Okay, here’s my experience about getting a Gambia ID card online.
So, I needed to get a Gambian ID card. I heard it’s a pain, but I figured I’d give it a shot. First, I found out that these cards are handed out by the Gambian Immigration Department. That’s where you gotta go to apply.
I learned that the Gambian national ID card and the Gambian national passport each have their own ways of being issued. Also, I saw something about birth registration, but that’s a whole other story.

Then I stumbled upon a post from way back in September 2018. It said they were gonna start giving these ID cards to the public on October 1st, 2018. The President, Adama Barrow, was the one who announced it.
Get Down to Brass Tacks
Now, here’s where it gets real. Everyone in Gambia, no matter who you are, has gotta have an ID card on them at all times. If you’re not from there, you get an alien card. It’s good for a year, and it basically says, “Hey, this person’s not from around here.”
- Find the Right Place: I figured out the Department of Immigration (GID) is the place to be. They handle everything – visa extensions, work permits for folks from other countries, and ID cards for immigrants.
- Gather Your Stuff: I didn’t know exactly what I needed, but I guessed it was the usual – passport, maybe some proof of where I’m staying, that kind of thing.
- Head Over to the GID: This was the big step. I went down to their office, ready to jump through whatever hoops they had set up.
- Fill Out the Forms: You know the drill. Lots of paperwork. Name, address, the whole nine yards.
- Wait and See: After all that, it’s a waiting game. I handed in my forms and crossed my fingers.
The Result?
Honestly, it wasn’t as bad as I thought. The lines were a bit long, and the forms were confusing, but I managed. Eventually, I got my hands on that ID card. Now, I’m walking around Gambia with my ID, just like everyone else.
It was a bit of a hassle, but I got through it. Now I know the ropes, so if anyone else is trying to get a Gambian ID card, maybe my experience can help them out a bit.