Guinea-Bissau Travel Guide

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Passports

Passport valid for six months required by all nationals referred to in the chart above.

Visas

Required by all nationals referred to in the chart above except the following:
(a) transit passengers continuing their journey by the same or first connecting aircraft provided holding valid onward or return documentation and not leaving the airport.

Note: Nationals not referred to in the chart above are advised to contact the embassy to check visa requirements.

Types of Visa and Cost

Tourist, Business: €60; Transit only available on request.

Validity

Three months. Transit visas are valid for up to five days. Extensions are then granted at the discretion of the Immigration Authorities.

Working Days Required

Two.

Travel Warnings

A presidential election took place on 28 June 2009 and a new President was sworn in in September.The country remains calm but there are ongoing political tensions. If you are in Guinea-Bissau you should take precautions and closely monitor developments through the local media. You should avoid demonstrations or rallies, which have the potential to become violent.

There is no British Embassy in Guinea-Bissau. The British Ambassador to Guinea-Bissau resides in Dakar, Senegal. However, the British Honorary Consul, Mr Jan Van Maanen, can offer limited consular assistance.

If you are thinking of traveling to Guinea-Bissau by road you should note that we advise against all road travel in the Casamance region to the west of Kolda (an area of Senegal to the northwest of Guinea-Bissau) except on the main road from Ziguinchor to Cap Skirring, which is often used by groups of tourists during daylight hours.

There is a general threat from terrorism in Guinea-Bissau. Attacks cannot be ruled out and could be indiscriminate, including in places frequented by expatriates and foreign travelers.

This advice is based on information provided by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office in the UK. It is correct at time of publishing. As the situation can change rapidly, visitors are advised to contact the following organizations for the latest travel advice:

British Foreign and Commonwealth Office
Tel: 0845 850 2829.
Website: www.fco.gov.uk

US Department of State
Website: http://travel.state.gov/travel

Health Care

Medical facilities are extremely limited and medicines often unavailable. Doctors and hospitals often expect immediate cash payment for health services. Health insurance covering repatriation is essential. Most doctors work in the public service and have their private clinic in the afternoon and evening. There are few specialists. Several foreign aid agencies have their own doctor and medical facilities, including the French Mission and the Swedish Embassy. There is also a UN clinic. All these clinics will receive visitors in an emergency, but none have surgical facilities.

Vaccinations

Special Notes

* A yellow fever vaccination certificate is required from travelers over one year of age coming from infected areas. Travelers arriving from non-endemic zones should note that a vaccination is strongly recommended for travel outside the urban areas, even if an outbreak of the disease has not been reported and they would normally not require a vaccination certificate to enter the country.