When buying property in Senegal, the buyer pays, on top of the price, acquisition costs made up mainly of registration duties (a transfer tax paid to the State) and the notaire's fees. As an indication, allow roughly 7% to 10% of the sale price, to be confirmed with the notaire depending on the property and its price.
Quick answer
- Registration duties — Transfer tax paid to the State on the sale price — indicatively around 5%.
- Notaire's fees — The notaire's remuneration follows a sliding scale applied to the property's value.
- Land registry — Fees to register the new owner at the land registry (conservation foncière).
- Total budget — Allow roughly ~7–10% of the price on top, to be validated case by case.
What acquisition costs cover
Acquisition costs bundle the registration duties (the transfer tax the State levies on the sale), the notaire's fees (for drafting and authenticating the deed), the land-registry recording fee, and where applicable the agency commission. They are added to the listed price and, as a rule, borne by the buyer.
Indicative rates
Purely as an indication, registration duties often sit around 5% of the price, and the notaire's fees follow a sliding scale (a percentage that decreases as the property's value rises). Added to registry fees, the total frequently lands in the region of 7% to 10% of the price.
These orders of magnitude vary with the nature and amount of the transaction. Only the notaire produces the exact figure; ask for a statement of costs before signing.
Who pays what
The buyer usually bears the registration duties and the notaire's fees. The seller, for their part, may owe capital-gains tax if they make a gain on resale. Any agency commission is due under the terms of the mandate.
Budgeting your purchase
Factor acquisition costs in from the start of your budget: on a property at 100 million FCFA, allow on the order of 7 to 10 million in fees on top, to be confirmed. For prices by neighbourhood see our Dakar price guide; for financing, the diaspora guide.
Frequently asked questions
- Who pays the notary fees, the buyer or the seller?
- As a rule, the notary fees and registration duties are borne by the buyer, unless the parties agree otherwise.
- Are notary fees negotiable?
- Fees follow a scale; they are not freely negotiable, but the notaire gives you an itemised statement. Ask for it before signing.
- Do the costs apply to an off-plan (VEFA) purchase?
- Yes, an off-plan (VEFA) new-build purchase also incurs acquisition costs. Their calculation can differ; have the development's notaire produce the breakdown.
See also
Updated 2026-06-24