More than 80,000 Senegalese live legally in Spain, and the most common routes are family reunification, arraigo for those already living there and hiring-at-origin programmes. Senegal has applied the apostille since 2023, and a social security agreement with Spain has been in force since 2022. Here is how the move works and how to prepare Senegalese documents.
Key facts
- Entry: Senegalese passport holders need a visa even for short Schengen stays. To live in Spain you need a national residence visa for a specific purpose.
- Citizenship: the general requirement is 10 years of legal, continuous residence. At the oath you must declare that you renounce Senegalese nationality (art. 24 of the Civil Code); its effect in Senegal depends on Senegalese law. The CCSE and DELE A2 tests are required.
- Documents: Senegal has applied the Hague Convention since 5 April 2023; apostilles are issued by the Senegalese Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Documents in French need a translation into Spanish.
- Social security: the Spain–Senegal agreement, in force since 1 May 2022, lets you combine contributions from both countries.
- Driving: there is no exchange agreement. Once resident you can drive for six months on your Senegalese licence; after that you must take the Spanish theory and practical tests.
How people usually move
- Family reunification. A relative legally resident in Spain can bring a spouse, children and, under conditions, parents once they have held residence for at least one year and have obtained or applied for renewal. Family reunification
- Arraigo. If you already live in Spain, after 2 years of continuous stay and with no criminal record you may qualify for social, socio-labour or socio-training arraigo (family arraigo, for example for the parent of a Spanish child, has no such minimum). The 2026 extraordinary regularisation closed on 30 June 2026. Arraigo
- Hiring at origin and work. Senegal takes part in collective hiring at origin (GECCO), mainly for farm seasons: selection is organised in Senegal with the Senegalese authorities, and the visa is issued before travel with a commitment to return afterwards. With an individual offer from a Spanish employer, an employee work permit is processed. Employment permit
- Studies. A degree, master’s or vocational course with a study authorisation, which allows work up to 30 hours a week. Time as a student does not count towards citizenship. Study permit
- Family of a Spanish or EU citizen. Marriage or registered partnership with a Spanish or EU citizen, or dependent children and parents. Family member of a Spanish or EU citizen
Documents and apostille
- Criminal record: the casier judiciaire extract (bulletin n°3), issued by the registry of the competent court. It usually has to be recent, apostilled and translated; add one from any other country you lived in during the last 5 years.
- Civil status records: birth certificate, marriage certificate and family book (livret de famille), recent. For reunification the consulate asks for the spouse’s documents to be no more than 3 months old.
- Apostille: issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Senegal. Since April 2023 Senegalese documents are apostilled, no longer legalised.
- Translation: the Dakar consulate accepts translations by a Spanish sworn translator or official translations by the Senegalese Ministry of Foreign Affairs legalised by it. Confirm on the checklist for your visa type.
- Minors: if a child travels with only one parent, a notarised authorisation from the other parent made in Senegal, or a death certificate if that parent has died.
What to keep in mind
- Visas are handled by the Consulate General of Spain in Dakar, which also serves residents of The Gambia. Applications are filed by appointment at the BLS International centre.
- Each visa type has its own checklist (reunification, EU family member, studies, work): download the current one before booking.
- Common mistakes: civil status records older than 3 months, documents legalised instead of apostilled, and translations the consulate does not accept.
- In Spain: register at the town hall (padrón) and, if you came with a residence visa, apply for your TIE within the first month.
Frequently asked questions
Are my Senegalese documents legalised or apostilled?
Apostilled. Senegal has been party to the Hague Convention since 5 April 2023, and apostilles are issued by its Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Legalisation is still needed only for documents from countries outside the convention, such as The Gambia.
Do my years of contributions in Senegal count in Spain?
Yes. The Spain–Senegal social security agreement has been in force since 1 May 2022 and lets you combine periods contributed in both countries to qualify for a pension; each country pays its own share.
How does hiring at origin from Senegal work?
Spanish companies request workers through the GECCO programme, selection takes place in Senegal with the Senegalese authorities involved, and the visa is issued before travel. At the end of the season you must return and prove it; keeping that commitment lets you take part in later seasons.
Official sources
- BLS International: visados para España en Senegal (Consulado General en Dakar)
- Lista de documentos del Consulado en Dakar: apostilla senegalesa y traducción
- BOE: Convenio de Seguridad Social entre España y Senegal (en vigor desde el 1 de mayo de 2022)
- Ministerio de Inclusión: migración circular y programa GECCO con Senegal
- Código Civil, arts. 22 y 24