As a reciprocal measure, Senegal will soon implement an electronic visa (e-Visa) for nationals of countries that require visas for Senegalese citizens.
On Friday in Dakar, Senegalese Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko, accompanied by President Bassirou Diomaye Faye, unveiled an ambitious National Economic and Social Recovery Plan.
Adopted by the Council of Ministers on July 30, 2025, this program is part of the “Senegal 2050” strategic vision promoted by the new authorities. It aims to transform the national economy, restore budgetary sovereignty, and achieve a better balance in international relations.
Senegal to introduce electronic visa for certain foreign nationals
Among the flagship measures announced, which had been under consideration for several months, the introduction of a mandatory electronic visa for nationals of countries that require visas for Senegalese nationals marks a diplomatic turning point.
“We expect to generate 60 billion CFA francs in revenue from the electronic visa fees that we have decided to apply for entry into the country for non-African countries and African countries that require a visa from us,” Ousmane Sonko explained in his speech.
The Senegalese head of government specified that “for electronic visa applications, advance payment is now mandatory for nationals of countries outside the African continent.”
This measure is based on a clear principle of reciprocity: nationals of countries that require visas for Senegalese nationals will in turn have to obtain one to enter the country. This strategy aims to strengthen the state’s budgetary capacity while rebalancing relations with international partners.
Which countries will be affected by the electronic visa in Senegal?
For the time being, little information has been provided on the practical arrangements for issuing the electronic visa, the countries concerned, its price or the formalities for obtaining it.
Like Namibia, which recently introduced visa requirements for nationals of countries that require visas for Namibian citizens, including several European countries, Senegal is part of a reciprocal initiative aimed at rebalancing migration and diplomatic relations.
Among the countries potentially affected are France, the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, and China, which currently require visas for Senegalese nationals.
