Update
January 10, 2024

Information for U.S. Citizens in the Middle East

U.S. Visas

English

U.S. Visa: Reciprocity and Civil Documents by Country

Senegal

Senegal
Republic of Senegal

Reciprocity Schedule

Select a visa category below to find the visa issuance fee, number of entries, and validity period for visas issued to applicants from this country*/area of authority.

Explanation of Terms

Visa Classification: The type of nonimmigrant visa you are applying for.

Fee: The reciprocity fee, also known as the visa issuance fee, you must pay. This fee is in addition to the nonimmigrant visa application fee (MRV fee).

Number of Entries: The number of times you may seek entry into the United States with that visa. "M" means multiple times. If there is a number, such as "One", you may apply for entry one time with that visa.

Validity Period: This generally means the visa is valid, or can be used, from the date it is issued until the date it expires, for travel with that visa. If your Validity Period is 60 months, your visa will be valid for 60 months from the date it is issued.

Visa Classifications

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V
Visa
Classification
Fee Number
of Entries
Validity
Period
A-1 None Multiple 36 Months
A-2 None Multiple 36 Months
A-3 1 None Multiple 24 Months
B-1 None Multiple 120 Months
B-2 None Multiple 120 Months
B-1/B-2 None Multiple 120 Months
C-1 None Multiple 3 Months
C-1/D N/A N/A N/A
C-2 None Multiple 3 Months
C-3 None Multiple 3 Months
CW-1 11 None Multiple 12 Months
CW-2 11 None Multiple 12 Months
D None Multiple 48 Months
E-1 2 No Treaty N/A N/A
E-2 2 None Multiple 12 Months
E-2C 12 None Multiple 12 Months
F-1 None Multiple 36 Months
F-2 None Multiple 36 Months
G-1 None Multiple 36 Months
G-2 None Multiple 36 Months
G-3 None Multiple 36 Months
G-4 None Multiple 36 Months
G-5 1 None Multiple 24 Months
H-1B None Multiple 12 Months 3
H-1C None Multiple 12 Months 3
H-2A None N/A N/A 3
H-2B None N/A N/A 3
H-2R None Multiple 12 Months 3
H-3 None Multiple 12 Months 3
H-4 None Multiple 12 Months 3
I None Multiple 12 Months
J-1 4 None Multiple 12 Months
J-2 4 None Multiple 12 Months
K-1 None One 6 Months
K-2 None One 6 Months
K-3 None Multiple 24 Months
K-4 None Multiple 24 Months
L-1 None Multiple 12 Months
L-2 None Multiple 12 Months
M-1 None Multiple 36 Months
M-2 None Multiple 36 Months
N-8 None Multiple 12 Months
N-9 None Multiple 12 Months
NATO 1-7 N/A N/A N/A
O-1 None Multiple 12 Months 3
O-2 None Multiple 12 Months 3
O-3 None Multiple 12 Months 3
P-1 None Multiple 12 Months 3
P-2 None Multiple 12 Months 3
P-3 None Multiple 12 Months 3
P-4 None Multiple 12 Months 3
Q-1 6 None Multiple 12 Months 3
R-1 None Multiple 12 Months
R-2 None Multiple 12 Months
S-5 7 None One 1 Month
S-6 7 None One 1 Month
S-7 7 None One 1 Month
T-1 9 N/A N/A N/A
T-2 None One 6 Months
T-3 None One 6 Months
T-4 None One 6 Months
T-5 None One 6 Months
T-6 None One 6 Months
TD 5 N/A N/A N/A
U-1 None Multiple 48 Months
U-2 None Multiple 48 Months
U-3 None Multiple 48 Months
U-4 None Multiple 48 Months
U-5 None Multiple 48 Months
V-1 None Multiple 60 Months
V-2 None Multiple 60 Months 8
V-3 None Multiple 60 Months 8

Country Specific Footnotes

Although care has been taken to ensure the accuracy, completeness and reliability of the information provided, please contact the U.S. Embassy or Consulate where you plan to apply if you believe this information is in error or if you have further questions.

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Visa Category Footnotes

  1. The validity of A-3, G-5, and NATO 7 visas may not exceed the validity of the visa issued to the person who is employing the applicant. The "employer" would have one of the following visa classifications:

    • A-1
    • A-2
    • G-1 through G-4
    • NATO 1 through NATO 6

  2. An E-1 and E-2 visa may be issued only to a principal alien who is a national of a country having a treaty, or its equivalent, with the United States. E-1 and E-2 visas may not be issued to a principal alien if he/she is a stateless resident or national of a country without a treaty.  *When the spouse and children of an E-1 or E-2 principal alien are accorded derivative E-1 or E-2 status and are themselves a national of a country that does not have a treaty with the United States – the reciprocity schedule, including any reciprocity fees, of the principal alien’s country of nationality should be used.  **Spouse and children of an E-1 or E-2 visa principal applicant, where the spouse and children are also nationals of a country that has a treaty with the United States – the reciprocity schedule, including any reciprocity fees, of the spouse and children’s country of nationality should be used.  

    *Example 1: John Doe is a national of Country A that has an E-1/E-2 treaty with the U.S. however his wife and child are nationals of Country B which has no treaty with the U.S. The wife and child would, therefore, be entitled to derivative status and receive the same reciprocity as John Doe, the principal visa holder.

    **Example 2:  Mike Doe is a national of Country Y that has an E-1/E-2 treaty with the U.S. however his wife and child are nationals of Country Z that also has a treaty with the U.S. The wife and child would, therefore, be entitled to derivative status and receive the reciprocity issued to nationals of Country Z.

  3. The validity of H-1 through H-3, O-1 and O-2, P-1 through P-3, and Q visas may not exceed the period of validity of the approved petition or the number of months shown, whichever is less.

    Under 8 CFR §214.2, H-2A and H-2B petitions may generally only be approved for nationals of countries that the Secretary of Homeland Security has designated as participating countries. The current list of eligible countries is available on USCIS's website for both H-2A and H-2B visas. Nationals of countries not on this list may be the beneficiary of an approved H-2A or H2-B petition in limited circumstances at the discretion of the Department of Homeland Security if specifically named on the petition.  

    Derivative H-4, L-2, O-3, and P-4 visas, issued to accompanying or following-to-join spouses and children, may not exceed the validity of the visa issued to the principal alien.

  4. There is no reciprocity fee for the issuance of a J visa if the alien is a United States Government grantee or a participant in an exchange program sponsored by the United States Government.

    Also, there is no reciprocity fee for visa issuance to an accompanying or following-to-join spouse or child (J-2) of an exchange visitor grantee or participant.

    In addition, an applicant is eligible for an exemption from the MRV fee if he or she is participating in a State Department, USAID, or other federally funded educational and cultural exchange program (program serial numbers G-1, G-2, G-3 and G-7).

    However, all other applicants with U.S. Government sponsorships, including other J-visa applicants, are subject to the MRV processing fee.

  5. Under the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), Canadian and Mexican nationals coming to engage in certain types of professional employment in the United States may be admitted in a special nonimmigrant category known as the "trade NAFTA" or "TN" category. Their dependents (spouse and children) accompanying or following to join them may be admitted in the "trade dependent" or "TD" category whether or not they possess Canadian or Mexican nationality. Except as noted below, the number of entries, fees and validity for non-Canadian or non-Mexican family members of a TN status holder seeking TD visas should be based on the reciprocity schedule of the TN principal alien.

    Canadian Nationals

    Since Canadian nationals generally are exempt from visa requirement, a Canadian "TN' or "TD" alien does not require a visa to enter the United States. However, the non-Canadian national dependent of a Canadian "TN", unless otherwise exempt from the visa requirement, must obtain a "TD" visa before attempting to enter the United States. The standard reciprocity fee and validity period for all non-Canadian "TD"s is no fee, issued for multiple entries for a period of 36 months, or for the duration of the principal alien's visa and/or authorized period of stay, whichever is less. See 'NOTE' under Canadian reciprocity schedule regarding applicants of Iranian, Iraqi or Libyan nationality.

    Mexican Nationals

    Mexican nationals are not visa-exempt. Therefore, all Mexican "TN"s and both Mexican and non-Mexican national "TD"s accompanying or following to join them who are not otherwise exempt from the visa requirement (e.g., the Canadian spouse of a Mexican national "TN") must obtain nonimmigrant visas.

    Applicants of Iranian, Iraqi, Libyan, Somalian, Sudanese, Syrian or Yemeni nationality, who have a permanent resident or refugee status in Canada/Mexico, may not be accorded Canadian/Mexican reciprocity, even when applying in Canada/Mexico. The reciprocity fee and period for "TD" applicants from Libya is $10.00 for one entry over a period of 3 months. The Iranian and Iraqi "TD" is no fee with one entry over a period of 3 months.

  6. Q-2 (principal) and Q-3 (dependent) visa categories are in existence as a result of the 'Irish Peace Process Cultural and Training Program Act of 1998'. However, because the Department anticipates that virtually all applicants for this special program will be either Irish or U.K. nationals, the Q-2 and Q-3 categories have been placed only in the reciprocity schedules for those two countries. Q-2 and Q-3 visas are available only at the Embassy in Dublin and the Consulate General in Belfast.

  7. No S visa may be issued without first obtaining the Department's authorization.

  8. V-2 and V-3 status is limited to persons who have not yet attained their 21st birthday. Accordingly, the period of validity of a V-2 or V-3 visa must be limited to expire on or before the applicant's twenty-first birthday.

  9. Posts may not issue a T-1 visa. A T-1 applicant must be physically present in the United States, American Samoa, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands or a U.S. port of entry, where he/she will apply for an adjustment of status to that of a T-1. The following dependents of a T-1 visa holder, however, may be issued a T visa at a U.S. consular office abroad:

    • T-2 (spouse)
    • T-3 (child)
    • T-4 (parent)
  10. The validity of NATO-5 visas may not exceed the period of validity of the employment contract or 12 months, whichever is less.

  11. The validity of CW-1 and CW-2 visas shall not exceed the maximum initial period of admission allowed by DHS (12 months) or the duration of the transition period ending December 31, 2014, whichever is shortest.

  12. The validity of E-2C visas shall not exceed the maximum initial period of admission allowed by DHS (24 months) or the duration of the transition period ending December 31, 2014, whichever is shortest.

 

 

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General Documents

There is no general document information

Birth, Death, Burial Certificates

Birth Certificates

Available

Fees:  At the Communes - 200F to 500FCFA, at the “communautes rurales”- 75F to 150FCFA.

Document Name: Extrait du Registre des Actes de Naissance

Issuing Authority: La Mairie’s office

Special Seal(s) / Color / Format: Depends on the commune but all of them should have a postal stamp with the fees on it, the seal of the commune and the “Officier d’Etat-Civil” and a signature.

Issuing Authority Personnel Title: “Officier d’Etat Civil”

Registration Criteria:

  • Births registered within 45 days of the date of delivery: Will show the registry number, name of the child, both parents’ names, and the date and time of the birth.
  • Births registered between 45 days and one year of delivery: Will have the statement “Declaration Tardive” written on the top of the form.
  • Births registered more than one year after delivery: The parents must petition the courts for permission to register the birth. If approved, they must register with the office that has jurisdiction over the birth. Any extract issued will note the birth was registered by court judgment. However, the prosecutor can process this at any time if they notice that the birth was never registered.

Procedure for Obtaining: Applicants must apply at the La Mairie’s office where the birth took place. Applicants may also apply through Dakar City Hall.  If they don’t register on time, they may contact the court. Sometimes “audiences forraines” are organized to help people register births.

Certified Copies Available: Applicants can go to the “mairie” at any time to obtain a new copy. Usually, for administrative matters, civil documents are only valid 3 months.

Alternate Documents: 'Bulletin de Naissance'

Exceptions: None

Comments: Birth certificates are part of a summary document called the “Etat Civil”. On the reverse side of the “Etat Civil” document is a section entitled 'Mentions Marginales' for recording all the significant civil acts that take place in a person's life, e.g. marriage, birth of children, divorce, etc. Few of the forms, however, will have this information, as the applicant must travel to his or her home district to have the information recorded, despite the fact that the act itself may have occurred in another region.

The 'Bulletin de Naissance' is a summary document, which records the registry number, the child's name, parents' names, and date and hour of birth. The Bulletin de Naissance does not indicate late registration of a birth. There may be a fee for this service. This is an alternate birth certificate and can be accepted for visa purposes. The fees are the same as for an “Extrait de Naissance.”

 

Death Certificates

Available

Fees: At the Communes - 200F to 500FCFA, at the “communautes rurales”- 75F to 150FCFA.

Document Name: Extrait du Registre des Actes de Deces ou certificat de décès

Issuing Authority: La Mairie’s office

Special Seal(s) / Color / Format: Depends on the commune but all of them should have a postal stamp with the fees on it, the seal of the commune and the “officier d’etat-civil” and a signature.

Issuing Authority Personnel Title: “Officier d’Etat Civil”

Registration Criteria:  

  • Deaths registered within 45 days:  Will show the registry number, name of the deceased person, both parents’ names, the civil status of the person, where it occurred and the date and time of death.
  • Deaths registered between 45 days and one year: Will have the statement “Declaration Tardive” written on the top of the form.
  • Deaths registered more than a year afterwards: Family members of the deceased must petition the courts for permission to register the death. If approved, they must register with the office that has jurisdiction over the death and submit a note stating that the death was registered by court judgment. However, the prosecutor can do this at any time if they notice that the death was never registered.

Procedure for Obtaining: Applicants should make their application for the Extrait to the La Mairie’s office having jurisdiction over where the death took place. Applicants may also apply through Dakar City Hall. If they don’t register on time, they may contact the court.

Certified Copies Available: Applicants can go to the “mairie” at any time because typically civil documents are only valid for three months.

Alternate Documents: There are no alternate documents

Exceptions: None

Comments: None

Marriage, Divorce Certificates

Marriage Certificates

Available

Fees: At the Communes - 200F to 500FCFA, at the “communautes rurales”- 75F to 150FCFA.

Document Name: Certificat de Mariage Celebre, Certificat de Mariage Constate, or Certificat de Mariage

Issuing Authority: La Mairie’s office

Special Seal(s) / Color / Format: This depends on the commune but all of them should have a postal stamp with the fees on it, the seal of the commune and “Officier d’Etat-Civil”, and the signature.

Issuing Authority Personnel Title: “Officier d’Etat Civil”

Registration Criteria:

  • Marriages registered within six months: Will show the registry number, names of the spouses, and the date of the event.
  • Marriages registered after six months: The spouses must petition the courts for permission to register the marriage. If approved, they must register with the office that has jurisdiction over the marriage and submit the issued extract and a note stating that the marriage was registered by court judgment.

Procedure for Obtaining: Applicants should make their application for a “Certificat" to “La Mairie’s” office that has jurisdiction over where the marriage took place. Applicants may also apply at Dakar City Hall. If they don’t register on time, they may contact the court.

Certified Copies Available: Applicants can go to the “mairie” at any time because civil documents are typically only valid for three months.

Alternate Documents: There are no alternate documents

Exceptions: None

Comments: The two different versions of the “Certificat” are based on when the marriage was registered. Couples who register their marriages on the same day as the ceremony receive a “Certificat de Mariage Celebre” and anyone who registers after that date receives a “Certificat de Mariage Constate”

 

Divorce Certificates

Available

Fees: At the Communes - 200F to 500FCFA, at the “communautes rurales”- 75F to 150FCFA.

Document Name: “Certificat de Divorce" or  "Extrait de Jugement de Divorce”

Issuing Authority: La Mairie’s office or “Greffier de Tribunal Civil”

Special Seal(s) / Color / Format: There is a stamp and signature of the “Officier d’Etat-Civil” on the “Certificat de Divorce”. If there is a judgment, there is a stamp and the signature of the prosecutor and the “Greffier en Chef”.

Issuing Authority Personnel Title: “Officier d’Etat-Civil”, Prosecutor and “Greffier en Chef”.

Registration Criteria: See “Procedure for Obtaining”

Procedure for Obtaining:

  • “Extrait de Divorce” – Applications for this document need to be submitted to the La Mairie’s office that has jurisdiction over the region where the divorce took place.
  • “Jugement de Divorce” – Applications for this document need to be submitted to the “Greffier de Tribunal Civil” where the judgment of divorce was pronounced.

Certified Copies Available: None

Alternate Documents: There are no alternate documents

Exceptions: None

Comments: Either of the documents listed above are acceptable divorce certificates in Senegal.

Adoption Certificates

Unavailable

Comments: There are no adoptions in Senegal since 2011.

Identity Card

Available

Fees: Free but for the new versions, there is a 10000 fee for anyone who didn’t apply on time.

Document Name: “Carte Nationale d’Identité”

Issuing Authority: “Directeur Général de la Sûreté Nationale”

Special Seal(s) / Color / Format: Signature of the authority, cards have microchips

Issuing Authority Personnel Title: “Directeur Général de la Sûreté Nationale”

Registration Criteria: Citizen of Senegal

Procedure for Obtaining: Apply at the center designated by the authority.

Certified Copies Available: None available

Alternate Documents: Passports – Please see Travel Documents

Exceptions: None

Comments:  There is a new version (CEDEAO) but the old versions are still valid.

Police, Court, Prison Records

Police Certificates

Available

Fees: CFA 200

Document Name: “Extrait de Casier Judiciaire” or “Certificat de bonne vie et mœurs” or “Bulletin Nº 3  Du Casier Judicaire

Issuing Authority:

  • Senegal Citizens – The civil court in the region where the applicant was born.
  • Non-Senegalese Citizens - “Greffier de la Cour D'Appel Du Tribunal Departemental de Dakar”

Special Seal(s) / Color / Format: Printed on Green Paper. Stamps and signatures of the Prosecutor and “Greffier en Chef”.

Issuing Authority Personnel Title: Prosecutor and “Greffier en Chef” or “L’Administrateur Des Greffes”

Registration Criteria:  See Procedure for Obtaining

Procedure for Obtaining:

  • Applicants inside Senegal – Application should be submitted to the civil court in the region of birth. Fees may be paid in person. They cannot be mailed. The courts are located in the following regional capitals: Dakar, Diourbel, Kaolack, Fatick, Kolda, Louga, St. Louis, Tambacounda, Thies and Ziguinchor, and Matam (which is operational). Records are normally processed in 24 hours.
  • Applicants outside Senegal - Unavailable

Certified Copies Available: None available

Alternate Documents: There are no alternate documents

Exceptions: None

Comments: Senegal's system for records of convictions is not automated. Searches for police certificates are conducted manually through the tribunal's log books. Convictions are indexed by name. All convictions for foreigners are centralized at the "Section Des Etrangers" (Foreigners' Section).

 

Prison Records

Available

Comments: Prison records are included as part of the Casier Judiciare. Please see Police Records.

 

Court Records

Available

Fees:  1000 to 2000 CFA

Document Name:  Judgment

Issuing Authority: The court the judgment took place at

Special Seal(s) / Color / Format: This information is not available

Issuing Authority Personnel Title: Judge

Registration Criteria: There is no registration criteria

Procedure for Obtaining: Applicants should contact the court house where the judgment took place and request a copy of the record

Certified Copies Available: None

Alternate Documents: None

Exceptions: None

Comments: None

Military Records

Available

Fees: There may be a fee for this service

Document Name: “Certificat de Position Militaire” for non-military and “Etat signalétique et des services”for military

Issuing Authority: “Chef de la division de Recrutement-Mobilisation”

Special Seal(s) / Color / Format: Stamp and signature of the chief

Issuing Authority Personnel Title: “Chef de la division de Recrutement-Mobilisation”

Registration Criteria: Citizen of Senegal

Procedure for Obtaining: Application for a military record should be made to “Bureau de Recrutement-Mobilisation”, l'Etat Major-General, Camp Dial Diop, Dakar.

Certified Copies Available: None available

Alternate Documents: There are no alternate documents

Exceptions: None

Comments: None

Passports & Other Travel Documents

Types Available (Regular, Diplomatic, Official, etc.):  Regular, Diplomatic and Official

Fees: 20000FCFA (10000F for students)

Document Name: Passport

Issuing Government Authority: MINT/DGSN/DPETV

Special Seal(s) / Color / Format: Dry seal on third page

Issuing Authority Personnel Title: MINT/DGSN/DPETV

Registration Criteria: Citizen of Senegal

Procedure for Obtaining: Pay fees, book appointment with the call center, and submit ID or birth certificate to the “Bureau des Passeports”.

Alternate Documents: There are no alternate documents

Exceptions: None

Comments: None

Other Documents Available: There are no other documents available.

Other Records

Education - The most reliable education records are national standardized test results.  Students generally take standardized tests during their primary (CFEE and Entrée en Sixième), junior secondary (BFEM), and senior secondary school years (baccalauréat).  The Ministry of Education records these results.  A certified verification of the baccalaureate may be retrieved from the Office du Baccalauréat.

Visa Issuing Posts

Dakar, Senegal (Embassy)

Post Title: Embassy

Address: B.P. 49
                Dakar, Senegal

Phone Number:  (221) 33879-4000, Fax: (221) 822-5903

Email: dakarimmigrantvisa@state.gov

Visa Services: US Embassy Dakar processes immigrant and nonimmigrant visas. US Embassy Dakar also processes immigrant visas for The Gambia, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Mali, and Mauritania.

Comments / Additional Information:

Additional Information for Reciprocity

Although care has been taken to ensure the accuracy, completeness and reliability of the information provided, please contact the U.S. Embassy or Consulate where you plan to apply if you believe this information is in error or if you have further questions.