Sub Saharan Africa

No restrictions in this travel advice

Avoid all but essential travel to part(s) of country

Avoid all but essential travel to whole country

Avoid all travel to part(s) of country

Avoid all travel to whole country

• Travel Summary
• Safety and security
• Local laws and customs
• Entry requirements

• Health
• General
 

• There is no British Embassy in Equatorial Guinea. In an emergency, you can obtain consular assistance from the British Honorary Consul in Malabo.  Otherwise all enquiries should be made to the British High Commission in Yaoundé, Cameroon. See General - British Representation.
  
  
• While in Malabo you should remain alert and take sensible personal security precautions. Security measures by the local authorities, including roadblocks and unannounced identification checks, remain likely. You should carry an appropriate form of identification (passport or residence permit) with you at all times.
  
  
• The Africa Cup of Nations football tournament is taking place in Gabon and Equatorial Guinea between 21 January and 12 February.  The opening match will be held in Bata with matches also taking place in Malabo.  As with all international sporting events, common sense precautions should be adopted and be aware of heightened security presence and checks in and around the match venues.
  
  
• Those wishing to travel outside Malabo on the island of Bioko, and outside Bata on the mainland should see Safety and Security - Local Travel.
  
  
• There have been attacks of armed robbery on commercial shipping vessels in the Gulf of Guinea. Extreme caution should be exercised in this area when travelling in coastal waters. We advise mariners to take appropriate precautions.
  
• There is a low threat from terrorism but you should be aware of the global risk of indiscriminate terrorist attacks, which could be in public places, including those frequented by expatriates and foreign travellers.
  
  
• You should take out comprehensive travel and medical insurance before travelling. See General - Insurance.

Safety and Security - Terrorism
There is a low threat from terrorism but you should be aware of the global risk of indiscriminate terrorist attacks, which could be in public places, including those frequented by expatriates and foreign travellers. See our Terrorism Abroad page.

Safety and Security - Crime
Compared to other countries in the region, the level of violent crime in Equatorial Guinea is not high.  There have been very few cases of British nationals requiring consular assistance in Equatorial Guinea this year. However, we have been made aware of a serious incident of robbery and assault in a shared taxi in Bata. The victims were trapped in the car by the driver and his accomplices before having their money taken and being dropped outside town. We advise you avoid, where possible, taking taxis with groups of strangers, particularly at night.

There are regular reports of other petty theft affecting both visitors and expatriates. We recommend that you take personal security precautions. You should avoid carrying valuables or wearing jewellery in public and avoid isolated or poorer areas of town. You should not walk around Malabo and Bata at night and should also avoid travelling by road after dark. For more general information see our Victims of crime page.

Safety and Security - Local Travel
Unless you are a UK citizen who is resident in Equatorial Guinea and in possession of an EG resident permit, you will need to inform Protocol Division of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Cooperation and Francophonie in advance if you wish to travel outside Malabo on the island of Bioko, and outside Bata on the mainland.

Land borders often close with little or no notice. You should check the situation with the local authorities before travelling to border areas. 

Safety and Security - Local Travel - Road Travel
Most roads in Malabo are paved.  In rural areas the condition of the roads is likely to be poor.  During the rainy season, many roads are accessible only with a four-wheel drive vehicle.

Police and military roadblocks are common.  You may be asked to show your passport, driving licence or vehicle registration documents and explain your reason for being in the area.  Failure to comply with requests can lead to detention.

There are regular reports of extortion by police and uniformed security forces at roadblocks.  You are advised not to pay bribes but to ask for a ticket, detailing alleged offences or violations, which can be paid at a local court.

Public transport facilities, particularly on mainland Equatorial Guinea, are extremely limited.

See our Driving Abroad page.

Safety and Security - Local Travel - Air Travel
The EU has published a list of air carriers that are subject to an operating ban or restrictions within the Community.  You should check the following link to see whether this will affect your travel - European Commission Transport - Air.

There are doubts about the reliability and safety of some Equatorial Guinean-registered aircraft operating flights within Equatorial Guinea and regionally. Equatorial Guinean-registered aircraft are banned from British and EU airspace on safety grounds.  British government employees do not use Equatorial Guinean-registered aircraft unless this is unavoidable. You should bear this in mind when making your travel plans.

See Airline Security.

Safety and Security – Local Travel – Sea Travel
There have been attacks of armed robbery on commercial shipping vessels in the Gulf of Guinea. Extreme caution should be exercised in these areas when travelling in coastal waters. We advise mariners to take appropriate precautions.

Safety and Security - Political Situation
Equatorial Guinea Country Profile

The political situation has remained calm in recent years but you should be aware that political events can lead to increased presence of police, military or security forces on the streets. This can happen with little or no notice. Equatorial Guinea is host to the Africa Cup of Nations football tournament jointly with Gabon between 21 January and 12 February 2012. This event may lead to an increase in security presence, particularly in cities where the games will take place - Malabo and Bata. You should avoid any political rallies, demonstrations or large public gatherings and should carry copies of appropriate documentation (passport or residence permit) with you at all times.

Penalties for the use and possession of drugs are severe and usually include a prison sentence that would be served in local prisons.  Photography of the presidential palace, ports, airports and military installations is strictly prohibited and can lead to imprisonment.  Special permits from the Ministry of Information and Tourism are required for all other photography.  Homosexuality is not widely accepted in Central African society and some sexual acts between members of the same sex are illegal. Failure to produce documents on request can lead to detention. See our Your trip page.

Entry Requirements - Passport validity
You must hold a valid passport to enter Equatorial Guinea. Your passport must be valid for a minimum period of six months from the date of entry into Equatorial Guinea.

Entry Requirements - Visas
British nationals require a visa to visit Equatorial Guinea. To obtain further information on entry requirements and embassy details, please contact the Embassy of Equatorial Guinea in London: 13 Park Place, St James’, London SW1A 1LP; tel:  020 7499 6867.

You should check that your passport is properly endorsed/stamped at the airport, on arrival and departure, before leaving the immigration desk. There have been reports of travellers being delayed or threatened with detention because their passports have not been properly endorsed/stamped.

When getting a new passport, please ask the issuing authority to return your previous cancelled passport. The Equatorial Guinea authorities will require the old passport prior to issuing a replacement visa in your new passport. The Equatorial Guinean authorities will not admit travellers on visas entered into old passports, even if the visa is still valid.

Entry Requirements - Yellow Fever Vaccination Certificate
Please note that immigration / health authorities in Equatorial Guinea now require an international vaccination certificate in order to enter/leave Equatorial Guinea. All flights are systematically checked.

A tax of 5,000 Central African Francs will be levied for those who do not produce the yellow booklet. Entry refusal may occur if this rule is not complied with.

Entry Requirements - Travelling with children
For information on exactly what will be required at immigration contact the Embassy of Equatorial Guinea in London: 13 Park Place, St James’, London SW1A 1LP; tel:  020 7499 6867.

Medical facilities are poor. Pharmacies in Malabo and Bata stock basic medication. Emergency facilities are extremely limited. For serious medical treatment, evacuation to Europe would be necessary. 
 

Malaria, cholera and water-borne diseases are common in Equatorial Guinea.

 

Food purchased from local street vendors may not meet adequate hygiene standards.  You should drink or use only boiled or bottled water and avoid ice in drinks. If you suffer from diarrhoea during a visit to Equatorial Guinea you should seek immediate medical attention. 
 

In the 2010 Report on the Global AIDS Epidemic the UNAIDS/WHO Working Group estimated that around 18,000 adults aged 15 or over in Equatorial Guinea were living with HIV; the prevalence percentage was estimated at around 5% of the adult population compared to the prevalence percentage in adults in the UK of around 0.2%.  You should exercise normal precautions to avoid exposure to HIV/AIDS. See our HIV and AIDS page.

You should seek medical advice before travelling to Equatorial Guinea and ensure that all appropriate vaccinations are up-to-date.  For further information on vaccination requirements, health outbreaks and general disease protection and prevention you should visit the websites of  NaTHNaC and NHS Scotland's Fit For Travel or call NHS Direct on 0845 46 47.

See our Travel Health page.

General - Insurance
You should take out comprehensive travel and medical insurance before travelling. Check for any exclusions, and that your policy covers you for all the activities you want to undertake. See our Travel Insurance page.

If things do go wrong when you are overseas see our When Things Go Wrong page.

General - Consular Registration
Register with our LOCATE service to tell us when and where you are travelling abroad or where you live abroad so our consular and crisis staff can provide better assistance to you in an emergency.

General - British representation
There is no British Embassy in Equatorial Guinea.  In an emergency, you can obtain consular assistance from the British Honorary Consul in Malabo:

David Shaw
Honorary Consul
Malabo, Equatorial Guinea
Email: ShawD@rpsgroup.com
tel: 00240 222277502

The nearest British Diplomatic Mission is in Yaoundé, Cameroon (see contact details).


General - Stays of more than one month
If you intend to stay in Equatorial Guinea for more than one month you are encouraged to register with the British High Commission in Yaoundé.

General - Commercial disputes
There have been occasions when expatriate staff of foreign companies have been confined to the country for prolonged periods when commercial disputes have arisen. In such circumstances support from the British High Commission in Yaoundé is confined to a consular support role.

General - Money
It is not possible to use credit cards in Equatorial Guinea except at the major airline offices (Air France, Iberia and Lufthansa). The local currency is the Central African Franc (CFA), issued by the Banque des Etats de L’Afrique Centrale (BEAC). Please note that this is not the same Central African Franc as issued by the Banque des Etats de L’Afrique Ouest (BEAOC) which is not legal tender in Equatorial Guinea. There are only a limited number of ATM’s in Equatorial Guinea, located in Malabo and Bata. Additionally, not all of these accept international credit and debit cards. Euros, Pound Sterling and US Dollars are the preferred currencies for exchange at local banks.