Local Laws

CRIMINAL PENALTIES: While you are traveling in The Gambia, you are subject to its laws even if you are a U.S. citizen.  Foreign laws and legal systems can be vastly different than our own. In some places you may be taken in for questioning if you don’t have your passport with you.  In some places, it is illegal to take pictures of certain buildings.  In some places, driving under the influence could land you immediately in jail.  These criminal penalties will vary from country to country.  There are also some things that might be legal in the country you visit, but still illegal in the United States.  You can be prosecuted in the United States for engaging in sexual conduct with children or for using or disseminating child pornography in a foreign country regardless of the legality of these activities under that country’s laws.  Counterfeit and pirated goods are illegal in the United States and if you purchase them in a foreign country, you may be breaking local law as well.   If you break local laws in The Gambia, your U.S. passport won’t help you avoid arrest or prosecution. It is very important to know what is legal and what is not wherever you are traveling. 

Arrest notifications in host country: If you, a family member, or U.S. citizen travelling companion are arrested in The Gambia, or if you lose contact with a family member or travelling companion who is in The Gambia, you should immediately notify the U.S. Embassy.  If you are concerned that the Department of State may not be aware of your situation, you should also request that the police or prison officials notify the U.S. Embassy of your arrest, or ask your family to do so. However, the Embassy cannot guarantee that we will be able to gain access to the U.S. citizen in The Gambia.  Since December 2014, no diplomatic missions, including that of the U.S., have been allowed access to their citizen prisoners in The Gambia. 

The U.S. government continues to raise the issue of the Gambian government’s failure to investigate the disappearance of two U.S. citizens missing since June 2013. In addition, the United States is deeply concerned by continued reports of human rights abuses in The Gambia. From November 3-7, 2014, the Government of The Gambia denied access to UN Special Rapporteurs investigating reports of torture and extrajudicial execution. Gambian security forces have systematically targeted individuals for arrest and detention because of their perceived sexual orientation or political position. We remain concerned about ongoing reports of forced disappearances and arbitrary arrests, including of journalists, human rights advocates, and civil servants.  

SPECIAL CIRCUMSTANCES:  In addition to being subject to all of The Gambia’s laws affecting foreigners, U.S. citizens who are also Gambian citizens may be subject to additional provisions of Gambian law while in The Gambia. Dual nationals may wish to inquire at a Gambian embassy or consulate regarding their status. U.S. citizens who are also Gambian citizens should be aware that the Gambian government’s position on dual nationality is not clear, in spite of its international treaty commitments.

The Gambia has strict laws on the import and export of skin-bleaching creams and some medications.  Visitors who arrive with substances containing one percent or more of: hydroquinone (in any form), hydrocortisone (unless in trace amounts and for specific purposes such as anti-itch products), betamethasone, flucinonide, clobestatol, or clobestatone are subject to fines up to $2,000 and/or three years imprisonment. 

Airport police and customs officials routinely inspect incoming and outgoing luggage.  Airline passengers are required to put their luggage through an x-ray machine before departing the airport.  Travelers in possession of prescription drugs should carry proof of their prescriptions, such as labeled containers.  Police have, on occasion, arrested foreigners carrying unlabeled pills.  For a list of prohibited items, travelers should contact the nearest Gambian embassy or consulate. 

It is against the law for tourists to photograph or film government buildings, including airports, military installations, embassies, or bridges, due to security concerns. 

The Gambia’s currency, the dalasi, is freely convertible but is not widely available outside the country. The Gambia has a cash economy and travelers should carry sufficient currency to cover all expenses for their visit.  Visitors can exchange currency at banks or exchange bureaus. Changing money unofficially is prohibited and individuals who do so may face prosecution. Travelers should be aware that The Gambia has many last-minute holidays requiring banks and other businesses to close.  Travelers should always have enough cash to carry them through unexpected bank closures. 

Credit cards are accepted only at major hotels, some grocery stores, and a few restaurants.  Local personal checks from U.S. citizens are accepted only at exchange bureaus and only from U.S. citizens who are resident in The Gambia. There are a few ATMs in the Banjul area, but they often malfunction or fail to issue receipts, and some users have been subject to electronic theft of funds after using local ATMs.  ATMs only accept VISA cards for international transactions and only dispense a maximum of about $150.00 USD (in local currency) per transaction, with three transactions allowed per day. Money transfers are widely available at Western Union branch offices in The Gambia, and many hotels will convert U.S. dollars to dalasi. 

WOMEN TRAVELER INFORMATION: If you are a woman traveling abroad, please review our travel tips for Women Travelers.

LGBT RIGHTS: Consensual same-sex sexual relations are illegal in The Gambia. Prison terms can range from five years to life imprisonment, and there is strong societal discrimination against lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) individuals. The Criminal Code was amended in October 2014 to include Section (144A) entitled Aggravated Homosexuality, which sets out seven specific categories, including being “a serial offender,” for which a person is “liable on conviction to imprisonment for life.”  The Gambian authorities have called upon landlords and owners of bars, restaurants, and hotels to monitor activities that happen in their environments. A number of people have been arrested under this new law, while others suspected of being LGBT have fled the country.  The President of The Gambia frequently uses violent, threatening public rhetoric to discourage LGBT individuals from traveling to The Gambia, and he participates in public protests against LGBT rights. For more detailed information about LGBT rights in The Gambia, you may review the State Department’s annual Country Reports on Human Rights Practices.  For further information on LGBT travel, please read our LGBT Travel Information page. 

ACCESSIBILITY: While in The Gambia, individuals with disabilities may find accessibility and accommodation to be different from the United States.  As per Department of State’s Human Rights Report, the Gambian constitution protects persons with disabilities in terms of access to health services, education, and employment. However, there are no laws to ensure access to buildings for persons with disabilities, and very few buildings in the country are accessible to them.