatments may be unavailable. All water should be regarded as potentially contaminated. Water used for drinking, brushing teeth, or making ice should be boiled or otherwise sterilized. Bottled water is also acceptable.
BACK TO TOP
11. ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Returning to Canada
Traveller's Checklist
Health and Travel Insurance: Do not rely on your provincial health plan to cover all expenses if you get sick or are injured while abroad. It may cover nothing or only a portion of the costs. Understand the terms of your supplementary insurance policy. Some credit cards offer their holders health and travel insurance. Do not assume the card alone provides adequate coverage. Carry details of your insurance with you. Also, tell your travel agent, a friend or relative, and/or travelling companion how to contact your insurer. Get a detailed invoice from the doctor or hospital before you return to Canada. Always submit original receipts for any medical services or prescriptions received abroad. Most insurance companies will not accept copies or faxes. See Canada's Health Portal.
Cancelling a scheduled trip abroad could cost you money. Before cancelling a scheduled trip, you should discuss the matter with your travel agent, your travel insurer, or the airline. The decision to travel is the sole responsibility of the traveller.
Adoption: Provincial and territorial authorities in Canada are responsible for authorizing international adoptions. If you are thinking of adopting a child from another country, you must first obtain information about the adoption regulations of the province or territory in which the child will reside. While adoption is a provincial/territorial responsibility, Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) is responsible for allowing an adopted child entry into Canada. Entry can be refused if the child does not hold the appropriate immigrant visa. A visa may be denied, even if the adoption has already been completed. For more information contact CIC at 1 888 242-2100 (in Canada only), check the CIC Web site or contact your provincial or territorial government.
BACK TO TOP
12. ANNEX
N/A
BACK TO TOP
|
