Sub Saharan Africa

Insurance

We recommend that you 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.  You should check any exclusions, and that your policy covers you for all the activities you want to undertake. For more general information see Travel insurance.

If things do go wrong when you are overseas then this is How we can help.

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.  More information about registering with LOCATE can be found here.

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.  However, it will accept applications, and forward them to the High Commission in The Gambia for issue, but the process can take up to five weeks.  If applicants are prepared to pay the cost of a courier, the process can be completed in two weeks or less.

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.

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).  British nationals are advised to register with the Honorary Consul on arrival in Bissau.