Banjul airport fees: the $20 security fee and what else you pay
Passengers at Banjul International Airport pay a US$20 airport security fee on arrival and another US$20 on departure, so US$40 for a return trip. Diplomatic and service passport holders are exempt. The fee is not in your air ticket. You pay it at a booth in the terminal, in cash. The fee has been collected since September 2020 under a government contract. Other charges, such as the passenger service charge, are added to your ticket by the airline.
Every charge at this airport
| Charge | Amount | Who pays | How it is paid | Set by | Collected by / goes to | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Airport security fee (Immigration and Security System levy) 9,10,8,6,1 | US$20 each way | All arriving and departing passengers. Diplomatic and service passport holders do not pay. UK travel advice says children aged 1 or under and transit passengers are exempt. | Cash in US dollars or Gambian dalasi at the airport. Not in the ticket. UK travel advice says Visa cards may be accepted, but card machines are often out of service. | Gambia Civil Aviation Authority notice, effective 1 September 2020, under a government contract | The airport systems contractor, under the government contract | In force |
| Passenger service charge GCAA announced a rise to £15 for May 2023. Its own tariff published in January 2024 still shows £10, and we found no notice that the rise took effect. 7,3,4 | £10 | Departing passengers | Inside the ticket | Gambia Civil Aviation Authority tariff, published January 2024 | Airlines, for GCAA | In force |
| Security charge 7 | £1.50 | Departing passengers | Inside the ticket | Gambia Civil Aviation Authority tariff, published January 2024 | Airlines, for GCAA | In force |
| Airport development fee 7 | €20 | Departing passengers | Inside the ticket | Gambia Civil Aviation Authority tariff, published January 2024 | Airlines, for GCAA | In force |
| Passenger safety levy Announced with the passenger service charge. It is not in the GCAA tariff published in January 2024, so we have not confirmed it was applied. 3,4,7 | US$5 (announced) | Departing passengers | Inside the ticket | Gambia Civil Aviation Authority, announced January 2023 | Airlines, for GCAA (funds The Gambia's contribution to BAGASOO) | Unconfirmed |
| Banjul Accord Group passenger safety charge 5 | US$1 | Passengers on international departures | Not stated | Banjul Accord Group, phased in from 1 January 2026 | For BAGASOO, BAGAIA and the Banjul Accord Group | Unconfirmed |
Evidence summary: 9 linked sources, 4 charges confirmed in force, 2 unconfirmed. Suspended and proposed charges are not treated as payable now.
How to pay
- On arrival, look for the airport security fee booth in the terminal before or at immigration.
- Pay US$20 in cash, or the stated equivalent in Gambian dalasi. Carry small notes. UK travel advice says Visa cards may be accepted, but the machines are often out of service.
- Keep the receipt until you have left the airport.
- On departure, pay the fee again at the booth before you check in or reach security.
Where the money goes
The fee is shared between the airport systems contractor and the Government of The Gambia under the contract.
The government has said several times that it wants the fee moved into the air ticket so that passengers no longer queue to pay it. That needs the fee to be carried by airlines through IATA, which had not happened as of January 2026.
What this page does not cover
This page does not say whether the fee is fair or good value, and it is not legal advice. It does not cover visa fees or charges at other Gambian entry points.
Common questions
Is the Banjul security fee included in my plane ticket?
No. As of October 2026 it is paid separately in cash at the airport, on arrival and again on departure.
How much is it in dalasi?
The fee is set at US$20. The dalasi amount follows the exchange rate. The press reported D1,000 when collection began and D1,200 in June 2023. A travel website listed GMD 1,400 between 2023 and 2025. We found no official dalasi rate.
Do Gambians pay it?
Yes. The GCAA notice of 2020 sets US$20 for every arriving and departing passenger, and we found no official lower rate for Gambian passport holders. Some social media posts mention GMD 1,000 for Gambians, but we found no notice that confirms it. Diplomatic and service passport holders do not pay.
Do children pay?
UK government travel advice, updated July 2026, says children aged 1 or under and passengers in transit are exempt. We have not found a Gambian notice that sets out the rule, so ask at the booth.
Sources
- Gunjur Online: Gambia introduces $20 immigration and security system levy (2020)
- The Point: airport contractor denies fee increment (no longer online)
- The Point: GCAA to increase flight passenger charges (27 January 2023)
- Africa-Press: IATA response to GCAA charges (May 2023)
- BusinessDay: Banjul Accord Group adopts $1 passenger levy
- GOV.UK: The Gambia travel advice, entry requirements (updated 7 July 2026)
- Gambia Civil Aviation Authority: Airport charges, Banjul International Airport (published January 2024)
- The Point: Gambia reimplements immigration levy (GCAA notice, September 2020)
- Government of The Gambia: immigration and visa information, airport security fee payment guidance
- Askani Gambia: airport security fee remains unchanged (March 2026)
Change log
- : Page published. All figures checked against the sources listed.
- : Added the child and transit exemptions and the card payment note from UK government travel advice.
- : Added the passenger service charge, security charge and airport development fee from the GCAA tariff of January 2024. Updated the dalasi and nationality answers.
- : Added current Government of The Gambia payment guidance and a March 2026 status report.