Sub Saharan Africa

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

• Health
• General
 

• Guinea-Bissau has a history of political instability. The country is calm but political tensions remain. 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. See Safety and Security - Political Situation.
  

• There is an underlying threat from terrorism. Attacks could be indiscriminate, including in places frequented by expatriates and foreign travellers.
  
  
• 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. See General (Representation in Guinea-Bissau).
  
  
• If you are thinking of travelling 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. See the FCO Travel Advice for Senegal for more details.
  
  
• Very few British nationals visit Guinea-Bissau each year. We are aware of only one consular assistance case in Guinea-Bissau in 2010.
  
  
• You should take out comprehensive travel and medical insurance before travelling. See General - Insurance.
  

Safety and Security - Terrorism
There is an underlying threat from terrorism. Attacks could be indiscriminate, including in places frequented by expatriates and foreign travellers. See our Terrorism Abroad page.

Safety and Security - Crime
Crime rates in Guinea-Bissau are not high but Guinea-Bissau is an extremely poor country in a severe economic crisis. You should take precautions. Do not carry valuables in public. See our Victims of Crime Abroad page.
 

Safety and Security - Local Travel
Land mines remain a problem in areas of Guinea-Bissau and de-mining operations are continuing.  The capital city of Bissau was declared “mine-free” in June 2006 by the national de-mining centre (CAAMI), which is responsible for de-mining operations and maintains lists of known minefields. Outside of the capital city, you should take local advice and stick to paved roads.

If you are thinking of travelling to Guinea-Bissau by road you should note that the Casamance region of south-western Senegal (an area between the southern border of Gambia and the north-western border of Guinea-Bissau) remains affected by incidents involving presumed separatist groups and by incidents of banditry. We advise against all road travel in the Casamance region to the west of Kolda other than on the main road from Ziguinchor to Cap Skirring, which is often used by groups of tourists during daylight hours. If you travel on this road, we advise that you do so only during daylight hours and that you monitor the local security situation before travelling. You should read the Travel Advice for Senegal for more details.

Safety and Security - Local Travel - Road Travel
Traffic is generally light in Guinea-Bissau but road conditions (including in the capital) and driving standards are poor. Because of unseen hazards, you should avoid road travel at night and you should take suitable precautions in the rainy season (June to October) when road and driving conditions can become particularly poor. See our Driving abroad page.

Safety and Security - Local Travel - Air Travel
You should reconfirm onward/return flights 72 hours in advance.

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

For more general information see Airline security.

Safety and Security - Political Situation
Guinea-Bissau has a history of political instability. Since 2000 there have been two coups and three murdered Chiefs of the Armed Forces. In June 2009 the then President, Joao Viera, was murdered by soldiers and in April 2010 the Prime Minister, Carlos Gomes Junior, was kidnapped and briefly detained during a military munity.

You should closely monitor daily developments through the local media. Political rallies should be avoided and if a demonstration or disturbance is taking place, you should leave the area as quickly and safely as possible.

Guinea-Bissau Country Profile

You should not become involved with drugs of any kind. There are heavy penalties for those convicted.  Local prison conditions are harsh.  You should carry ID (passport or residence permit) at all times, particularly when driving or taking a taxi, when the likelihood of having to produce it is high.   We are not aware of any laws against homosexuality in Guinea-Bissau. It is generally tolerated by society if couples are discreet.

For more general information for different types of travellers see our Your trip page.

Entry Requirements - Visas
British nationals require a visa to enter Guinea‑Bissau. Guinea‑Bissau does not have an Embassy in London.  Visitors can contact the Guinea‑Bissau Embassy in Paris at 94 Rue St Lazare (tel: +33 1 48 74 36 39). Guinea‑Bissau also has Embassies in neighbouring countries, including Senegal, which issue visas. 

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

Entry Requirements - Travelling with children
For information please contact the Guinea-Bissau Embassy in Paris at 94 Rue St Lazare (tel: +33 1 48 74 36 39).

Medical facilities in Guinea‑Bissau are extremely limited.

Malaria and other tropical diseases are common, especially during the rainy season (July-October). 

Water is often unsafe. In June 2008 cholera broke out in Tombali province and spread to other areas, including Bissau, resulting in over 200 fatalities. You should take particular care with uncooked foods and you should drink or use only boiled or bottled water and avoid ice in drinks. If you suffer from diarrhoea during a visit to Guinea-Bissau you should seek immediate medical attention.

In the 2010 Report on the Global AIDS Epidemic the UNAIDS/WHO Working Group estimated that around 20,000 adults aged 15 or over in Guinea-Bissau were living with HIV; the prevalence percentage was estimated at around 2.5% 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 Guinea Bissau 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 medical and travel insurance. This should include cover for medical treatment and evacuation, accidents, cancelled flights and stolen cash, credit cards, passport and luggage. Check for any exclusions and that your policy covers you for all the activities you want to undertake. For more general information 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 - Representation in Guinea-Bissau
There is no British Embassy in Guinea-Bissau. The British Honorary Consul, Jan van Maanen, is the first contact for consular issues. The nearest British Embassy in Dakar, Senegal does not issue passports.  Applications for new passports need to be made at our Regional Passport Processing Centre in Pretoria.

The Regional Passport Processing Centre website will tell you everything you need to know about applying for a new or replacement British passport from Guinea Bissau.

General - Money
Guinea-Bissau is very much a cash economy.  Credit cards are rarely used and ATM facilities are sparse.  The CFA Franc is the local currency.

General - Contact Details
The British Embassy in Dakar is responsible for Britain’s relations with Guinea-Bissau.  There is a British Honorary Consul in Bissau, Mr Jan van Maanen, who can provide only limited assistance; (tel +245 3201224/+245 6622772/+ 245 7201234).