The Gambia Residential Permit A

Permit A is issued on application to the Director General to a foreigner who declares that they will reside in The Gambia without any form of gainful employment. GID names foreign students, retirees and people on short business visits or missions as typical holders. The permit card is for foreigners aged 18 and over.

GID asks for the passport, a document establishing your status and identity, an attestation from your embassy or high commission and, for renewals, the previous year's residential permit.

The prescribed, non-refundable fees are D3100 for ECOWAS citizens and D5700 for non-ECOWAS nationals, of which D2500 is for the Alien Card issued with the permit. GID notes that the fees may change. Payment is made at VISTA Bank, which has outlets at all issuing centres and issues the forms and receipts.

Collect the form and receipt from VISTA Bank and have the form countersigned by a Justice of the Peace appointed by the Ministry of Justice. An approving officer then interviews you to confirm your nationality and check your information against the documents. Approved applicants are enrolled with biodata, fingerprints and photograph; the data is verified, and cards are printed centrally in Kanifing and sent to the issuing sites for collection.

Under the Immigration Act, non-ECOWAS nationals must have been in The Gambia for up to 56 days after admission before a residence permit can be issued, and ECOWAS citizens become eligible after 90 days. If your first permitted stay ends before that point, extend it at a designated immigration office; overstaying is an offence.

A valid permit holder may not need a visa to re-enter The Gambia after travelling abroad. The holder's children and direct dependants are covered by the permit, but once they become adults they must apply for the permit of their own category.