At the airport
Security screening at Banjul International Airport
Short answer
- Airport security lead
- GCAA, Airport Operations directorate 2
- Rules on items
- No incendiary devices or other prohibited items 1
- Legal frame cited by government
- ICAO Annexes and the GCAA Act 2018 1
- Security fee
- US$20 on arrival and on departure, paid at kiosks 3
- Fee exemptions in UK advice
- Children aged 1 or under and transit passengers 3
- Contractor for immigration and aviation security
- Securiport, a US-based company 4
Who does what at the checkpoint
The GCAA lists eight directorates. Its Airport Operations directorate manages operations and infrastructure at Banjul International Airport, including fire services, security and other airport services 2.
Aviation and immigration security at the airport is the subject of a government contract with Securiport. President Adama Barrow said in March 2023 that the award was a government decision. He said Securiport collects data and the Gambia Immigration Department keeps all of it 4.
Private firms work airside too. In November 2021 Afro-Euro Airline Security Services began work at the airport. It said it offers passenger profiling, aircraft protection, baggage escort and cargo security, and that it would work with the GCAA and GIA on ICAO Annex 17 standards 5.
| Layer | Who handles it | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Passenger and airport security 2 | GCAA Airport Operations 2 | Live, per GCAA page 2 |
| Immigration and aviation security system 4 | Securiport under government contract 4 | Live, per President in March 2023 4 |
| Airline security services 5 | Private firms such as Afro-Euro Airline Security Services 5 | Started 7 November 2021 5 |
| Cargo screening 6 | Gambia International Airlines cargo complex 6 | Live, per provider page 2026 6 |
Rules passengers face
In a statement filed with ICAO in 2025, the Minister of Transport, Works and Infrastructure said strict mechanisms are in place at the airport so passengers meet travel requirements and board on time 1.
He said passengers must comply with rules against carrying incendiary devices and other prohibited items. He said security aims to scrutinise all passengers as quickly as possible 1.
The minister said The Gambia aligns its procedures with the ICAO Annexes and follows the National and Airport Facilitation Programmes. He said operational manuals follow the GCAA Act 2018 and related regulations 1. This site did not find a published GCAA list of prohibited items or liquid limits for passengers.
The security fee is separate from screening
UK travel advice updated on 7 July 2026 says an airport security fee of US$20 is payable on arrival and on departure. It can be paid in euros, pounds or local currency at marked kiosks 3.
The same advice says Visa cards are accepted but card machines are often out of service. Children aged 1 or under and transit passengers are exempt 3. Paying the fee does not replace the screening checkpoint.
Cargo screening
Gambia International Airlines says its cargo operation runs an RA3-certified complex with cold rooms and dual-view Rapiscan 632DV screening (provider page) 6.
Audits, ratings and treaties
In January 2016 the GCAA deputy director general told the joint PAC and PEC committee of the National Assembly that the authority aimed to keep gains recognised in a 2004 FAA baseline audit and a 2005 ICAO systems audit. She said global focus on aviation security had increased after attacks elsewhere 7.
US travel advice, last updated in December 2018, says the FAA has not assessed the Gambian Civil Aviation Authority for compliance with ICAO safety standards 8.
In June 2026 the National Assembly posted a joint committee report on ratifying the Convention on the Suppression of Unlawful Acts Relating to International Civil Aviation and a related protocol on unlawful seizure of aircraft. The page does not state the outcome 9.
Common questions
Who runs security screening at Banjul airport?
The GCAA Airport Operations directorate covers security at Banjul International Airport 2.
What items are banned at Banjul airport?
The transport minister told ICAO that passengers must not carry incendiary devices or other prohibited items 1. This site found no published GCAA item list.
Is the US$20 security fee the same as screening?
No. The fee is paid at kiosks under the Securiport contract 3,4. Screening is a GCAA airport function 2.
Who keeps the data collected at the airport?
President Barrow said in March 2023 that Securiport collects data and the Gambia Immigration Department keeps all of it 4.
Rules and charges change. Check the official source linked on this page before you pay or travel. Spotted an error? Email hello@gambiaairportguide.com.
Sources
- ICAO: Statement by the Minister of Transport, Works and Infrastructure of The Gambia, FALC 2025 meeting files (2025)
- Gambia Civil Aviation Authority: Directorates (official page, undated)
- GOV.UK, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office: The Gambia travel advice, entry requirements (updated 7 July 2026)
- The Point: Barrow justifies Securiport contract (21 March 2023)
- The Point: 1st Gambian owned private airline security services provider starts operations (10 November 2021)
- Gambia International Airlines: About GIA (provider page, 2026)
- The Point (Njie Baldeh): GCAA continues to strive for full compliance with ICAO (28 January 2016)
- US Department of State: The Gambia international travel information (last updated 11 December 2018)
- National Assembly of The Gambia: Report of the Joint Committee on the ratification of the Convention on the Suppression of Unlawful Acts Relating to International Civil Aviation (posted 24 June 2026)
Related
- The Banjul airport security fee
How the US$20 Airport Security Fee at Banjul works, how to pay it, who runs it, how the money is split and what the National Audit Office found.
- Departing from Banjul International Airport
Leaving The Gambia by air: the US$20 departure security fee, GCAA departure charges, screening, onward health papers and overstaying your entry stamp.
- Advance passenger information and PNR data in The Gambia
The Gambia's work with the UN on API and PNR passenger data, the 2022 goTravel agreement, the 2025 status statement, and who holds data at Banjul airport.
- Gambia Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA)
The GCAA regulates aviation and runs Banjul International Airport. Its legal basis, directorates, passenger charges, and what audits and Parliament said.
- ICAO safety and security audits of The Gambia
The Gambia's ICAO safety oversight score of 70.48 percent from an October 2020 validation, by area, plus FAA status and security audit records.