Money & duty free for Senegal
Exchange rates:
EuroC$1 = €0.72
£1 = €1.19
US$1 = €0.96
CFA Franc
C$1 = XOF655.96
€1 = XOF655.96
£1 = XOF655.96
US$1 = XOF655.96
Currency & Money
CFA (Communauté Financière Africaine) Franc (XOF) = 100 centimes. Notes are in denominations of XOF10,000, 5,000, 2,000,1,000 and 500. Coins are in denominations of XOF500, 250, 200, 100, 50, 25, 10, 5 and 1.
Senegal is part of the French Monetary Area. Only currency issued by the Banque des États de l'Afrique de l'Ouest (Bank of West African States) is valid; currency issued by the Banque des États de l'Afrique Centrale (Bank of Central African States) is not. The CFA Franc is pegged to the Euro.
American Express and Visa are more widely accepted than other credit cards. Fees are added for the use of credit cards and many businesses may not accept payments with foreign cards. It is best to carry cash for the majority of transactions.
There are ATMs throughout Senegal and fairly widespread across Dakar. However, check if they accept foreign cards first. Société Générale de Banque au Sénégal is said to be accepting foreign ATM cards but do check diligently before using.
Traveller's cheques are not commonly used nowadays. If you're still using, beware that only banks in Dakar can accept them.
Import of local and foreign currency is unlimited but subject to declaration. Export of local currency is restricted to XOF20,000. Export of foreign currency is limited to the amount imported and declared.
Senegal duty free
The following may be imported into Senegal by travellers over 18 years of age without incurring customs duty:
• 200 cigarettes or 50 cigars or 250g of tobacco.
• 1 bottle of spirits.
• 1 bottle of perfume or 1 bottle of eau de toilette.
Prohibited items include obscene publications, narcotics and subversive publications.
Restricted items requiring a permit include firearms and ammunition, medicines (other than for personal use), meat and endangered species.
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