Health Alert: U.S. Embassy Banjul Repatriation Update (April 21, 2020)
Event: U.S. Embassy Banjul Repatriation Update
Location: The Gambia
A special repatriation flight organized by the U.S. Department of State and the U.S. Embassy in Banjul departed The Gambia for the United States on April 7; the Embassy does not currently have any additional repatriation flights scheduled. However, we are working to determine interest in an additional repatriation flight amongst U.S. citizens and Legal Permanent Residents (LPRs) in The Gambia, and potentially coordinate an additional flight.
We cannot guarantee nor predict if we will be able to offer an additional flight, but we continue to collect details of U.S. citizens and LPRs who are interested in such flights. We will continue to use the online request form https://tinyurl.com/u6bes4y to register U.S. citizens who are interested in any potential future flights. If you are interested in a potential future flight and have not yet done so, please complete the request form (one submission per individual traveler).
All passengers on repatriation flights are required to sign a promissory note, stating that they will repay the U.S. government for the cost of the flight. The approximate cost of the last flight was $1,900 USD per seat. All potential passengers are required to have proper documentation that shows they are permitted to enter the United States, such as a valid U.S. passport or LPR (“green”) card. All minors must be escorted by an adult, who must also be legally permitted to enter the United States.
Given the closure of airports and reduction of flight options worldwide, U.S. citizens currently located outside of the United States should be prepared to remain outside the United States for an extended period, until commercial flights reopen. The Embassy is not able to provide routine consular services at this time. Those requiring emergency assistance should contact the Consular Section at ConsularBanjul@state.gov. The Embassy will continue to update our The Gambia specific COVID-19 information site at: https://gm.usembassy.gov/u-s-citizen-services/covid-19-information/.
Any information we have regarding options to return to the United States will be sent out via STEP messages, so if you have not done so, please register for the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program. This is the only way to receive up-to-date information about U.S. Embassy activities in The Gambia.