Medical repatriation from Senegal to France
A relative is in hospital in Dakar or elsewhere in Senegal and needs to continue treatment in France. We organise the transfer from the ward in Senegal to the French hospital that has agreed to admit the patient.
The route between Senegal and France
[Route to be confirmed by the company]
Most departures use Blaise Diagne International Airport (AIBD), near Diass, about 45 km east of central Dakar, so the ambulance transfer from a Dakar hospital is a real stage of the journey. For a patient in Casamance, an air ambulance can sometimes take off from Ziguinchor or Cap Skirring, depending on the aircraft, the runway and permits.
AIBD is about 4,200 km from Paris-Charles de Gaulle as the crow flies. Air France gives around five and a half hours for its direct flights to Paris, which Air Sénégal also serves. Transavia links Dakar with French regional airports such as Marseille, Nantes, Lyon, Toulouse or Bordeaux, some only in certain seasons.
Three ways to travel from Senegal
Air ambulance
A medical aircraft flies from Dakar or a regional airport to the French airport nearest the receiving hospital. Flight time depends on the aircraft, the winds and any technical stop: as an indication only, allow at least the duration of a scheduled flight. See air ambulance.
Stretcher on a scheduled flight
A stable patient who must lie flat may travel on a stretcher on a direct flight, with a medical escort, if the airline’s medical service approves a MEDIF and the aircraft can take one. See stretcher on a scheduled flight.
Seat with a medical escort
A patient who can sit flies with a doctor or nurse. Direct flights to Paris and some regional cities can land near the receiving hospital. See medical escort.
Visas and health formalities
A Senegalese patient, and any Senegalese relative travelling with them, needs a Schengen short-stay visa for France. France-Visas sets out a procedure for a stay for medical care, including the receiving hospital’s written agreement and a cost estimate. French nationals and holders of a French residence permit need no visa.
A relative flying out on a French passport needs no visa for a stay of under three months, but the passport must be valid for more than six months. According to the French foreign ministry’s health advice for Senegal (in French), proof of vaccination is no longer required on entry for travellers from countries such as France, where yellow fever is neither endemic nor epidemic. Yellow fever vaccination remains strongly recommended.
Timescale and cost
The transfer can be planned once the treating doctor and our medical team agree that the journey is possible and a French hospital has confirmed a bed. Our usual time from agreement to take-off is [usual time from agreement to take-off].
The price depends on the means of transport, the departure airport, the arrival city and the medical team. With travel insurance or an assistance contract, call the assistance number first: a guarantee of payment is often needed. See our page on costs and our guide to insurance and repatriation.
Medical information
This page is general information and does not replace the treating doctor’s advice. The decision to fly rests with the treating doctor and the airline’s or operator’s medical team. In an emergency, call the local emergency number, or 112 in the European Union.
Questions about repatriation from Senegal
Can the patient land in Lyon, Marseille or Toulouse rather than Paris?
Yes. An air ambulance lands at the airport nearest the receiving hospital, and some direct scheduled flights from Dakar also serve regional cities, depending on the season.
The patient is in Ziguinchor. Do they have to go to Dakar first?
Not always. An air ambulance can sometimes collect the patient in Casamance. Otherwise, we plan the transfer to Dakar by road or on a domestic flight.
Can a relative travel with the patient?
Often, depending on the transport and the space on board. A Senegalese relative will need a visa for France, so mention them early.
Organise a transfer from Senegal to France
Tell us where the patient is in Senegal and which French city they need to reach. Our medical team reviews the file and we reply with a written quote. You can also write to us on WhatsApp or see our other routes.