NICAD in Senegal: office and documents

The DGID names the Cadastre office serving the parcel’s locality as the issuing service. A Dakar headquarters address does not tell you which office handles land elsewhere. Ask for the bureau’s name, address, filing channel and territorial coverage before travelling.

Give the commune, neighbourhood or village and any existing parcel references. If you have only an advert or a map pin, ask the seller for the documents that identify the land. A useful first question is: ‘Does your office handle this parcel, and which references do you need to find it?’

The NICAD service sheet lists the following items. Confirm with the local office how to submit them, whether originals must be shown and what is required if a representative makes the request. These are questions to settle before copying or sending personal documents.

• A copy of the land title or allocation document.
• A plan showing where the parcel is located.
• A copy of the owner’s identification document.

When you receive an answer, compare its references with the papers you started from. Keep the NICAD, title reference, parcel designation and location together in one file. Ask the office to explain a missing reference or discrepancy rather than accepting an intermediary’s verbal explanation.

For example, if an advert names one lot but the supplied plan names another, resolve that mismatch before using the papers for a purchase or a building application. This comparison is a practical check; it does not authenticate the documents.

If your goal is to buy, ask a notary or property lawyer which ownership and transfer checks your documents require. The official état de droits réels route is a separate service at the competent Conservation foncière. Ask what can be checked for the particular land status, who is entitled to act and what remains unresolved before committing money.