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ECOWAS Visa-Free Entry and Residence Framework

GambiaFree movement

Explore the five recorded questions, answers and sources for this pathway.

Official link

Explore pathways in Gambia Read the five questions ↓

Which citizenship, status or regional agreement creates the person's right to move/reside?

The residence permit for ECOWAS citizens is issued on the basis of and in conformity with the ECOWAS Protocol on Free Movement of Goods and Persons, Rights to Residence and Establishment.

See recorded sources
  • https://gid.gov.gm/residential-permit/
    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.

Under which circumstances can the person reside: worker, self-employed, student, jobseeker, self-funded person or another recognised basis?

Residence permits are either Permit A (residence without gainful employment, usually students, retirees, short business visits or missions) or Permit B (to live, reside and work: businesspersons, expatriates, unskilled workers and other paid professionals); both are issued in ECOWAS versions.

See recorded sources
Limits of the record
  • The permit descriptions are not ECOWAS-specific; the ECOWAS link comes from the fee schedule.
  • Jobseeker status is not addressed.
  • https://gid.gov.gm/residential-permit/
    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.
  • https://gid.gov.gm/residential-permit/
    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.
  • https://gid.gov.gm/residential-permit/
    1. Residential Permit A (ECOWAS) = D3100 2. Residential Permit B (ECOWAS) = D3600

What entry, registration or residence-document formalities remain?

Citizens of the ECOWAS member states listed on the official page have free entry. ECOWAS citizens are eligible for a residence permit only when they are admitted and spend up to a period of 90 days; working without a residence and work permit is an offence. Documents include passport, GRA payroll tax receipt (Permit B), document establishing status and identity and an Embassy/High Commission attestation.

See recorded sources
Limits of the record
  • The free-entry list omits Mali, Niger and Burkina Faso, whose citizens 'enjoy privileges as accorded' (not specified).
  • 'Up to a period of 90 days' is ambiguous as to whether the permit is available before or only after 90 days.
  • https://gid.gov.gm/visa/
    ECOWAS Member States Allows Free Entry 1\. BENIN 2\. CAPO VERDE 3\. IVORY COAST 4\. GUINEA BISSAU 5\. GUINEA CONAKRY 6\. GHANA 7\. LIBERIA 8\. NIGERIA 9\. SENEGAL 10\. SIERRA LEONE 11\. TOGO
  • https://gid.gov.gm/residential-permit/
    ECOWAS citizens are legible to acquire residence permit only when they are admitted and spend up to a period of 90 days.
  • https://gid.gov.gm/residential-permit/
    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.
  • https://gid.gov.gm/residential-permit/
    Required documents: ____ 1. Passport 2. For Residential Permit B, GRA payroll tax receipt
  • https://gid.gov.gm/residential-permit/
    4. Document establishing status and identity 5. Attestation from Embassy/ High Commission

Which non-member-country family members can accompany or join, and what broad rights do they receive?

Children and direct dependants of a valid permit holder can be covered by the holder's permit, making their stay legal; once adult they must apply for their own appropriate permit. The official source does not state whether this applies to non-ECOWAS family members or whether dependants may work.

See recorded sources
Limits of the record
  • The rule is general to permit holders; the source does not say whether it applies to non-ECOWAS-national family members of ECOWAS holders.
  • No work rights for dependants are stated.
  • https://gid.gov.gm/residential-permit/
    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.

When do permanent/long-term rights arise and what continuity, absence or retention conditions matter?

The checked official sources did not provide enough route-specific evidence to confirm when permanent rights arise and the continuity or absence rules.

See recorded sources
Limits of the record
  • Searched for permanent/long-term residence rights for ECOWAS citizens; none stated on the captured pages.

These are the answers currently recorded in the catalogue. A missing or partial answer is not an eligibility decision.

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