Dakar's Blaise Diagne International Airport has handled Senegal's international arrivals since it opened in 2017, and airlines flying there check your exit plans before you board in Europe or North America. A dummy ticket, also called an onward ticket, is a real PNR booked for visa or border-check purposes without paying for the flight. Here's how to prepare for Senegal in five steps.

Step 1: Check the entry rules for your passport

Start with the official source, not a forum. The UK government's Senegal entry requirements set out what travellers need, and other governments publish their own equivalents. Rules vary by nationality, purpose of visit and length of stay, and they do change.

Write down what applies to you: visa status, any health documentation, and whether proof of onward or return travel is mentioned. Where the page is silent, don't assume you're exempt. Airlines apply their own caution on top of the law.

Step 2: Ask who will actually check

Two parties may ask for proof of onward travel. The first is the airline at your departure airport. The second is the border officer in Dakar. They don't always agree.

An airline faces a penalty if it carries someone who is then refused entry, so desk agents take the risk seriously. That's why many travellers meet the question at check-in, hours before any officer sees them. The IATA Timatic database is the tool airlines use to look up entry conditions, which explains why your agent may seem to know more than you do.

Step 3: Decide how you'll prove your exit

You have three realistic routes, and none is universally best.

  1. A real, flexible ticket. Book a flight out of Senegal or onward from Dakar that you might genuinely use. It's the strongest proof and the most expensive.
  2. A refundable fare. Pay now, cancel within the free window. You'll need to watch the clock, and refund timing can vary.
  3. A dummy ticket. A short-lived reservation with a real booking reference. It costs little, but it only has to survive the moment of the check.

Think about your own plans. If you're travelling on to Mali, Mauritania or the Gambia overland, say so honestly, but carry something airlines can read. If you want to compare the two cheaper options in detail, see this guide on dummy tickets versus refundable fares and the 24-hour hold.

Step 4: Build a reservation that holds up

A weak reservation fails quickly. Here is what a desk agent or officer will look at:

  • Your name, matching the passport letter for letter.
  • A departure from Senegal (or onward from Dakar) after your arrival date.
  • A booking reference that can be looked up.
  • A date that fits the stay you've declared.

Time it carefully. Reservations hold for a limited period that depends on the carrier, so book close to your departure, not weeks ahead. Then confirm it's live before you leave home. Our walkthrough on how to tell a dummy ticket from a real ticket explains what to look for on the confirmation.

Step 5: Carry it and keep your story simple

Print it, and keep a copy on your phone. Offline access matters, since airport wifi is unreliable.

If you're asked, be direct. Say where you're going, how long you'll stay and how you're leaving. Don't embellish. A clear, consistent answer matched by clear paperwork is what satisfies most checks.

If the agent says the document isn't enough, ask what would be. Sometimes a different date or carrier settles it. Stay calm and polite, and don't argue with a decision you can't overturn at the desk.

What if your trip starts somewhere else first?

Many travellers reach Dakar on a connection through Europe or North Africa. Your first airline checks the whole journey, not just the leg it flies. That means the proof you carry has to make sense for Senegal even if the desk is in another country. Show the same reservation at every desk, and make sure the dates agree with your onward plans.

What does a thin booking look like?

It's usually a one-way ticket with no exit, a name that doesn't match, or a date that has already lapsed. Any of these can stop you at the gate. A clean booking is boring, and boring is what you want here.

Timing the paperwork

Plan the paperwork before you plan the packing. Book the reservation once your dates are fixed, check it a day before you fly, and keep the reference where you can find it fast. If your plans shift, replace the booking rather than hoping the old one still works. A stale reservation is worse than none, because it looks like an attempt that failed.

Frequently asked questions

A reservation is a genuine booking record, but it is not a flown journey. Use it for what it is and never claim you've paid for a trip you haven't.

Do I need proof if I hold a return flight?

A return flight to your home country usually covers it. The issue arises on one-way arrivals or open-jaw routes.

Can I rely on the airline's website for the rules?

Treat it as a guide only. The government source and your airline's desk have the final say.

Ready to prepare your Senegal trip? Reserve a verifiable booking on Get Onward Ticket's booking page and travel with the paperwork in hand.