How Foreigners Can Buy Property in The Gambia
Updated 1 July 2026 · 7 min read
The Gambia is unusually open to foreign property buyers. There is no nationality bar to ownership, English is the official language of contracts and courts, and a large diaspora has made remote purchasing a well-trodden path. The mechanics differ slightly from buying as a resident — mostly around how you hold title and how you protect yourself when you cannot be on the ground.
How foreign buyers hold property
Most foreign buyers take property on a long lease — typically 99 years, renewable — which functions in practice like ownership: you can build, sell, mortgage, and pass the lease to heirs. Buying through a Gambian-registered company is an alternative some investors use for commercial holdings. Genuine freehold occasionally comes to market in older areas, but leasehold is the normal and perfectly secure route.
Whichever route you take, the fundamentals are identical to any Gambian purchase: registry search, independent lawyer, licensed survey, registered deed.
Buying remotely without getting burned
Thousands of diaspora Gambians buy property from abroad every year, and the failure stories almost always share one feature: money sent to a relative or informal agent with no documents in return. If you cannot travel, appoint a lawyer to act under a specific power of attorney — not a general one — and have every payment go against a documented milestone: search complete, survey complete, deed signed, deed registered.
Insist on video walkthroughs of the actual plot with the surveyor present, and have the survey plan and photos sent to you before committing. KerrPoint listings include verified photos, plot details, and location information precisely so remote buyers can shortlist with confidence.
Moving money and closing
Transfer funds through formal banking channels into The Gambia and keep the SWIFT records. Paying in dalasi via a bank gives you a clean evidence trail; large informal cash handovers do not. Factor in stamp duty, registration, legal, and survey costs on top of the price — plan for roughly 5–10% all-in.
After completion, keep certified copies of the registered deed both in The Gambia and at home, and register your ownership details with the area council for property rates.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can a non-Gambian own property outright?
Non-Gambians can hold property, most commonly through a renewable 99-year lease, which is fully transferable and inheritable. Some buyers use a Gambian-registered company. There is no law preventing foreign ownership of property in The Gambia.
Can I buy property in The Gambia without visiting?
Yes — many diaspora buyers complete purchases remotely. Use an independent lawyer with a specific power of attorney, pay only against documented milestones, and require a surveyor-verified video walkthrough of the exact plot before committing funds.
Which areas are most popular with foreign buyers?
The coastal belt: Brufut (especially Brufut Heights and Brufut Gardens), Bijilo, Kololi, and Kerr Sering for apartments and villas, plus the Sukuta corridor for land. These areas combine beach access, established estates, and the strongest resale markets.