Visas in Dakar

Good to Know

• Bring a printed or digital proof of onward travel and accommodation — border officers at Léopold Sédar Senghor / Blaise Diagne airport do sometimes ask for it even from visa-exempt nationalities.
• Check your passport has at least 6 months validity and, ideally, two blank pages before flying — this is enforced at check-in by some airlines, not just on arrival.
• If you're not on the exempt list, arriving without a pre-arranged visa and relying on visa-on-arrival is a real gamble — the process at the airport is described as slow and inconsistent, so applying at a Senegalese embassy beforehand is safer.
• If you plan to stay beyond 90 days, start the extension process with DPAF in Dakar well before your visa-free window runs out rather than waiting until the last days.
• There is no Senegalese 'digital nomad visa' as of this writing — despite what some travel blogs claim, the country's actual visa categories are tourist, business, and residence permits tied to investor/employment status.
• If you're approaching 183 cumulative days in Senegal within a 12-month period, get tax advice before you cross that line — it changes you from a non-taxed visitor to a resident taxed on worldwide income.
• Working online for foreign clients while on tourist status is common and not actively policed, but it isn't formally legal — treat it as a grey area rather than a guaranteed-safe setup, especially if you plan to stay long-term.
• Dakar has a genuine, growing pool of coworking spaces (from international chains to local hubs), which is more than most other Senegalese cities offer — useful if you're formalizing a longer stay here specifically.