Residential Permits
Overview
Following admission of a person into the Gambia by an Immigration officer, the next legal requirement for which a person so admitted depending on the nature of his or her visit, is to ensure that he or she apply for resident permit in an order that he or she can reside and or work while in the Gambia.
The nature of our resident permit is biometric and the types are ECOWAS and Non-ECOWAS permits. The resident permit issued to ECOWAS Citizens is done on the basis and in conformity with ECOWAS Protocol on Free Movement of Goods and Persons, Rights to Residence and Establishment.
ECOWAS citizens are legible to acquire residence permit only when they are admitted and spend up to a period of 90 days. Under the current immigration laws of the Gambia governing issuance of permit, it is an offence for any person not being a citizen of the Gambia, to involve into gainful employment without securing a residence and work permit from the department of immigration.
On the other hand, Non- ECOWAS Citizens are required by the immigration Act to reside and remain in the Gambia for up to a period of 56 days following admission before residence permit could be issue to him.
On arrival and admission; and before the regular date for the issuance of resident permit, a person who so remains in the country after the expiration of his first permitted period of stay shall visit a designated immigration office for extension of stay. It shall be an offence on the part of any Non-Gambian who over stay in the country beyond the stipulated time frame issued to him or her.
Types Of Permits
Resident Permit A
This type of permit is issued upon prescribed application to the Director General by an applicant declaring that he or she intends to reside in the Gambia but without venturing into any forms of gainful employment. This permit type is usually issued to foreign student residing in the Gambia, retirees, individuals on short business visit or mission.
Resident Permit B
This type of permit is issued to persons who intend, upon admission, to live, reside and work in the Gambia. As such it is issued, upon application and approval to businesspersons, expatriates, unskilled workers and other professionals who get paid for livelihood.
Non-Gambian ID card
The Non-Gambian ID Card is a document issued to nationals of specific countries, including Senegal, Guinea-Bissau, Sierra Leone, and Ivory Coast. This initiative is the result of bilateral cooperation between The Gambia and the aforementioned countries. It provides an opportunity for non-Gambian residents to legally reside and work in The Gambia upon payment of agreed, prescribed fees.
Alien Card
Non-ECOWAS nationals residing in the Gambia, are issued an Alien Card, along with the Residential Permit A or Permit B, granting an individual the right to stay or work and stay, respectively in the Gambia. The cost for the Alien Card is inclusive in the highlighted costs for Non-ECOWAS residential permit system in the Gambia.
Merit of Holding Resident Permit
A person, who is a valid permit holder while in the Gambia, may not require visa to return and enter the Gambia following the holder’s exit from the Gambia. Children and direct dependent of the holder can also be covered by virtue of such permit making their stay legal in the Gambia except that, having become adult, shall be required to apply the appropriate permit of their category for their continuous stay in the Gambia to be considered lawful.
Procedures To Acquire Resident Permit, Alien Card and Non-Gambian ID Card
The Gambian Residential Permit Card is for Aliens residing in the Gambia of 18 years and above. The Gambian Alien Identity Card if for non-ECOWAS Aliens residing in the Gambia of 18 years and above.
Required documents:
- Passport
- For Residential Permit B, GRA payroll tax receipt
- Prior year Residential Permit (for renewals only)
- Document establishing status and identity
- Attestation from Embassy/ High Commission
Prescribed Non-Refundable Fees
The prescribed fees, subjected to changes, for Residence Permit A/B, Alien Card and Non-Gambian ID Card are as follows:
- Residential Permit A (ECOWAS) = D3100
- Residential Permit B (ECOWAS) = D3600
- Residential Permit A (Non-ECOWAS) = D5700 (D2500 for the Alien Card)
- Residential Permit B (Non-ECOWAS) = D7700 (D2500 for the Alien Card)
- Non-Gambian ID Card = D750
Processing Cycle for National ID Cards, Resident Permit and Non-Gambian ID Cards
BANK: The commercial bank contracted to collect the revenue generated on behalf of the government and partner is VISTA Bank. They have their outlets in all the issuing centers, and they are the once responsible for issuing forms and receipts to the applicants.
AUTHENTICATION BY JUSTICE OF PEACE: The form authentication is done by the Justice of Peace who are appointed by the Ministry of Justice. The JPs countersigned a particular section on the form.
INTERVIEW: The Director General appoints approving officers to conduct interviews during the application process. The purpose of the interview is to establish the nationality of the applicant and verify the information given by the applicant against the supporting document. During interviews the application is either approved, or the applicant is referred for more proof.
ENROLMENT: This process is meant to insert data of the applicant into the database which includes the biodata, fingerprint, photograph and other personal data of the applicant.
VERIFICATION: Is to verify the data inputted against the supporting document to minimize errors and fraud before printing is done.
PRINTING: This is the process of mass reproduction of various identity cards using a master template. The printing of the various identity cards is done using poly carbonate blank cards.
DISTRIBUTION: All the printing is centralized in Kanifing and the distribution is done to all the sites after the completion and verification. The sites will send in officers to collect their respective cards which will in turn be distributed at their various stations.
Overview
Following admission of a person into the Gambia by an Immigration officer, the next legal requirement for which a person so admitted depending on the nature of his or her visit, is to ensure that he or she apply for resident permit in an order that he or she can reside and or work while in the Gambia.
The nature of our resident permit is biometric and the types are ECOWAS and Non-ECOWAS permits. The resident permit issued to ECOWAS Citizens is done on the basis and in conformity with ECOWAS Protocol on Free Movement of Goods and Persons, Rights to Residence and Establishment.
ECOWAS citizens are legible to acquire residence permit only when they are admitted and spend up to a period of 90 days. Under the current immigration laws of the Gambia governing issuance of permit, it is an offence for any person not being a citizen of the Gambia, to involve into gainful employment without securing a residence and work permit from the department of immigration.
On the other hand, Non- ECOWAS Citizens are required by the immigration Act to reside and remain in the Gambia for up to a period of 56 days following admission before residence permit could be issue to him.
On arrival and admission; and before the regular date for the issuance of resident permit, a person who so remains in the country after the expiration of his first permitted period of stay shall visit a designated immigration office for extension of stay. It shall be an offence on the part of any Non-Gambian who over stay in the country beyond the stipulated time frame issued to him or her.
Types of Permits
Resident Permit A
This type of permit is issued upon prescribed application to the Director General by an applicant declaring that he or she intends to reside in the Gambia but without venturing into any forms of gainful employment. This permit type is usually issued to foreign student residing in the Gambia, retirees, individuals on short business visit or mission.
Resident Permit B
This type of permit is issued to persons who intend, upon admission, to live, reside and work in the Gambia. As such it is issued, upon application and approval to businesspersons, expatriates, unskilled workers and other professionals who get paid for livelihood.
Non-Gambian ID card
The Non-Gambian ID Card is a document issued to nationals of specific countries, including Senegal, Guinea-Bissau, Sierra Leone, and Ivory Coast. This initiative is the result of bilateral cooperation between The Gambia and the aforementioned countries. It provides an opportunity for non-Gambian residents to legally reside and work in The Gambia upon payment of agreed, prescribed fees.
Alien card
Non-ECOWAS nationals residing in the Gambia, are issued an Alien Card, along with the Residential Permit A or Permit B, granting an individual the right to stay or work and stay, respectively in the Gambia. The cost for the Alien Card is inclusive in the highlighted costs for NON-ECOWAS residential permit system in the Gambia.
Merit of holding resident permit
A person, who is a valid permit holder while in the Gambia, may not require visa to return and enter the Gambia following the holder’s exit from the Gambia. Children and direct dependent of the holder can also be covered by virtue of such permit making their stay legal in the Gambia except that, having become adult, shall be required to apply the appropriate permit of their category for their continuous stay in the Gambia to be considered lawful.
procedures to acquire resident permit, Alien card and Non-Gambian iD card
The Gambian Residential Permit Card is for Aliens residing in the Gambia of 18 years and above. The Gambian Alien Identity Card if for non-ECOWAS Aliens residing in the Gambia of 18 years and above.
Required documents for Residential Permit, Alien Card and Non-Gambian ID Card:
- Passport
- For Residential Permit B, GRA payroll tax receipt
- Prior year Residential Permit (for renewals only)
- Document establishing status and identity
- Attestation from Embassy/ High Commission
PRESCRIBED NON-REFUNDABLE FEES
The prescribed fees, subjected to changes, for Residence Permit A/B, Alien Card and Non-Gambian ID Card are as follows:
- Residential Permit A (ECOWAS = D3100
- Residential Permit B (ECOWAS) = D3600
- Residential Permit A (Non-ECOWAS) = D5700 (D2500 is for the Alien Card)
- Residential Permit B (Non-ECOWAS) = D7700 (D2500 is for the Alien Card)
- Non-Gambian ID Card = D750
Processing cycle for National ID cards, Resident Permit and Non-Gambian ID Cards
BANK: The commercial bank contracted to collect the revenue generated on behalf of the government and partner is VISTA Bank. They have their outlets in all the issuing centers, and they are the once responsible for issuing forms and receipts to the applicants.
AUTHENTICATION BY JUSTICE OF PEACE: The form authentication is done by the Justice of Peace who are appointed by the Ministry of Justice. The JPs countersigned a particular section on the form.
INTERVIEW: The Director General appoints approving officers to conduct interviews during the application process. The purpose of the interview is to establish the nationality of the applicant and verify the information given by the applicant against the supporting document. During interviews the application is either approved, or the applicant is referred for more proof. ENROLMENT: This process is meant to insert data of the applicant into the database which includes the biodata, fingerprint, photograph and other personal data of the applicant.
VERIFICATION: Is to verify the data inputted against the supporting document to minimize errors and fraud before printing is done.
PRINTING: This is the process of mass reproduction of various identity cards using a master template. The printing of the various identity cards is done using poly carbonate blank cards.
DISTRIBUTION: All the printing is centralized in Kanifing and the distribution is done to all the sites after the completion and verification. The sites will send in officers to collect their respective cards which will in turn be distributed at their various stations.