Guinea-Bissau visa and entry requirements

The governments of the UK, Ireland, Canada, France, Germany and Poland tell their own citizens that they need a visa for Guinea-Bissau; Singapore's says Singaporeans may stay up to 90 days with a visa issued on arrival. Germany's foreign ministry says a visa can be obtained on arrival at the airport, but not at a land border. ECOWAS says citizens of Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger continue to enjoy, until further notice, the right of movement, residence and establishment without visas under its protocols.

Every fact on this page verified on or after: Aug 28, 2026· How this site works

Check requirements for your passport

Requirements differ by nationality. Select your passport above, or scan the full table below.

Visas & entry authorisations

Visa (diplomatic missions of Guinea-Bissau) — Irish citizens

Fee
Not published
Processing
—

Ireland's foreign ministry says Irish citizens can apply in person at diplomatic missions of Guinea-Bissau, such as the embassies in Paris or Lisbon, and that the cost depends on the length of stay: 45 days (EUR 70), 90 days (EUR 110) or 180 days (EUR 200).

Verified Oct 9, 2026 · ireland.ie

Entry requirements

Passport validity

The UK Foreign Office says your passport must have an expiry date at least 6 months after the date you arrive in Guinea-Bissau.

Verified Oct 3, 2026 · gov.ukCompare every country

Vaccinations

Required
  • Yellow fever (International Certificate of Vaccination (yellow card)) — The UK Foreign Office says you must have a certificate proving yellow fever vaccination to enter Guinea-Bissau.
Verified Oct 3, 2026 · gov.ukCompare every country

Travel insurance

Not officially stated

No official source we could read states a travel-insurance requirement for entry to Guinea-Bissau. Canada's travel advice tells travellers to get insurance that covers medical evacuation and hospital stays.

Verified Oct 4, 2026 · travel.gc.ca

Onward or return ticket

Not officially stated

No official source we could read states an onward- or return-ticket requirement for entry to Guinea-Bissau.

Last confirmed Aug 28, 2026 · gov.uk · could not re-read on Oct 7, 2026

Proof of funds

Not officially stated

No official source we could read states a proof-of-funds requirement or amount for visitors to Guinea-Bissau.

Last confirmed Aug 28, 2026 · gov.uk · could not re-read on Oct 7, 2026

Customs & currency

The Government of Canada says import and export of local currency is prohibited, that the import of foreign currency is unlimited provided it is declared on arrival, and that the export of foreign currency is limited to the amount declared on arrival.

Verified Oct 3, 2026 · travel.gc.ca

Yellow fever certificate

The UK Foreign Office says you must have a certificate proving yellow fever vaccination to enter Guinea-Bissau.

Compiled Aug 26, 2026 · cdn.who.int · International Health Regulations (2005), Article 36

International Health Regulations (2005), Article 36 and Annex 7; WHO International Travel and Health, Annex 1, 18 November 2022 (revised 3 January 2023)

Country in a nutshell

Currency
West African CFA franc (XOF, CFA)
Cards & payments
The UK government describes Guinea-Bissau as a cash-based economy where credit cards are rarely used and there are not many ATMs; Canada's travel advice says there are no ATMs. Canada adds that foreign currency can be imported without limit provided it is declared on arrival, and that its export is limited to the amount declared on arrival.
Safety — Exercise caution
The UK says Guinea-Bissau suffers from political instability and advises avoiding sensitive areas like military installations and government buildings. It says pickpocketing and bag and phone snatching are relatively common in Bissau, and that landmines remain a risk in parts of the country: outside Bissau, take local advice and stay on paved roads.Verified Oct 3, 2026 · gov.uk · archived copy
Power plugs
C · 220V 50Hz
Emergency numbers
Police: 117 · Ambulance: 119 · Fire: 118
Languages
Portuguese
Time zone
UTC+0
International Driving Permit

Canada's travel advice says Guinea-Bissau does not participate in the international driving permit program.

Verified Oct 10, 2026 · gov.uk Compare every country

Best time to visit

Canada's travel advice says the dry season lasts from December to April and the rainy season extends from May to November, with high humidity from July to September; the UK government says the rainy season runs from June to October. No official source we could read names a best time to visit.

Tips & warnings

Germany's foreign ministry says no visa is available at Guinea-Bissau's land borders. The UK government says Guinea-Bissau has embassies in neighbouring countries, including Senegal, where you may be able to get a visa, and Poland's says tourists travelling through Senegal can apply at the embassy in Dakar or the consulate in Ziguinchor.

Canada's travel advice says that to reach the Bijagós Islands from the mainland you must use chartered air services or travel by boat, that tour operators organise boat trips to the islands, and to avoid pirogues, as they are unsafe.

The UK government says credit cards are rarely used and there are not many ATMs, and Canada says there are none. Canada also says import and export of local currency is prohibited, while foreign currency may be imported without limit provided it is declared on arrival.

Canada's travel advice says that on 26 November 2025, following the presidential election, the army seized power and formed a transitional government. The UK government advises avoiding sensitive areas like military installations and government buildings and following the advice of local authorities in the event of any political unrest.

Visa requirements by nationality

PassportsVisas & entry authorisationsMax stay
AustriaEmbassy visa—
BelgiumEmbassy visa—
BeninFree movement90 days
Bosnia and HerzegovinaEmbassy visa—
Burkina FasoFree movement—
Cabo VerdeFree movement90 days
CanadaVisa required—
ColombiaEmbassy visa—
Côte d'IvoireFree movement90 days
EcuadorVisa required—
FranceEmbassy visa—
GambiaFree movement90 days
GermanyEmbassy visa—
GhanaFree movement90 days
GuineaFree movement90 days
Guinea-BissauFree movement—
HungaryEmbassy visa—
IrelandEmbassy visa—
ItalyVisa required—
JamaicaVisa required—
KazakhstanVisa required—
LiberiaFree movement90 days
MaliFree movement—
MoldovaEmbassy visa—
NetherlandsVisa required—
NigerFree movement—
NigeriaFree movement90 days
PolandVisa required—
RussiaVisa required—
SenegalFree movement90 days
SerbiaEmbassy visa—
SeychellesVisa required—
Sierra LeoneFree movement90 days
SingaporeVisa on arrival90 days
SloveniaVisa required—
SpainEmbassy visa—
TaiwanEmbassy visa—
TajikistanVisa required—
TogoFree movement90 days
TurkeyVisa required—
United KingdomVisa required—

Stay lengths are for ordinary tourist visits. Click a nationality for its full guide.

No official page we read states the rule for 158 nationalities, so the table leaves them out: Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Andorra, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belize, Bhutan, Bolivia, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei, Bulgaria, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Chile, China, Comoros, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czechia, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Egypt, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Estonia, Eswatini, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, Gabon, Georgia, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Hong Kong, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Israel, Japan, Jordan, Kenya, Kiribati, Kosovo, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho, Libya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Macau, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Malta, Marshall Islands, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Micronesia, Monaco, Mongolia, Montenegro, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nauru, Nepal, New Zealand, Nicaragua, North Korea, North Macedonia, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Palau, Palestine, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Portugal, Qatar, Republic of the Congo, Romania, Rwanda, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, San Marino, São Tomé and Príncipe, Saudi Arabia, Slovakia, Solomon Islands, Somalia, South Africa, South Korea, South Sudan, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Sweden, Switzerland, Syria, Tanzania, Thailand, Timor-Leste, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkmenistan, Tuvalu, Uganda, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United States, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu, Vatican City, Venezuela, Vietnam, Yemen, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.

Senegal61 of 199 passports visa-freeGuinea22 of 199 passports visa-free · 177 eVisa/ETAGambia33 of 199 passports visa-free · 44 eVisa/ETACabo Verde67 of 199 passports visa-free · 89 eVisa/ETA

Frequently asked questions

Do I need a visa for Guinea-Bissau?

It depends on your passport, and for most passports no official source we could read states the rule. The governments of the UK, Ireland, Canada, France, Germany and Poland tell their own citizens that they need a visa; Ireland's foreign ministry says Irish citizens can apply in person at diplomatic missions of Guinea-Bissau, such as the embassies in Paris or Lisbon, and that the cost depends on the length of stay: 45 days (EUR 70), 90 days (EUR 110) or 180 days (EUR 200). Singapore's foreign ministry says Singaporeans may stay up to 90 days with a visa issued on arrival. ECOWAS says citizens of Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger continue to enjoy, until further notice, the right of movement, residence and establishment without visas under its protocols.

How does the visa on arrival in Guinea-Bissau work?

No official source we could read describes a visa on arrival open to every passport. Germany's foreign ministry says German citizens need a visa applied for before entry at Guinea-Bissau's embassy in Brussels, that a visa can be obtained on arrival at the airport (EUR 80 for 30 days), and that none is available at a land border. France's says a visa can be obtained at Bissau airport when your contact has told the immigration department in advance, in an emergency, or when your country of departure has no Guinea-Bissau embassy or consulate, and that payment must be made in cash. Singapore's says Singaporeans may stay up to 90 days with a visa issued on arrival.

Do I need a yellow fever vaccination for Guinea-Bissau?

Yes, according to the UK Foreign Office: you must have a certificate proving yellow fever vaccination to enter Guinea-Bissau.

Is Guinea-Bissau safe to visit?

Canada's travel advice says to exercise a high degree of caution because of high crime rates and weak state infrastructure, that on 26 November 2025, following the presidential election, the army seized power, that petty crime, including pickpocketing, is common at the airport, in markets and at public gatherings, and that even peaceful demonstrations can turn violent at any time.

Can I pay by card in Guinea-Bissau?

The UK government says Guinea-Bissau is a cash-based economy where credit cards are rarely used and there are not many ATMs, and Canada says there are no ATMs. Canada also says foreign currency may be imported without limit provided it is declared on arrival.

Sources & verification

Every fact on this page is compiled from and periodically re-checked against these official sources:

Something wrong or out of date? Tell us, with the official source