Visas for West Africa
Updated: May 16
Travelling to West Africa is an incredible experience, but it is important to make sure you have the necessary paperwork to enter each country. Many countries in West Africa require visas for entry, which can vary in price and processing time. It's always a good idea to check with the embassy or consulate of each country you plan to visit well in advance of your trip to make sure you have the correct documents and are aware of any travel restrictions or advisories. Some countries also require proof of yellow fever and covid vaccination, so make sure to check the vaccination requirements as well. With proper planning and preparation, you can maximise the chances of enjoying a smooth and stress-free trip to this amazing region of the world.
West Africa is an amazing place to travel, it is beautiful but raw and chaotic so make sure that you research the destinations you plan to visit in advance. Read the latest government travel advice for your home country (eg USA, UK, Australia, etc) and confirm where you will be able to get consular assistance. Learn about the local customs, traditions, and laws to avoid any cultural misunderstandings. As each country has different diplomatic relations, and your entry conditions will vary on your nationality.
The information provided below is based on the experience of having an Australian Passport and was written during a West Africa trip during May 2023. Keep in mind that things may chance and we always recommend that you do your own research to confirm.
There are also some other great travel blogs like Very Hungry Nomads, Only by Land and Where the Road Forks an
Senegal Visa
Visa on Arrival: Yes, for Australians (No Visa Required for EU Citizens)
Vaccination Certificate Checked: No
Where did I get my Visa: On Arrival at Dakar International Airport
Cost: Free
Time: 15 minutes
Missions, Embassies & Consulates:
Guinea-Bissau: Bissau
Guinea: Conakry
Gambia: Banjul
Mali: Bamako
Mauritania: Nouakchott
Cape Verde: Praia
My Experience:
I flew into Dakar International Airport and when I arrived at immigration, the officer said that I didn't have a visa. I replied and said that I read that I could get a visa on arrival and the officer said "yes, you can" then made me wait to the side for around 15 minutes before another offical escorted me to a seperate booth where I was issued with a 30 single entry visa for FREE (it is essentially just another stamp. If you are looking to travel overland to Gambia and Guinea Bissau then I would definitely state that you need a multiple entry visa as you will need to go back through Senegal to get to Guinea Bissau.
Gambia Visa
Visa on Arrival: Yes, visa not required for Australian and EU Citizens
Vaccination Certificate Checked: No
Where did I get my Visa: On Arrival at the Gambia/Senegal Border
Cost: Free
Time: 15 minutes
Missions, Embassies & Consulates:
Abuja, Nigeria
Accra, Ghana
Bamako, Mali
Conakry, Guinea
Dakar, Senegal
Nouakchott, Mauritania
My Experience:
I crossed the boarder overland from Karang in Senegal to Amdallai in Gambia. When I was leaving Senegal the guard was laughing and asking me questions, as if he wanted to trip me up and find a problem but we both knew what was happening and laughed it off and he stamped me out.
I read online that the boarder officers had given Australians a hard time saying that we needed visas, when we actually didn't, so I was a little skeptical going up to the border. When I walked to the open air booths, the officials immediately told me to come out the back through a doorway to what looked to be a derelict house. When I walked through the door, there was a jail cell with people on the floor and people screaming at each in the office which I was being escorted to. Upon arrival everyone stopped screaming for about ten seconds and I said that I am Australian, and I don't need a visa, then gave my passport to a man sitting at a desk. I added that I had been here before (even though I hadn't) and repeated that I know that I don't need a visa.
The shouting between the officials and locals started again (there were about 5/6 people involved in a pretty intense argument, so I sat there for 5-10 minutes but it seemed like it wouldn't end so I stood up and asked if I could go and they all looked at each other and I assumed realised that they had enough on their hands, then let me go and stamped me into Gambia without an issue. You can buy a simcard for a couple of dollars from the little shops at the border then its a 30 minutes drive to the Banjul ferry.
Guinea Bissau Visa
Visa on Arrival: No, a pre approved visa is required for Australian and EU Citizens
Vaccination Certificate Checked: Yes, (Yellow Fever & Covid)
Cost: 20,000 CFA ($35 USD)
Time: 15 minutes
Missions, Embassies & Consulates:
Dakar, Senegal
Banjul, Gambia
Conakry, Guinea
Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire
Accra, Ghana
Lagos, Nigeria
Praia, Cape Verde
Ziguinchor, Senegal
If you're planning to visit the embassy of Guinea Bissau from Ziguinchor Gare Routiere, it's a short walk away and easy to locate with the information provided. However, considering the heat and the hassle of carrying your bags, it might be a good idea to take a taxi that won't cost you more than 500 francs. Once you reach the embassy, the visa process is straightforward, and you'll only need to fill out a form and pay 20,000 francs to the officer for a single entry Guinea Bissau visa. The visa will be ready immediately, but if you require a different type of visa, like a multiple entry visa, the cost may be a bit higher. After obtaining your visa, you can head back to the gare routiere and hop on the next share minivan that will take you to Bissau.
Guinea Visa
Visa on Arrival: E-Visa available but you must fly into Conakry International Airport.
Vaccination Certificate Checked: Yes (Yellow Fever & Covid)
Cost: $80 USD
Time: Allow 48 hours for online visas
Missions, Embassies & Consulates:
Benin: Cotonou
Burkina Faso: Ouagadougou
Cape Verde: Praia
Cote d'Ivoire: Abidjan
Gambia: Banjul
Ghana: Accra
Guinea-Bissau: Bissau
Liberia: Monrovia
Mali: Bamako
Niger: Niamey
Nigeria: Abuja and Lagos
Senegal: Dakar
Sierra Leone: Freetown
Togo: Lome
To obtain a visa for Guinea from the official website, you would need to follow these steps:
Visit the official website of the Guinean immigration department at
Click on the "Visa Application" tab to access the visa application form.
Fill in the application form with the required information, including your personal information, purpose of travel, and length of stay.
Once you have filled in the application form, submit it online and pay the visa fee.
After submitting your application and payment, you will receive a confirmation email. You will also be required to upload a scanned copy of your passport and other supporting documents such as your flight itinerary and accommodation details.
Your application will be processed within a few days, and you will receive a notification regarding the status of your application.
If your application is approved, you will receive an electronic visa via email. Print out the visa and keep it with you for presentation to immigration officials when you arrive in Guinea.
It is important to note that visa requirements and fees may vary depending on your nationality and the purpose of your visit. Generally, they are around $80 USD for a single entry tourist visa. It is always best to check the official website or contact the embassy or consulate of Guinea in your country for the most up-to-date information.
There is now also a boat connection between Freetown and Conakry called the Sea Coach Express. The boat ride cost $100 USD and takes three hours but the E-Visas for each country will not suffice as they are intended for the International Airports.
Sierra Leone Visa
Visa on Arrival: E-Visa available but you must fly into Freetown International Airport.
Vaccination Certificate Checked: Yes (Yellow Fever & Covid)
Where did I get my Visa: Online
Missions, Embassies & Consulates:
Ghana: Accra
Guinea: Conakry
Ivory Coast: Abidjan
Liberia: Monrovia
Nigeria: Abuja
Senegal: Dakar
The offical Sierra Leone Immigration website provides information about obtaining a visa on arrival in Sierra Leone. Here is a brief summary of the process:
Check if you are eligible for a visa on arrival: The visa on arrival option is available to citizens of countries that have a reciprocal visa agreement with Sierra Leone. You can check the list of eligible countries on the website.
Complete the application form: You will need to complete an application form and provide your personal and travel details.
Upload your documents: You will need to upload a copy of your passport, flight itinerary, and a passport photo.
Pay the visa fee: The visa fee can be paid online using a credit card.
Receive your visa approval letter: Once your application is approved, you will receive a visa approval letter via email. Print out a copy of this letter and carry it with you when you travel to Sierra Leone.
Obtain your visa on arrival: When you arrive in Sierra Leone, present your visa approval letter, passport, and payment receipt to the immigration officer at the port of entry. The officer will issue your visa on arrival.
It is important to note that visa requirements and fees may vary depending on your nationality and the purpose of your visit. Generally, they are around $80 USD for a single entry tourist visa. It is always best to check the official website or contact the embassy or consulate of Sierra Leone in your country for the most up-to-date information. The visa took 48 hours and I received an email confirmation with a code to print out (or screenshot).
You will also need to complete an online Security Pass and pay a fee of $25 USD before arriving and also another $25 before departing the country. You can also pay at the airport (cash or card) and this is only payable if you are flying into Freetown airport.
Liberia Visa
Visa on Arrival: E-Visa available but you must fly into Abidjan International Airport.
Vaccination Certificate Checked: Yes (Yellow Fever & Covid)
Where did I get my Visa: Freetown, Sierra Leone
Missions, Embassies & Consulates:
Burkina Faso - Ouagadougou
Côte d'Ivoire - Abidjan
Ghana - Accra
Guinea - Conakry
Nigeria - Abuja
Senegal - Dakar
Sierra Leone - Freetown
The Gambia - Banjul
To obtain a tourist visa for Liberia, you can follow these general steps:
Visit the website of the Liberian Embassy or Consulate in your country of residence to download the visa application form.
Prepare the necessary supporting documents, such as your passport, 4 passport-sized photos, travel itinerary, and proof of financial means to support your trip to Liberia.
Submit your visa application and supporting documents, along with the visa application fee, to the Liberian Embassy or Consulate in your country of residence.
Wait for the processing of your visa application. The processing time may vary depending on the embassy or consulate, but it usually takes between 5 to 10 business days.
Once your visa application is approved, collect your passport with the visa stamp from the Liberian Embassy or Consulate.
My Experiance:
I obtained my Liberian Visa from the Embassey in Freetown, Sierra Leone. The Embassey staff originally told me that the visa was $150 for an Australian. Then when I questioned it, the visa price dropped to $120 and I was advised that it would take 7 days. There was a $50 "express fee" to get it done on the spot. The staff member literally licked the stamp on put it in my passport on the spot as soon as she saw the money and I was out 30 seconds later. It was a dismal and expensive process but at least it was done on the spot.
Ivory Coast Visa
Visa on Arrival: E-Visa available but you must fly into Abidjan International Airport.
Vaccination Certificate Checked: Yes (Yellow Fever & Covid)
Cost: €73
Time: 48 hours
Where did I get my Visa: Online pre approval, then visa issues at Abidjan International Airport.
Missions, Embassies & Consulates:
Benin: Cotonou
Burkina Faso: Ouagadougou
Cape Verde: Praia
Gambia: Banjul
Ghana: Accra
Guinea: Conakry
Liberia: Monrovia
Mali: Bamako
Mauritania: Nouakchott
Niger: Niamey
Nigeria: Abuja and Lagos
Senegal: Dakar
Sierra Leone: Freetown
Togo: Lomé.
The official Ivory Coast Visa website is the official portal for applying for an electronic visa (e-visa) for Cote d'Ivoire. To obtain an e-visa from this website, you will need to follow the steps below:
Create an account on the SNEDAI website and complete the application form.
Upload a passport-sized photo of yourself and a scanned copy of your passport data page.
You must also upload a copy of your flight and hotel reservations.
Pay the visa processing fee online using a valid debit or credit card.
Wait for the confirmation email from SNEDAI that your application has been received and is being processed.
Once your e-visa is approved, you will receive an email with a link to download the e-visa. You will need to print out the e-visa and present it upon arrival in Cote d'Ivoire along with your passport.
Note that the e-visa application process can take up to 72 hours for processing, so it is recommended to apply well in advance of your travel dates. My visa come through in around 48 hours after submission and cost €73.
If you're traveling overland, it's important to note that you cannot obtain a visa on arrival at the border and there is a process for the obtaining a visa from the embassy. After some additional research, I realised that you will still have the option to use the SNEDAI website, but a different version than the one used for online e-visa applications. After completing the questions and paying for the visa online, you will also need to select the embassy that of a preselected neighbouring country and follow the instructions provided. You will then need to take the receipt to the embassy with your passport to complete the rest of the application process.
My Experience: I actually went to the Ivory Coast embassy in Monrovia, Liberia and was not allowed in. It was relayed by security guards that they no longer issue tourist visas and that you need to apply online. To be honest, they were also pretty rude and I had to call a number listed on the front of the building and they hang up on me, so I called continuously until they gave me a SNEDAI website - persistence pays off.
When you arrived at Abidjan International Airport, you will need to go to the e-visa section and complete your biometrics to collect your visa. Ensure that you have a print out or screen shot of the visa pre approval so that they immigration officials can scan it.
Ghana Visa
Visa on Arrival: No, a pre approved visa is required for Australian, US and EU Citizens
Vaccination Certificate Checked: Yes (Yellow Fever & Covid)
Cost: 1,600LE ($70 USD) or 1,900LE ($85 USD) for multiple entry
Time: Up to 5 business days
Where did I get my Visa: Freetown, Sierra Leone
Missions, Embassies & Consulates:
Benin - Cotonou
Burkina Faso - Ouagadougou
Côte d'Ivoire - Abidjan
The Gambia - Banjul
Guinea - Conakry
Liberia - Monrovia
Mali - Bamako
Niger - Niamey
Nigeria - Abuja and Lagos
Senegal - Dakar
Sierra Leone - Freetown
Togo - Lome
To obtain a visa for Ghana, follow these steps:
Visit the Ghana Mission/Embassey/Consulate website that you would like to attend website and download the visa application form.
Schedule a time online to go to the Commission/Embassey/Consulate
Complete the application form and make sure to provide all required information.
Submit the completed application form along with the necessary supporting documents, such as a valid passport, passport-sized photographs, and proof of travel arrangements/flights, accommodation and local contact.
Pay the visa application fee. The fee varies depending on the type of visa you are applying for and the duration of your stay.
Wait for the processing of your visa application. The processing time may take several days to weeks, depending on the volume of applications and the type of visa you are applying for.
Once your visa is approved, you will receive your passport with the visa stamp affixed. Make sure to check the visa carefully to ensure that all information is accurate and complete before you travel to Ghana.
It's important to note that the visa application process may vary depending on your country of origin and the specific Ghanaian embassy or consulate where you are applying. It's recommended to check the embassy or consulate's website for more detailed information on the visa application process and requirements.
My Experience: I obtained the Ghana Visa in Freetown, Sierra Leon. To being with the Commission has moved from Spur Road to next door to the Chinese Embassy. I was on a short time frame so I literally, just rocked up at the Commission without an appointment or completed forms and said that I wanted a tourist visa. The lady was lovely and helped with the request. The visa form was literally, a one page document, requesting passport details, vaccination certificates, 4 passport photos, flight, accomodation, and a local contact in Ghana. I had none of the later three. The lady advised that I didn't need flights, but to book a nights accommodation, so I booked.a fully refundable place on booking.com then she needed a local contact. I advised her that I didn't know anyone there, so she said leave it with her. I received a phone call the next day from the lady requested name of a contact in Ghana, funnily enough, I was sitting next to a girl at lunch who had a Ghanan boyfriend. She confirmed with him that it was ok to share his details and I text them to the Embassey. She called back five minutes later and said that my visa was ready.
Togo Visa:
Visa on Arrival: Yes or E-visa
Vaccination Certificate Checked: Yes (Yellow Fever & Covid)
Cost:
Single Entry: 1 to 15 days: 25 000 CFA
Multiple Entry: 1 to 15 days: 35 000 CFA
Single Entry: 16 to 30 days: 45 000 CFA
Multiples Entry: 16 to 30 days: 65 000 CFA
Time: 5 minutes
Where did I get my Visa: Togo/Ghana Land Border Crossing
Missions, Embassies & Consulates:
Benin: Cotonou
Burkina Faso: Ouagadougou
Cape Verde: Praia
Ivory Coast: Abidjan
Ghana: Accra
Guinea: Conakry
Liberia: Monrovia
Mali: Bamako
Niger: Niamey
Nigeria: Abuja
Senegal: Dakar
Sierra Leone: Freetown
Gambia: Banjul
My Experience: It seems that Togo are moving their visa application Platform online, so I reach out to Togo Immigration via email and received the below response:
"I inform you that the present "www.voyage.gouv.tg" platform is in its pilot phase, only at air borders. Thus the procedures enacted mainly apply to air borders.
This system will be deployed for immigration controls at land borders as the platform evolves and the land borders are digitised.
The visa prices indicated on this platform are the same applied at land borders. Thus, I confirm that you can travel to Togo by land. The immigration formalities will be done on site upon your arrival at the land border and you will be able to obtain your visa."
Therefore, I left Ghana without a visa and applied directly at the Togo immigration counter. I had to fill out a one page for which was essential, name, address and passport details, then did not need to provide any other documents (photos, bookings, vaccination certificates). I requested a multiple entry visa incase I had a problem when leaving for the Benin boarder, then I could re-enter Togo on that visa. The process took under 5 minutes and there were no issues at all.
Benin Visa:
Visa on Arrival: Yes through an E-visa
Vaccination Certificate Checked: Yes (Yellow Fever & Covid)
Cost:
The cost of visas when you apply in person :
e-Visa-30 days - Single Entry: 50 EURO
e-Visa-30 days - Multiple entry: 75 EURO
e-Visa-90 days - Multiple Entry: 100 EURO
The cost of visas when you apply at the embassy :
e-Visa-30 days - Single Entry: 60 EURO
e-Visa-30 days - Multiple entry: 85 EURO
e-Visa-90 days - Multiple entry: 110 EURO
Time: Instant (within 15 minutes)
Where did I get my Visa: Togo/Benin Land Border Crossing
Missions, Embassies & Consulates:
Burkina Faso - Ouagadougou
Ivory Coast - Abidjan
Ghana - Accra
Guinea - Conakry
Liberia - Monrovia
Mali - Bamako
Niger - Niamey
Nigeria - Abuja and Lagos
Senegal - Dakar
Sierra Leone - Freetown
Togo - Lome
My Experience: Benin have moved their visa application Platform online, and you will need to have the e-visa completed before entering the country. The e-visa form in very simple and takes about 5 minutes to complete. Once you have submitted the application, the approval is said to take up to 6 days but mine was instant.
Upon driving to the border, I realised that I had put the wrong month for my entry date, so I would not be able to enter Benin - Rookie mistake! So, whilst driving to the border (which is one hour from Cotonou), I went online on my phone and filled out another form and it was approved instantly as well. I was pretty lucky, it did not register that I had two visas on the same passport but it did cost me and extra 50 euro. Immigration officers requested and scanned my e-visa both when I entered the country at the Togo land border and also when I departed Benin from Cotonou Airport.
*An Overall Caution for Land Border Crossings in West Africa*
BEWARE:
All overland border crossing officials will try and find a 'problem' with you passport, visa or vaccination certificates and will try and stall you until you pay a 'fine', then everything always seems to sort itself out. The correct documentation will minimise the chances of you having problems at the border. For more information on the how to get Visas for West Africa, check out our travel guide.