Fees and charges
Exemptions from airport charges in The Gambia
Short answer
- Children
- Aged 1 or under exempt from security fee 1
- Transit passengers
- Exempt from security fee 1
- Diplomatic passports
- Do not pay, per government spokesperson in 2023 2
- Service passports
- Exemption removed by contract addendum, per spokesperson 2
- Transit visa
- No fee charged 4
- GCAA departure charges
- No exemptions listed 3
Exemptions from the US$20 security fee
The UK government says two groups do not pay the Airport Security Fee. They are children aged 1 or under and passengers in transit 1.
Dubawa reported in March 2023 that the Securiport contract lists five categories of passenger who are exempt. Diplomatic passport holders are not one of them 2. This site could not obtain the contract, so the five categories are not listed here.
Diplomatic and service passports
The National Audit Office (NAO) found that holders of diplomatic and service passports were not paying the fee. It described this as a breach of the contract 2.
Government spokesperson Ebrima Sankareh responded that diplomatic passport holders are exempt. He said service passport holders were first meant to be exempt, but an addendum to the contract later removed that. He said: "The diplomatic passport holders don't pay, and no department reimburses them" 2.
Departure charges on the GCAA schedule
The GCAA lists a €20 airport development fee, a £10 passenger service charge and a £1.50 security charge for each departing passenger. The schedule names no exempt groups 3. Ask your airline whether any exemption applies to your ticket.
Visa and entry clearance exemptions
The Gambia Immigration Department says no fee is charged for a transit visa. Transit visas are granted only by Gambian missions abroad and need an onward ticket and assured entry to the final destination 4.
British passport holders do not need a visa. They get a passport stamp on arrival that allows a 28-day stay 1.
The fee proposals in the December 2022 budget speech were described as fees for non-Gambians. They listed separate permit fees for ECOWAS and non-ECOWAS nationals 5. A 2011 fee increase for entry clearance and visas was reported as applying to non-ECOWAS foreign nationals 6.
Customs allowances
The Gambia Revenue Authority (GRA) grants duty relief on personal goods to everyone entering The Gambia, including crew and returning Gambians. The allowance covers 200 cigarettes or 50 cigars, 1 litre of spirits or 1 litre of wine or 24 cans of beer, 500 ml of perfume, 2 mobile phones and 1 personal laptop 7.
Goods above these limits may face duty. The GRA says its list is not complete and passengers should contact a GRA customs office for details 7.
Common questions
Do children pay the Banjul airport fee?
Children aged 1 or under are exempt from the US$20 security fee 1.
Do transit passengers pay the Gambia security fee?
No. Transit passengers are exempt 1.
Are diplomats exempt from the Banjul airport security fee?
The government spokesperson said in 2023 that diplomatic passport holders do not pay 2.
Is there a fee for a Gambia transit visa?
No. The Gambia Immigration Department says transit visas are free 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
- UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office: The Gambia travel advice, entry requirements (updated 7 July 2026)
- Dubawa, as reported by Mariam Sankanu: Assessing Securiport contract breach and its subsequent chaos (6 March 2023)
- Gambia Civil Aviation Authority: Airport charges, Banjul International Airport (undated schedule, file posted January 2024)
- Gambia Immigration Department: Visa services (undated page)
- The Point, as reported by Jankey Ceesay: Immigration fees for non-Gambians to register huge increase (5 December 2022)
- The Point, as reported by Momodou Faal: Immigration announces fee increase (18 January 2011)
- Gambia Revenue Authority: Prohibition and restriction list (undated brochure)
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.
- Passenger charges at Banjul International Airport
The US$20 Airport Security Fee paid at kiosks, and the passenger service, security and development charges listed by the Gambia Civil Aviation Authority.
- Entry visa and entry clearance fees for The Gambia
Gambia visa types, the D3,000 entry visa and entry clearance fees and the D7,000 proposal, visa-free stays for British travellers and transit visa rules.
- Arriving at Banjul International Airport
What happens when you land at Banjul: immigration and entry stamp, the US$20 security fee, yellow fever certificate, customs allowances and transport.
- Customs allowances and rules at Banjul International Airport
Duty-free allowances at Banjul airport for tobacco, alcohol, perfume, phones and laptops, the US$10,000 cash rule, banned goods and how to appeal.
- ECOWAS free movement and entry to The Gambia
What the 1979 ECOWAS protocol says about visa-free stays of 90 days, which documents you need, permit fees, the ECOWAS ID card and the 2025 Sahel exits.