Residence in Senegal: permits and requirements
Living legally in Senegal is possible through 3 permit types: work, study, permanent. Each program has its own requirements; below are the duration, renewal, costs and documentation according to the country's official sources.
Foreigner identity card for work
Residence type #1 of 3
Annual card for foreigners with a visa-endorsed contract; handwritten application to the Minister of Interior and a FCFA 15,000 fiscal stamp (Ministry of Interior, DPETV).
Requirements
- Employment contract and legal entry into the country
- Casier judiciaire extract from the country of origin (less than 3 months old) and medical certificate
- Repatriation bond and fiscal stamp
- Be registered as an étranger résident; apply through the identification structures (APIASEP/prefecture)
- Habitual residence in Senegal
- ECOWAS: visa waiver with obligation to declare/register
Documentation
- Passport copy (first 5 pages) and 3 photos
- Birth extract (less than 6 months old) and contract
- Fiscal stamp and receipt (quittance) for the deposit
- Birth certificate or birth certificate of one of the parents (official record)
- Nationality certificate of both parents
- Photographs and handwritten demande manuscrite form
- Proof of residence
Frequently asked questions about residence in Senegal
How many types of residence permits are there in Senegal?
Senegal offers 3 residence permit types, grouped into the categories work, study, permanent. Each permit has its own requirements, duration and documentation, detailed in this fact sheet according to the country's official sources.
How long do residence permits in Senegal last?
Durations vary by permit type: 1 year (renewable); 1 academic year (renewable); 5 years renewable (after 5 years of regular residence; settlement authorization). The exact details of each type appear in the corresponding fact sheet.
Can residence permits in Senegal be renewed?
Yes. All residence permit types of Senegal (3 in total) are renewable before their expiration, according to the rules of each program.
Does residence in Senegal lead to nationality?
Yes, through the Naturalisation by residence pathway, which requires 10 years (reducible to 5 in the cases of art. 12) of legal residence. The complete requirements are in the nationality fact sheet of Senegal.
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Anything to correct or add about Senegal?
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