The Gambia
Warnings and insurance
Before you travel
No travel can be guaranteed safe. Read all the advice in this guide. You may also find it helpful to:
- see general advice for women travellers
- read our guide on disability and travel abroad
- see general advice for LGBT+ travellers
- read about safety for solo and independent travel
- see advice on volunteering and adventure travel abroad
Travel insurance
If you choose to travel, research your destinations and get appropriate travel insurance. Insurance should cover your itinerary, planned activities and expenses in an emergency.
About FCDO travel advice
The Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) provides advice about risks of travel to help British nationals make informed decisions. Find out more about FCDO travel advice.
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Update history
2026-07-07 11:18
Updated information about flooding and addition of information about power shortages and preparing for power cuts (‘Safety and security’ page).
2025-12-10 13:50
New information about dual nationals returning to the UK (‘Entry requirements’ page).
2024-07-09 16:01
Updated assessment that although there is no recent history of terrorism in The Gambia, attacks cannot be ruled out (‘Safety and security’ page).
2024-05-20 16:37
Information about river travel (‘Safety and security’ page).
2024-04-22 12:03
Ferry services between Banjul and Barra have been suspended until further notice; The Islamic Summit of the OIC (Organisation of Islamic Cooperation) will be held in Banjul on 4-5 May; road closures and delays at Banjul International Airport (‘Safety and security’ page).
2024-01-24 16:35
This travel advice has been rewritten to make it easier to read and understand.
2024-01-17 09:29
Information that you may be asked to pay a vehicle registration fee when crossing a land border (‘Entry requirements’ page).
2023-06-22 11:01
Information about the global terrorism risks to British nationals abroad on all FCDO travel advice pages.
2022-12-15 10:48
Updated information on removal of all COVID-19 travel restrictions (‘Entry requirements’ and ‘Coronavirus’ pages).
2022-11-10 09:14
Removed information on arriving passengers being asked to submit a Rapid Diagnostic Test (‘Entry requirements’ page).
2022-05-24 13:45
Updated information on terrorism in The Gambia (‘Terrorism’ page)
2022-03-18 12:10
Information on The Gambia’s political situation (‘Safety and security’ page)