Senegal Immigration and Visas

Senegal does not use a standalone immigration work visa as the principal form of work authorisation. Under Senegal’s Labour Code, the employment of a foreign worker is generally preceded by a written employment contract approved by the Direction générale du Travail et de la Sécurité sociale (DGTSS) before work begins, subject to Senegal’s international agreements and commitments.

Residence and entry requirements are separate. Foreign nationals may also need a Senegalese residence document and, depending on nationality, an entry visa.

This page explains the labour, residence and entry requirements that employers should consider when sending foreign employees to Senegal.

Senegal is located in West Africa and borders Mauritania, Mali, Guinea and Guinea-Bissau, while almost entirely surrounding The Gambia. French is the official language. Applications are handled in French, and supporting documents issued in another language may require certified translation.

Last updated: 08/10/2026

Employment contract approval

The documents required will depend on the employment arrangement and any implementing requirements applied by the DGTSS. Core information and documentation may include:

• A written employment contract that complies with Senegalese labour law
• The required declaration relating to the employment of the foreign worker
• Valid passport and identity information
• Information confirming the employee’s professional profile, such as a CV or qualifications where requested
• Evidence of medical fitness
• Evidence that applicable entry and residence requirements have been met
• French translations of foreign-language documents where required

The 2026 Labour Code requires the employment of a foreign worker to be declared to the DGTSS at the same time as the contract approval application. The DGTSS also provides an online process for the submission, correction and receipt of employment contracts.

Carte d’identité d’étranger

Current Ministry of the Interior guidance lists the following documents for a Carte d’identité d’étranger:

• A written application addressed to the Minister responsible for the Interior
• Copies of the first five pages of the valid passport
• A police clearance certificate from the country of origin issued less than three months previously
• A birth certificate issued less than six months previously
• A medical certificate issued less than three months previously
• The employment contract, where residence is based on employment
• Three identity photographs
• A CFA 15,000 fiscal stamp
• Proof of payment of the applicable repatriation deposit

The amount of the repatriation deposit varies according to nationality. Different supporting documents apply where residence is based on study or another basis.

Visitor and business visas

The precise visa documentation depends on the traveller’s nationality and visa category. Common requirements include:

• Completed visa application form
• Recent identity photographs
• Passport with the required validity and a copy of the identification page
• Proof of accommodation in Senegal
• Return travel arrangements or a repatriation guarantee where required
• Prior entry authorisation from the Ministry of the Interior for Category C nationals

Common reasons for problems or delay

Employment contract compliance: the DGTSS considers whether the proposed contract complies with Senegalese labour legislation.

Incomplete foreign-worker documentation: the authority may need sufficient information to verify the employee’s identity, professional profile, medical fitness and immigration status.

Expired residence documents: police clearance certificates and medical certificates used for the foreigner identity card must be less than three months old, while the birth certificate must be less than six months old.

Incorrect visa category: nationals falling into Category C require prior Ministry of the Interior authorisation before the visa can be issued.

Sector-specific requirements: additional localisation and employment requirements may apply in regulated sectors. Senegal’s hydrocarbons sector, for example, is subject to a specific local-content framework.

Employment contract approval: the statutory decision period under Article 105 of the 2026 Labour Code is seven clear days. If the DGTSS does not respond within that period, its silence is deemed to constitute approval.

Residence documentation: the Ministry of the Interior does not publish a fixed processing time for the Carte d’identité d’étranger. Applicants should allow sufficient time for the application to pass through the relevant immigration and administrative authorities.

Entry visas: processing times vary according to nationality, consular post and whether prior Ministry of the Interior authorisation is required. Category C applications may require additional time because of the prior consultation process.

Employers should plan the labour, entry and residence processes together rather than treating a single processing estimate as applying to the entire assignment.

The 2026 Labour Code provides that approval of the employment, renewal or extension of a foreign worker’s employment contract is subject to a fee. The amount and payment arrangements are to be determined by a joint order of the ministers responsible for Finance and Labour. Employers should confirm the applicable amount when preparing the application.

For a Carte d’identité d’étranger, the Ministry of the Interior currently requires a CFA 15,000 fiscal stamp together with proof of payment of the applicable repatriation deposit. The amount of the repatriation deposit varies according to nationality.

Current official visa guidance reviewed for this update does not identify a general visa application fee. In April 2026, Senegal’s Ministry responsible for Foreign Affairs expressly stated that the regulations then in force did not provide for an application fee for Senegalese visas. Applicants should nevertheless confirm current requirements with the relevant Senegalese diplomatic or consular mission before applying.

Step 1: Establish the employee’s immigration position

Confirm the employee’s nationality, whether an entry visa is required and whether an international or ECOWAS arrangement affects the labour or residence formalities.

Step 2: Prepare the employment arrangement

Prepare the written employment documentation and ensure that the terms comply with Senegalese labour law. International assignment and intra-group secondment arrangements should also be reviewed against the Senegalese requirements.

Step 3: Submit the labour application

The employer submits the foreign worker’s employment contract to the DGTSS for approval together with the required declaration of employment. Employment contract submissions can be handled through the DGTSS’s online process.

Step 4: Confirm the work-authorisation position

The contract approval is required before work begins. The DGTSS has seven clear days to make its decision, after which silence is deemed approval under Article 105.

Step 5: Complete the residence process

Where residence documentation is required, submit the application for a Carte d’identité d’étranger through the DPETV with the required supporting documents, fiscal stamp and repatriation deposit.

Step 6: Complete any entry visa requirements

Travellers who require a visa should apply through the appropriate Senegalese diplomatic or consular mission. Category C nationals must first satisfy the applicable Ministry of the Interior authorisation process.

Disclaimer

The information on this page is provided for general information and educational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. It reflects our understanding of Senegalese immigration and labour requirements as at 8 October 2026.

Senegal adopted a new Labour Code under Law No. 2026-18 of 3 September 2026. As this legislation is recent, further decrees, ministerial orders and administrative guidance may affect the practical application of some provisions, including the procedures and fees relating to the employment of foreign workers.

Decisions on employment contract approvals, residence documentation and visas rest with the competent Senegalese authorities. Requirements, administrative practice, processing times and fees may change, and different requirements may apply according to nationality, sector and the circumstances of the assignment.

IBN Immigration Solutions cannot guarantee the outcome or timing of an application. Employers and individuals should confirm the requirements applicable to their circumstances before making employment, travel or relocation decisions.