Senegal rarely comes to mind at the top of expatriation lists. And yet, for a French-speaking family where one parent makes a living from trading, Dakar ticks a lot of boxes: French is spoken daily, the time difference places the opening of Wall Street in the early local afternoon, a French community is well established there, and the cost of living remains moderate for many items. This guide is aimed at a couple with two children considering a long-term move. First reflex before dreaming of a terrace facing the ocean: properly handle your departure from France.
Who Senegal is relevant for
Imagine a transition without the language barrier: that is Senegal's main asset. You arrive, you understand everything, your children attend school in French, you handle your paperwork without an interpreter. Add a comfortable time zone for following the American markets and a budget that leaves some margin.
This profile is particularly suited to the French-speaking family that wants a smooth move, whether in the bustle of Dakar or on the Petite Côte, in Saly or Somone, where the pace is more peaceful. If, on the other hand, you are looking for an English-speaking destination to force linguistic immersion, this is not the right choice.
The visa and the stay: for you and your family
For a short stay, French citizens often enter without a visa (exact duration to be confirmed before departure). To settle long-term, you then need a residence permit — in plain terms, the document that authorizes you to reside in the country beyond a tourist stay. The spouse and children can be attached to it, with supporting civil-status documents required (birth certificates, family record book), as well as proof of resources and housing.
As with any administrative procedure, plan for patience and copies: this is the kind of file where a missing document sends you back to the queue. Where to find information: the Travel Advice from France Diplomatie for entry, then, once on site, the Direction de la Police des étrangers et des titres de voyage for the residence permit. Always check information at the source: rules change.
Settling in: housing, banking, transport
Housing offers a wide range: an apartment in the city in Dakar, a villa with a garden on the coast. As everywhere, the farther you move from the center, the more space you gain — at the cost of a longer commute.
The currency is the CFA franc (XOF), pegged to the euro. In other words, its value follows that of the euro at a fixed rate: no unpleasant exchange-rate surprises when you transfer your income, which is a real comfort compared with a currency that fluctuates.
As for transport, a car is recommended, especially with a family. In Dakar, traffic is heavy during rush hour: plan your trips as you would in any major capital, with some margin.
The children's school
This is often the first criterion of a family expatriation. Dakar has accredited French schools — Lycée français Jean-Mermoz is the best-known example — as well as international institutions. The French curriculum is provided, which limits the educational disruption for your children.
A point not to underestimate: tuition fees are significant per child per year. The exact amount should be verified directly with the schools, as it varies depending on the level and the institution. Places are limited: plan your application well before the start of the school year, ideally several months in advance.
Daily family life
Senegalese hospitality has a name, teranga: a warm hospitality, an art of welcoming that makes integration easier. Add to that a strong French community, a real safety net for the first few months, and a sunny climate that tips the scales when you are leaving the European winter behind.
On the health side, good-quality care exists in the private sector in Dakar. Plan for solid private health insurance and, as a precaution, repatriation coverage. For highly specialized care, you sometimes have to leave the country: better to know that before you need it. A common-sense tip: identify the reference clinics and doctors as soon as you arrive, rather than searching in an emergency.
Continuing to trade and manage your prop firm
This is the argument that often tips the decision. Senegal is on the GMT time zone: the opening of Wall Street falls in the early local afternoon. In practice, you follow the American indices during hours when you are already awake and productive, without staying up until 3 a.m. as you would from France. A much more sustainable pace of life, especially with children.
The internet connection is decent in Dakar; plan for a 4G backup so you do not depend on a single line. Access to brokers and prop firms should be checked on a case-by-case basis, particularly withdrawal conditions and the availability of your usual platforms — a point you do not imagine before leaving.
To structure your practice in this new environment, a disciplined work framework makes the difference: that is precisely the purpose of the complete and structured pathway training offered by the institute, with bootcamps, mentoring and events. The JARVIS METHOD indicator on TradingView, the position calculator and the session markers complete the toolkit of the member area, where you track your progress, keep a trading journal and find your statistics in the "My Trading" hub. Mindset coaching helps you keep a cool head, and the "My Fitness" section reminds you that a high-performing trader is first and foremost a well-rested trader. The Telegram assistant provides the plan of the day and the morning market brief, invaluable when you change time zones.
Society and taxation
Residents are taxed according to the Senegalese scale, and setting up a company there is possible. Be careful, however: rates, thresholds and especially the treatment of trading income are technical subjects that depend on your specific situation.
Do not rely on any approximation, including mine. Have your case verified with the Senegalese tax administration and a local accountant, and examine the French-Senegalese tax treaty, which determines in particular which country taxes what. This is the kind of subject where an hour of consultation avoids years of trouble.
Indicative budget: solo versus family with two children
The cost of living is moderate for many items — local food, services, labor — but the differences are enormous depending on the level of "expat" comfort you are aiming for. A villa with a pool and an apartment in the city center are not in the same league.
Two items weigh heavily in a family budget: French school and the children's health insurance. These are what make the difference between a "solo" budget and a "family" budget. The wisest approach is to build your own benchmarks on site, by tracking your actual expenses in the first few months rather than relying on averages found online.
Safety and crime
Senegal is one of the most stable countries in the region, which partly explains its attractiveness. That does not exempt you from the usual vigilance of a large city: in Dakar, snatch thefts exist, and some neighborhoods should be avoided at night.
The good habit: consult the official travel advice (France Diplomatie) to know the areas and current events, and adopt the precautionary reflexes of any capital — do not display valuables, avoid isolated trips at night. A city is better discovered when you know its rules.
Activities and places to discover as a family
Senegal has enough to keep your weekends busy for years. The beaches of the Petite Côte for relaxation, the Lac Rose for its astonishingly colored water, the island of Gorée for its weight of memory and history, the reserves and parks — Bandia for animals, Djoudj for birds — not to mention the markets and local culture.
For children, it is an open-air playground: fresh air, discoveries, outdoor activities. A living environment that is a radical change from the metro-work-sleep routine.
Points of vigilance, including the French framework
Leaving France does not make your French tax obligations disappear overnight. Three points deserve your attention before the big leap.
- Exit tax: departure outside the European Union to Senegal falls within the scope of Article 167 bis of the French General Tax Code (CGI), without automatic deferral. In plain terms, the latent capital gain on certain assets may be taxed as if you had sold them. To be examined with a professional.
- Foreign accounts: if you keep accounts in France or open accounts in Senegal, the declaration via form 3916 (Article 1649 A of the CGI) is still required as long as you are considered a French tax resident. Forgetting this box is costly.
- Specialized health care: anticipate access to advanced care, which may require travel outside the country.
The common thread: validate your project with a professional — tax adviser, lawyer, accountant — before leaving, not after. To go further in preparing your activity, the institute's investment journal (/investir section) and its country fact sheets are useful resources for keeping a clear view of your finances.
Key takeaways
- French-speaking country with an ideal time zone for following the American indices in the afternoon.
- Residence permit with family attachment; CFA franc pegged to the euro, with no exchange-rate risk.
- French school in Dakar (e.g. Lycée Jean-Mermoz); school and health budget to be planned seriously.
- Stable country; big-city vigilance and consultation of official sources.
- French framework: exit tax (Art. 167 bis), form 3916 declaration (Art. 1649 A), a professional before departure.
Indicative information (up to date as of September 11, 2026) — not legal or tax advice. Stay, school, tax and safety to be verified with the Senegalese authorities, the schools and a professional. Educational content: trading involves a risk of capital loss, this is not investment advice.