Located in northwest Africa, Senegal is a tiny but one of the most stable countries in the region. Senegal is one of the gems of Africa that is defined by its vibrant life, exciting culture, and beautiful landscapes. Once it was a colony of France, now it is one of the strongest liberated democracies on the continent. The country enjoyed a liberal environment for a while, and fields like economy, education were exposed to this benefiting environment. Senegal is a great tourist destination with its pristine beaches and favourable year-round climate. You can enjoy many activities such as surfing, swimming at the beaches or take a sunbathe. The country coastline has some great surf hotspots where surfing enthusiasts can enjoy surfing rolling waves freely. If you are a history buff, you will be amazed by the things you see in Senegal. Senegal has a dark colonial past, and its remains sprawled around the country. Many historic buildings remain intact, serving as reminders of their past. If you think the history of Senegal only consists of colonial buildings, monuments, then you are badly mistaken. Senegal was home to the oldest settlements. Its history dates back to the stone age. Stone Circles of Senegambia is the best example in this context. Senegal is most famous for the pink lake called Lake Retba or Lac Rose. These pink waters give you a unique chance to get excellent, unprecedented photos. What makes water pink? This lake is too salty like the dead sea. These salt minerals give pink colour to the water of the lake. Reasons to visit Senegal can vary. For some main reason can be education. Surprised? Well, do not be because Senegal offers good conditions to students. The first thing that can be noted is that education is free until the age of 16. Some of the well-known universities are Universite Cheikh Anta Diop Dakar, Universite Gaston Berger, Université Assane SECK de Ziguinchor, Universite Alioune Diop de Bambey, Ecole Superieure de Commerce de Dakar. The official language in Senegal is French. Therefore, most of the studies are in French. However, you will find some that are in English. Like many other African countries, poverty is rooted in the education system. It is the main reason behind the lack of equipment and facilities that are very evident in Senegal. For today's article, we will look at Senegal study visa, Senegal study visa process, and many other issues related to study visa for Senegal. First, we will look at the country's visa policy to identify who needs visa for Senegal.
Senegal Visa Policy
According to Senegal visa policy, only nationals of most of the countries of the EU, the United Kingdom and the United States of America can enjoy visa-free entrance to Senegal for 90 days (other nationalities should check their eligibility on the official website). The rest of the world countries are visa-required countries. If you are from one of the visa-required countries, you will need to start Senegal study visa application to acquire the right to enter the country. There are two major visa types: short-term and long-term visas. Senegal study visa is a long-term visa, and we will further look into this visa, starting from Senegal study visa requirements.
Visa Requirements for Senegal Study Visa
Before jumping on visa requirements, let's define a study visa. Study visa for Senegal can be 1 or 3 years long, depending on the course you are enrolled in. This visa will allow you to enter the country, remain and study in the country for a Senegal study visa requirements are to be met to get the visa. What are they? You will find an answer at the list below: • The Senegal study visa application form should be copied twice and then signed and filled out by the applicant. • Two 3x4 sized, colored photos of the applicant. The photo's background should be light-colored, and the head should take up 70-80 percent of the whole photo. The applicant's eye line should be levelled to the camera's lens. • Original passport and the copy of the passport's main page. Remember that your passport should remain valid for the next 6 months beginning from the day you leave Senegal. • If you apply for a visa from a country you are not a citizen of, you will need to present your residence permit or visa. • Original birth certificate along with copy version. • An invitation letter provided by an educational institute in Senegal is required. In this letter nature of travel should be explained. • You should present documents that were required for admission to an educational institution in Senegal. They can be a diploma, transcript, CV, motivation letter, etc. • You should have a yellow fever certificate indicating that you are fully vaccinated against yellow fever. Now we are aware of the requirements for a study visa. However, we have not touched fees, ways to get a visa, etc. You might ask, "How long Senegal study visa process takes?". Although the answer is not soo precise, as the processing time can vary depending on where you apply from, the average processing time in most cases is around 3-14 working days. How much is a visa in Senegal? Yet again, it can change from country to county; the nominal price for the fee is 50 USD.
How to Get a Visa for Senegal
You might be asking "how to get a visa for Senegal?". Well, you have two options. To get a visa to Senegal, you can either use a visa on arrival or get a visa before your travel. But there is a catch. Not all people can apply for a visa on arrival. To be more specific, if you are from one of these countries Kosovo, Yemen, Macao, Hong Kong, you will need to apply for a visa well ahead of your travel. To get a visa before your travel, you need to find an embassy or consulate of Senegal in your country (if there is none, you can look for other countries). You contact the embassy, make an appointment and wait for your turn. One day comes, you present the required documents, and pay the fees. After 3-14 days, you will get your result. Upon your arrival, you will need to register your name at the nearest neighbourhood police station within the first five days. Visa on arrival is a whole other story. As you can see from the name, you apply for the visa upon your arrival to Senegal. At the airport or border post in Senegal, you will find an immigration office where visas are processed. You will get Immigration Declaration Form which you will fill out to get a visa. Visa on arrival can sometimes be tricky as forgetting to bring a document. Even if you did bring, you could be asked for additional documents. The absence of that document can cost you a denial to enter the country. Therefore, you should check and make sure you are well prepared. It is advised to get your study visa well ahead of your planned travel. This way, you can inquiry the embassy of Senegal about the information on requirements, fees, etc., which will be much more reliable. Furthermore, starting an application for a visa to an embassy can save you time and money.
Senegal Study Visa Extension
Senegal study visa extension can be a hassle. To get your visa extended, you will need to go through some procedures. The first thing to do in this case will be to go to the interior ministry in Senegal. You will write a letter explaining your situation and reasons to extend your visa alongside passport, and copies of the main page. Bear in mind that visa extensions are granted in few cases. To wrap up things, Senegal is one of the most stable African countries. With its advantages and disadvantages, studying in Senegal can be the right decision, especially if you are from another African country as fees, and conditons are more reasonable. If you are interested, you can successfully get a visa with the help of the Pickvisa team.
