Maximum Alerts / Gambia
GambiaLevel 2/4
Level published by the State Department on 15.01.2026 · read 16 October 2026 · source checked daily
Gambia — official level as of 16 October 2026: Level 2/4 ("Exercise Increased Caution"), from the U.S. Department of State. Maximum Insurance covers this country: hospital settled directly, unlimited repatriation, EUR 1.5M, certificate on payment.
How we read these four advisories
Every country has its own scale, so we ask them all the same question: is the whole country advised against?
An advisory covering only areas of the country does not raise the answer: it stays “No”, and the area is shown in the relevant column.
The level shown on this page — and across this site — is the one published by the U.S. State Department, from 1 (normal precautions) to 4 (do not travel). France and the United Kingdom publish their own advisories, with their own rules: they add to that level, they do not replace it.
In a life-threatening emergency, call local emergency services first, then Maximum: +41 22 ••• •• •• — 24/7 support number, an adviser stays with you to the end.
What Maximum knows
The 207 country pages — hospitals, pharmacies, police, embassies, emergency numbers, official advice from four governments, health, safety in figures, events in progress — read around the city you name. Your policy — benefits, the six steps, claims, articles. The site — prices, certificate, subscription. Nothing else: what it does not know, it says so and hands you to an adviser.
What I say on the phone
- I am insured with Maximum, here is my policy number. Where should I go? Send me to a hospital in the Maximum network.
- Send the payment guarantee to the hospital: I do not want to pay anything up front.
- For non-urgent transport or repatriation, tell me what you authorise and arrange. In a life-threatening emergency, I call local emergency services immediately.
What to do, in this order
1Contact assistance without delay›
In immediate danger, call local emergency services first. Then contact assistance without delay; before engaging a service, seek approval under your policy. Cover is confirmed by the insurer.
2Ask where to get care›
Ask assistance where to get care and whether direct cover can be arranged. It confirms the facility and seeks the insurer's approval under your policy. In immediate danger, call local emergency services first.
3See a doctor the same day›
Even for a pain you meant to shrug off. Without a medical certificate written on the spot, the same day, the insurer cannot cover the event — a certificate written after you return does not count.
4Admitted? Have the hospital front desk call Maximum›
The hospital desk sends the request to assistance. Direct payment depends on the insurer's approval and the policy; the call alone does not guarantee it. Have the response confirmed before relying on no up-front payment.
5For non-urgent transport, seek assistance approval›
In a life-threatening emergency, call local emergency services immediately. For an arranged transfer or repatriation, contact assistance: the insurer's medical team decides on measures under the policy. A medical flight booked without approval may not be reimbursed.
6Once home, report the claim within 30 days›
Even if everything went well on the ground. Send your invoices and the medical report within 30 days; after that, compensation may be reduced or refused.
Places read from OpenStreetMap, within a circle of about 12 km: phone, email, address, website and hours when the source publishes them. No customer reviews, that source has none. Straight-line distances.
What is your current insurance?
Notices vary by bank and vintage — yours prevails. On the right: the Maximum contract (public documents).
What is happening in Gambia right now
Live alerts and level changes, each with its official source. Continuously updated.
What governments have just written
Natural disasters and climate section – added information on El Niño
October 13, 2026 16:13 EDTtravel.gc.ca ↗updated 13.10.2026 · read 16.10.2026No level change recorded for this country since the log opened. The live alerts above are updated continuously.
Frequently asked questions — travel insurance Gambia
What is the official risk level in Gambia today?
Level 2/4 — Exercise Increased Caution, U.S. Department of State, retrieved on 16 October 2026.
- Is the whole country advised against? United States: no · France: no · United Kingdom: no · Switzerland: no (reading of 27 September 2026).
- Contractually, only an FDFA, FOPH or WHO advisory against the trip opens Module A (art. 18.1) — that is not the case today.
- International medical cover, 24/7 number saved, and a read of the areas named under Safety & risks before booking the itinerary.
- We check these sources every morning and e-mail you the day one changes (Alerts button).
Sourcestravel.state.gov · updated 15.01 · read 16.10France Diplomatie · updated 15.09 · read 16.10DFAE · updated 15.09 · read 16.10207-country comparison
Is the whole of Gambia advised against, or only some areas?
An area advised against does not rule out the country.
- Official answers: United States: no · France: no · United Kingdom: no · Switzerland: no.
- Keep your country of residence's advisory on booking day and on departure day: that is what your policy's clauses cite.
SourcesFrance Diplomatie · updated 15.09 · read 16.10Foreign Office · updated 07.07 · read 16.10State Department · updated 15.01 · read 16.10
What are the entry requirements for Gambia with my passport?
The rules depend on the passport, not on the destination alone.
- French passport (France Diplomatie): French nationals receive a free short-stay visa on arrival in Gambia, valid for fifteen days and renewable, stamped directly in the passport. Vehicles registered in Senegal must pay 100 GMD (approximately 2 euros) for a 'passavant' at Gambian customs upon entry; any other monetary demands lack legal basis. Air travellers must pay an airport tax of 1000 GMD or 20 euros or 20 US dollars at both entry and exit, except holders of diplomatic passports.
- British passport (Foreign Office): British citizens need a passport valid for their entire stay in The Gambia; entry will be denied with an invalid, lost, or stolen passport. British citizens do not need a visa for The Gambia and receive a 28-day stamp on arrival; two 28-day extensions are available from the Immigration Office in Banjul or tourist police stations. You must pay a 20 US dollar Airport Security Fee upon arrival and departure, payable in USD, euros, British pounds, or local currency at marked kiosks; children aged one or under and transit passengers are exempt.
- American passport: the requirements are on the State Department country page (travel.state.gov).
- Swiss passport: the FDFA refers you to the destination's embassy in Switzerland.
- Pick your passport at the top of Before you go › Entry: the official text that concerns you comes first, with its “In brief” summary.
SourcesFrance Diplomatie · updated 15.09 · read 16.10Foreign Office · updated 07.07 · read 16.10State Department · updated 15.01 · read 16.10
Do I need an insurance certificate for a Gambia visa?
For a Schengen visa, yes: at least €30,000 of travel medical insurance (Regulation (EC) No 810/2009, art. 15).
- Many other countries ask for it on entry or for a visa, case by case: check Before you go › Entry, with your passport.
- Subscribe: the named certificate arrives by e-mail on payment, with your name, dates and limits (EUR 1.5M medical expenses, unlimited evacuation and repatriation) — the ones consulates check.
- Attach it to the visa file; if in doubt about the format, write to us.
SourcesRegulation (EC) 810/2009, art. 15General conditions, policy 20 00 479
What does Maximum Insurance do in Gambia, concretely?
VIP Pack — €990 for twelve months, unlimited trips.
- EUR 1.5M emergency medical expenses, unlimited medical evacuation and repatriation, search and rescue EUR 50,000, cancellation or change EUR 5,000.
- One 24/7 number, +41 22 ••• •• ••: Maximum sends its direct payment guarantee to the hospital (art. 2.12).
- Network of 45,000 providers (art. 6.9); evacuation is decided, organised and paid by Maximum's medical team if the local facility is not enough (art. 6.2.2).
- Named certificate by e-mail on payment, no medical questionnaire.
SourcesGeneral conditions, policy 20 00 479OpenStreetMap · read 10.10
What should I do if hospitalised in Gambia?
Six steps, in this order.
- 1. Call +41 22 ••• •• •• before paying anything, or have the front desk call: it is the condition for full cover (otherwise: reduced or refused benefits).
- 2. Ask for a hospital in the Maximum network (art. 6.9).
- 3. See a doctor the same day and leave with the certificate: without an on-the-spot finding, nothing is covered (art. 33).
- 4. Admitted for more than 24 h? The front desk calls Maximum: direct payment guarantee, no deposit (art. 2.12).
- 5. Book no ambulance or flight yourself (art. 6.2.2).
- 6. Once home, file within 30 days (art. 35.7).
- Local emergency services: police 112 · ambulance 116 · fire 118.
SourcesSpecial conditions 01.26General conditions, policy 20 00 479
Which emergency numbers in Gambia?
Local emergency services: police 112 · ambulance 116 · fire 118
- Maximum, 24/7, before any payment: +41 22 ••• •• ••.
- France — Ambassade de France en Gambie · +221 33 839 51 00
- United Kingdom — Haut-commissariat du Royaume-Uni (12.4 km)
- United States — Ambassade des États-Unis (11.8 km) · +220 439-2856
- Save these numbers before leaving; in immediate danger, call local emergency services first, then Maximum.
SourcesEmergencyNumberAPI · Wikidata · read 08.10OpenStreetMap · read 10.10
Is an Amex, Visa or Mastercard enough in Gambia?
At today's level 2/4, card by card:
- Amex Platinum — No area exclusion at this level — but three written limits: deductible and prior approval, 90-day cap, advance under conditions.
- Visa — No express area exclusion — but a €156,000 cap, 90 days, and the war/instability exclusion in the background.
- Mastercard — No exclusion in play at this level — but a €155,000 cap and 90 covered days.
- Three lines to read in your notice: the duration (often 90 days per trip), the settlement (reimbursement afterwards or direct payment of the hospital) and the area exclusion at level 4/4.
SourcesAmex Platinum France T&Cs, 01.2025 — general exclusion n° 11BNP Paribas Visa Infinite notice (policy PT7), 04.2025 — comFortuneo World Elite Mastercard notice, 01.2026 — art. 5.5 '
Are a health plan or a travel policy enough in Gambia?
A health plan reimburses at home; here, the hospital asks for a payment guarantee before admission.
- Health plan — A health plan treats you at home. Here the hospital asks for a guarantee before admission — not a later reimbursement.
- Travel policy — No area exclusion at this level — compare cap, deductible and covered duration.
- A travel policy often has a territorial clause at level 4/4 and a 90-day limit per trip.
- Have your IPID number or the PDF of the terms and ask an expert to call you back: the answer is in the document, not in the brochure.
SourcesGeneral conditions, policy 20 00 479
How do I use the medical network on this page?
The page reads hospitals, pharmacies and doctors from OpenStreetMap, around the point you choose.
- Type your city, hotel or beach: the map re-centres, 24/7 emergency rooms come first.
- Each row gives the phone when the source publishes it, the nearest street, directions and the Google Maps listing.
- The PDF briefing repeats the same places, numbered on a printable map.
- No customer reviews: OpenStreetMap has none, and we invent none.
Which vaccines and health precautions for Gambia?
The sourced detail is under Medical network › Health: vaccines, diseases present, altitude, outbreaks.
- France Diplomatie reports in the country: dengue, malaria, chikungunya — mosquito protection day and night.
- See a doctor or a travel clinic 8 weeks before departure (Foreign Office).
- Carry your medicines in their packaging, with a prescription using international non-proprietary names (France Diplomatie).
SourcesCDC Travelers' HealthFrance Diplomatie · updated 15.09 · read 16.10OMS · read 16.10Foreign Office · updated 07.07 · read 16.10
Can I be treated in Gambia, or will I be evacuated?
0.1 physicians per 1,000 people (2023) versus 4.5 in Switzerland.
- 1.1 hospital beds per 1,000 people versus 4.4 in Switzerland (World Bank).
- With 0.1 physicians per 1,000 people (98% fewer than Switzerland), the nearest hospital does not always have the capacity for a serious case: evacuation to an adequate centre is the rule, not the exception — that is what unlimited evacuation and repatriation cover. Health spending of 26 USD per person (Switzerland: 11,784) goes with private hospitals that bill foreigners in hard currency and ask for a guarantee before admission: the direct payment guarantee is what avoids the deposit.
- When the local facility is not enough, Maximum's medical team decides the evacuation to a suitable centre, and pays for it (art. 6.2.2).
SourcesWorld Bank · read 10.10General conditions, policy 20 00 479
Gambia: safety, in figures?
Comparable figures (homicides, roads, incidents) are under Safety & risks › Incidents.
- 29.6 road deaths per 100,000 people versus 2.2 in Switzerland (World Bank, WHO).
- On the road, 13 times more deaths than in Switzerland: road crashes are the leading cause of death of healthy travellers (CDC) — seat belt, no night driving, a driver or a taxi from a rank.
Where is my embassy in Gambia, and why register?
The nearest representations, by passport (OpenStreetMap):
- France — Ambassade de France en Gambie · +221 33 839 51 00
- United Kingdom — Haut-commissariat du Royaume-Uni (12.4 km)
- United States — Ambassade des États-Unis (11.8 km) · +220 439-2856
- Register before leaving: France: Ariane · Switzerland: Travel Admin · United Kingdom: Foreign Office alerts · United States: STEP.
- Two minutes, and in a crisis your country's authorities can reach you and count you in an evacuation.
- Pick your passport at the top of Contacts: your embassy comes first.
SourcesOpenStreetMap · read 10.10DFAE · updated 15.09 · read 16.10
Which regions of Gambia should I avoid, precisely?
No region is advised against by the official readings checked (Global Affairs Canada, Foreign Office and France Diplomatie): the national advice applies everywhere.
- Your point (Banjul): country-wide vigilance.
- Maximum does not exclude these areas: the VIP Pack covers care and repatriation there (sanctions, embargoes and a country already at war at departure remain enforceable).
SourcesGlobal Affairs Canada · updated 13.10 · read 16.10Foreign Office · updated 07.07 · read 16.10France Diplomatie · updated 15.09 · read 16.10
Which laws and customs should I know in Gambia?
Local laws apply to every traveller; here is what the official texts say.
- Canadian travellers must carry identification, such as a passport, and may be asked to present it to police; a printed copy is usually accepted.
- Travellers must abide by local laws, which are influenced by Islamic traditions; respect religious and social customs, especially during Ramadan, to avoid causing offence.
- Possession, use, or trafficking of illegal drugs carries severe penalties, including lengthy prison sentences; entrapment by authorities is not uncommon.
- Same-sex sexual acts are illegal and can result in imprisonment for up to 14 years; LGBT+ travellers should carefully consider the risks.
- Photography of airports, government buildings, military installations, and embassies is prohibited; smoking in public buildings is also an offence.
SourcesGlobal Affairs Canada · updated 13.10 · read 16.10Foreign Office · updated 07.07 · read 16.10
Who can I call at any hour from Gambia?
Every foreign ministry runs a 24/7 emergency line for its nationals.
- France — Crisis and Support Centre — French Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs: +33 1 53 59 11 00. 24/7 emergency line, standard rate. First contact abroad: the French embassy or consulate.
- Switzerland — FDFA Helpline: +41 58 465 33 33 · +41 800 24 7 365. 24/7, 365 days a year — helpline@eda.admin.ch. Beware of scam calls spoofing these numbers.
- United Kingdom — Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office: +44 20 7008 5000. 24 hours, for British nationals.
- United States — Overseas Citizens Services — U.S. Department of State: +1 202 501 4444 · +1 888 407 4747. From abroad; the second number from the U.S. and Canada.
- On site, Ambassade de France en Gambie: +221 33 839 51 00.
Sourcesdiplomatie.gouv.fr · updated 15.09 · read 16.10eda.admin.ch · updated 15.09 · read 16.10
What should I keep after leaving Gambia, and how do I file a claim?
Keep the entry stamp, the invoices, the prescriptions and the medical report.
- File within 30 days (art. 35.7) from your client area, with the documents; the official forms are pre-filled.
- Costs advanced on site are reimbursed against receipts.
- Fever, persistent diarrhoea or a rash in the following weeks? See a doctor and say where you have been — dengue, malaria, chikungunya circulate in the country (France Diplomatie).
SourcesGeneral conditions, policy 20 00 479
What does the Pack VIP Extreme add?
Cancellation or change up to EUR 20,000, special risk EUR 5,000 per person, crisis management and security, optional Kidnap & Ransom.
- Special risk (Module A): political event, attack, epidemic, natural disaster — opens when the FDFA, the FOPH or WHO advise against the trip (art. 18.1).
- Epidemic: assistance must be requested within 7 days of the WHO or FDFA qualification (art. 36.2).
- Crisis management and security: trip registration, monitoring, extraction, evacuation in case of riot, war, terrorism or disaster; Kidnap & Ransom subject to eligibility (art. 18.4).
- €2,290 a year, unlimited trips.
SourcesGeneral conditions, policy 20 00 479
A question not answered here? Ask Maximum below, or call the support number: every question gets a clear, actionable answer.
In a life-threatening emergency, call local emergency services first, then Maximum: +41 22 ••• •• •• — 24/7 support number, an adviser stays with you to the end.
What Maximum knows
The 207 country pages — hospitals, pharmacies, police, embassies, emergency numbers, official advice from four governments, health, safety in figures, events in progress — read around the city you name. Your policy — benefits, the six steps, claims, articles. The site — prices, certificate, subscription. Nothing else: what it does not know, it says so and hands you to an adviser.
Same advisory level: Botswana · Brazil · Benin · Cambodia · Cameroon · Chile
The displayed level comes from the State Department, checked every morning. Before departure, always cross-check your country of residence's advisory: that is what your policy cites.
The level shown is the official U.S. Department of State level, checked daily. Maximum Insurance is an insurance distributor — general information, not personal advice.