Government advisories for Guinea-Bissau
US State Department
US L3 · Reconsider travelReconsider Travel
Reconsider travel to Guinea-Bissau due to unrest , inadequate health infrastructure, and landmines . There is no U.S. embassy or consulate in Guinea-Bissau. The U.S. government has limited ability to provide emergency services to U.S. citizens. Consular services are provided by the U.S. embassy in Dakar, Senegal. Unrest…
Official notice Source: U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Consular Affairs (travel.state.gov) · updated Dec 11, 2025
UK Foreign Office (FCDO)
UK · no warningsNo FCDO travel warnings
Latest change: New information about dual nationals returning to the UK (‘Entry requirements’ page).
Official notice Source: gov.uk · updated Dec 10, 2025
Local scams and street crime
- Crime: Pickpocketing and bag and phone snatching are relatively common in the capital city, Bissau. Where possible, keep valuables such as phones hidden when out in public. Be especially careful in remote areas where security forces have a limited presence.
Official notice Source: UK FCDO travel advice (Open Government Licence v3.0) · updated Dec 10, 2025
LGBT+ and women travellers: what the UK FCDO says
- LGBT+ travellers: Same-sex sexual relationships are not criminalised. However, Guinea-Bissau is a conservative society and same-sex couples showing affection in public may attract unwanted and negative attention.
Official notice Source: UK FCDO travel advice (Open Government Licence v3.0) · updated Dec 10, 2025
Pregnancy and children: CDC health notes for Guinea-Bissau
- Zika: the CDC lists Zika as a risk in Guinea-Bissau. An infected pregnant woman can spread it to her unborn baby. CDC on Zika
- Malaria: CDC recommends that travelers going to Guinea-Bissau take prescription medicine to prevent malaria. Depending on the medicine you take, you will need to start taking this medicine multiple days before your trip, as well as during and after your trip. Talk to your doctor about which malaria medication you should take. Ask a travel-health provider which medicine suits pregnancy or young children before you go.
- Hepatitis A (children): Infants 6 to 11 months old should also be vaccinated against Hepatitis A.
- Measles (children): All international travelers should be fully vaccinated against measles with the measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine, including an early dose for infants 6–11 months, according to CDC’s measles vaccination recommendations for international travel .
- Yellow Fever (children): CDC recommendations: Vaccine is recommended for all travelers ≥9 months old.
CDC health page for Guinea-Bissau · CDC: pregnant travelers · CDC: traveling with children
Official notice Source: CDC Travelers' Health (US government, public domain). General information, not medical advice: see a doctor or travel clinic before you go.
Government of Canada
CA 2 · High degree of cautionExercise a high degree of caution (some regions differ)
Latest change: Natural disasters and climate section – added information on El Niño
Official notice Source: travel.gc.ca · updated Oct 13, 2026
Government of Canada: regional advisories
Area bordering Senegal - Avoid non-essential travel
Avoid non-essential travel to the area within 20 km of the border with Senegal, including the road from São Domingos to Mpack, Senegal.
Read the full Canadian advisory
Official notice Source: travel.gc.ca (Government of Canada, Open Government Licence - Canada) · updated Oct 13, 2026
German Foreign Office
DE · no travel warningNo travel warning
Official notice Source: Auswärtiges Amt · updated Oct 13, 2026
Read the official travel and safety advice
Dutch Foreign Ministry
NL · yellowYellow: be alert, safety risks (regions differ, up to orange)
De kleurcode van het reisadvies is oranje voor het grensgebied tussen Guinee-Bissau en Senegal. Reis alleen hierheen als het noodzakelijk is. Het is niet veilig er op vakantie te gaan. Lees meer onder Regionale risico’s. Voor de rest van Guinee-Bissau geldt kleurcode geel. U kunt hierheen reizen. Maar let op: er zijn b
Official notice Source: Ministerie van Buitenlandse Zaken, Nederland Wereldwijd (open data, CC0) · updated Jun 12, 2026
New Zealand SafeTravel
NZ · level 2Exercise increased caution
Official notice Source: New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade, SafeTravel (CC BY 4.0) · updated 27 November 2025
Japan Foreign Ministry
JP L3 · Avoid all travelHighest level: Avoid all travel
Level 3 in 1 area, level 2 in 1 area. Areas can differ; the highest level applies only where the ministry says so.
ギニアビサウの危険情報【危険レベル継続】(内容の更新)
Official notice Source: Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan, Overseas Safety Homepage · updated Mar 15, 2026
Each government uses its own scale. Read the full advisory before you book or travel; regional differences inside a country can matter more than the headline level.
Entry requirements for Guinea-Bissau
🇬🇧 British passport holders
- Visa: You must have a visa to visit Guinea-Bissau.
- Passport: To enter Guinea-Bissau, your passport must have an ‘expiry date’ at least 6 months after the date you arrive.
Read the full UK entry requirements
This information is for people travelling on a full ‘British citizen’ passport from the UK. It is based on the UK government’s understanding of Guinea-Bissau’s current rules for the most common types of travel.
The authorities in Guinea-Bissau set and enforce entry rules. If you’re not sure how these requirements apply to you, contact the Guinea-Bissau Embassy in Paris, France:
94 Rue St Lazare, 75009 Paris
Email: embgbfr@gmail.com
Telephone: +33 (0)1 48 74 36 39 or +33 (0)1 48 78 36 69
Passport validity requirements
To enter Guinea-Bissau, your passport must have an ‘expiry date’ at least 6 months after the date you arrive.
Check with your travel provider that your passport and other travel documents meet requirements. Renew your passport if you need to.
You will be denied entry if you do not have a valid travel document or try to use a passport that has been reported lost or stolen.
Dual nationals
When returning to the UK, British citizens must carry a valid British passport or certificate of entitlement. See Dual citizenship.
Visa requirements
You must have a visa to visit Guinea-Bissau.
Applying for a visa
Contact the Guinea-Bissau Embassy in Paris, France, for information on applying for a visa:
94 Rue St Lazare, 75009 Paris
Email: embgbfr@gmail.com
Telephone: +33 (0)1 48 74 36 39 or +33 (0)1 48 78 36 69
Guinea-Bissau also has embassies in neighbouring countries, including Senegal, where you may be able to get a visa.
Vaccine requirements
To enter Guinea-Bissau, you must have a certificate to prove you’ve had a yellow fever vaccination.
For more details about medical entry requirements and recommended vaccinations, see TravelHealthPro’s Guinea-Bissau guide.
Customs rules
There are strict rules about goods you can take into or out of Guinea-Bissau. You must declare anything that may be prohibited or subject to tax or duty.
Official notice Source: UK Foreign Office · updated Dec 10, 2025
🇨🇦 Canadian passport holders
- Tourist visa: required
Read the full Canadian entry requirements
Some countries have imposed measures in response to the Ebola disease outbreak. These can include restrictions on entry and health screening measures for travellers having recently visited an affected country. If you are suspected of having symptoms, you may be subject to isolation, quarantine and/or travel restrictions. Contact the authorities of the country you are travelling to for more details.
The authorities of a country or territory decide who can enter or exit through its borders. The Government of Canada cannot intervene on your behalf if you do not meet your destination’s entry or exit requirements.
We have obtained the information on this page from local authorities. It can, however, change at any time.
Verify this information with the Foreign Representatives in Canada.
Passport
Entry requirements vary depending on the type of passport you're travelling with.
Before you travel, check with your transportation company about passport requirements. Its rules on passport validity may be more stringent than the country's entry rules.
Regular Canadian passport
Your passport must be valid for at least 3 months beyond the date you expect to leave Guinea-Bissau.
Passport for official travel
Different entry rules may apply.
Passport with “X” gender identifier
While the Government of Canada issues passports with an “X” gender identifier, it cannot guarantee your entry or transit through other countries. You might face entry restrictions in countries that do not recognize the “X” gender identifier. Before you leave, verify this information with the closest foreign representative for your destination.
You should also be aware that current systems used by some countries and travel companies may not recognize the “X” gender identifier. You may still be asked to provide your sex/gender information as either male or female when travelling.
Other travel documents
Different entry rules may apply when travelling with a temporary passport or an emergency travel document. Before you leave, verify this information with the closest foreign representative for your destination.
Useful links
- Travel and your sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression and sex characteristics
- Foreign Representatives in Canada
- Canadian passports and other travel documents
Visas
Tourist visa: required
Business visa: required
Student visa: required
Children and travel
Learn about travelling with children.
Yellow fever
Learn about potential entry requirements related to yellow fever (vaccines section).
Official notice Source: Government of Canada · updated Oct 13, 2026
Other passports
Rules depend on your nationality, so we do not guess. Before you book:
- Read your own government's travel advice first (US travellers: State Department page for Guinea-Bissau).
- Not sure what your passport needs? Check the visa rules for your nationality (eVisas visa checker) or compare with VisaHQ. These are affiliate links: if you use their application service we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Official government sites are usually cheaper and are linked above where we have them.
- Check your passport: many countries want it valid for 6 months after arrival and with blank pages.
- Check for an e-visa, travel authorisation or digital arrival card, and any vaccine rules (yellow fever is the common one).
- Ask your airline: they can refuse boarding if your documents do not match the rules.
Entry rules are set by each government and change without notice. This summary is for planning only and is not legal or immigration advice. Confirm on the official government website and with your airline before you book or travel. Voyaggora is not a government agency and does not process visas.
Essentials for travelers
- Plugs: type C, E, F
- Power: 220 V, 50 Hz
- Traffic drives on the right
- Tap water: not recommended
- Calling code: +245
Compiled by Voyaggora from IEC World Plugs, government and consular sources. Confidence: low. Check with your embassy or hotel before you rely on it in an emergency.
Local language
Guiné-Bissau Portuguese
Essential phrases in Portuguese
| Hello | Olá | |
|---|---|---|
| Thank you | Obrigado / Obrigada | |
| Help! | Socorro! | |
| Where is the hospital? | Onde fica o hospital? | |
| I need the police | Preciso da polícia | |
| I need a doctor | Preciso de um médico | |
| How much is it? | Quanto custa? | |
| Where is the toilet? | Onde fica o banheiro? |
Country names come from the Unicode CLDR. Phrases are short standard translations; show them on your phone to ask for help.
More live hazards and notices
- Globe at Night campaign running 2026-11-01 to 2026-11-10: look for Cygnus, Grus, Pegasus. Join in: globeatnight.org.
Live feed Sources: NOAA / NWS (ash advisories from the ICAO Volcanic Ash Advisory Centres, aurora from the Space Weather Prediction Center), USGS, GeoNet New Zealand (CC BY 3.0 NZ) · checked
Health and vaccines
Vaccines, malaria and yellow-fever certificate rules: TravelHealthPro country pages (UK Health Security Agency), CDC destination pages, UK Foreign Office health advice. Ask a travel clinic 6 to 8 weeks before you go.
Money
1 US dollar ≈ 584.38 XOF · 1 euro ≈ 656.26 XOF
Central-bank reference rate for Oct 18, 2026. Your card or exchange desk will differ.
Live feed Source: Frankfurter · checked
Voyaggora destination guides
Quick answers: is it safe to travel to Guinea-Bissau?
- Is it safe to travel to Guinea-Bissau right now?
- It depends on where you go. As of Oct 18, 08:28 UTC. The US State Department rates Guinea-Bissau Level 3 of 4, "Reconsider travel". Canada says "Exercise a high degree of caution", with regional advisories. The UK FCDO has no warnings against travel to Guinea-Bissau. Advisory levels change and can vary by region within a country: check the official page before you travel. Sources: US State Department Canada UK FCDO.
- Which parts of Guinea-Bissau do governments warn about?
- Governments warn about parts of Guinea-Bissau rather than the whole country. The UK FCDO has no warnings against travel to Guinea-Bissau. Canada lists regional advisories. The US State Department page lists area-specific levels. Open each official page for the exact areas and routes.
- Are there any active weather or hazard alerts in Guinea-Bissau right now?
- As of Oct 18, 08:28 UTC, Travel Live shows these live hazard and alert sections for Guinea-Bissau: more live hazards and notices. Each one on this page names its official source and the time it was checked. Worldwide storms, earthquakes and disasters are on the Travel Live hub.
- What do the advisory levels mean?
- US State Department: Level 1 exercise normal precautions, Level 2 exercise increased caution, Level 3 reconsider travel, Level 4 do not travel. Canada: take normal security precautions, exercise a high degree of caution, avoid non-essential travel, avoid all travel. UK FCDO: it advises against all travel, or all but essential travel, to the whole country or to parts of it, or has no warnings. Each government uses its own scale, so the levels are not directly comparable.
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Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Canada. Voyaggora summarises official sources and is not a government service; always confirm with the official advisory before you travel.
