Senegal: Knowledge Base profile
Published 12 September 2025
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About: Senegal
This document contains useful information about Senegal which will assist His Majesty’s Passport Office staff process passport applications.
Contacts
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If you notice any formatting errors in this document (broken links, spelling mistakes and so on) or have any comments about the layout or navigability of the document then you can email the Guidance team.
Publication
Below is information on when this version of the document was published:
- version 2.0
- published for Home Office staff on 8 September 2025
Changes from last version of this document
This document has been updated with formatting changes.
Senegal: legitimacy
This section gives HM Passport Office operational staff information about legitimacy in Senegal.
Legitimacy
Senegal recognises a difference between legitimate and illegitimate births.
A child will be considered:
- legitimate:
- if their parents were married at the time of the birth
- from the date of the marriage if the parents marry after the birth
- illegitimate if their parents never marry
Senegal: adoption
This section gives HM Passport Office operational staff information about adoption in Senegal.
Adoption is legal in Senegal.
Senegal: civil partnerships and marriage
This section gives HM Passport Office operational staff information about civil partnerships and marriage in Senegal.
Civil partnerships and same sex marriages are illegal in Senegal.
Civil marriages are legal in Senegal.
Religious and customary marriages are allowed in Senegal but not legally recognised. These types of marriages must be registered with a civil authority in Senegal to be legally recognised.
Senegal recognises polygamous marriages.