How to Enter Guinea-Bissau
Do I need a passport or visa to enter?
A valid passport, visa, and proof of onward/return ticket are required. The Bissau-Guinean Embassy in Washington, DC, suspended operations in January 2007. The Embassy of Guinea-Bissau does not have a website. Due to Guinea-Bissau’s lack of consular representation in the United States, it can be difficult for you to obtain the required visa for entry into Guinea-Bissau. Since most flights destined for Guinea-Bissau must pass through Dakar, Senegal, or Lisbon, Portugal, most travelers are able to apply for visas at the Bissau-Guinean embassies in those countries. Although it is possible to obtain a visa upon arrival in Bissau if arrangements are made in advance, there are no clear instructions for how to make those arrangements.Guinea-Bissau remains an unstable threat environment for which additional security precautions are required. The U.S. State Department rates Guinea-Bissau as a high threat country for political violence and crime. All official U.S. government travelers (including personnel assigned to the U.S. Embassy in Dakar), must have Regional Security Office (RSO) approval and are required to receive an RSO country-specific security briefing prior to travel.
Special Travel Circumstances in Guinea-Bissau
Guinea-Bissau's customs authorities may enforce strict regulations concerning the temporary import or export of items such as firearms, antiquities, medications, and business equipment.
Currency: International banking and finance is problematic due to a limited formal banking sector. ATMs are not available, credit cards are not accepted, currency exchange exists at banks and hotels and is available on the street. Wire transfer possibilities, while limited, are available and repatriation of funds is problematic. Purchases of goods and services are possible only in cash and in the local currency, the Franc of the West African Economic and Monetary Zone (CFA). It is recommended that travelers secure more than adequate sums of CFA before arriving in Guinea-Bissau.
Consular Notification: As there is currently no U.S. Embassy in Guinea-Bissau, and no consular notification agreement between Guinea-Bissau and the United States, U.S. consular officials may not be properly notified when a U.S. citizen is arrested or detained in Guinea-Bissau. U.S. citizens are encouraged to carry a notarized copy of their U.S. passports with them at all times to have proof of identity and U.S. citizenship is readily available if questioned by local officials.
Disclaimer
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