Guinea-Bissau:Visa Requirements

Guinea-BissauLearn the visa requirements for this country. Last check:Last update:

Official Government Website

Guinea-Bissau Visa Requirements Map

Guinea-Bissau: Visa Requirements

Visa requirements may change. Always verify the latest information through official government sources.

Consular Visa Application Requirements

  • The visa application must be made to one of Guinea-Bissau's authorized embassies or consulates. The method of accepting the application, appointment system, and whether documents must be submitted in person may vary depending on the representation applied to. The Consulate General in Algarve publishes official form and fee information for its own consular district.
  • The official visa application form must be completed in full and signed. The form requests first and last name, date and place of birth, country of birth, current citizenship, citizenship at birth, sex, marital status, telephone number and email address.
  • The applicant's travel document type, document number, issuing authority, date of issue and expiration date must be written on the form. Accepted options include ordinary passport, diplomatic passport, service passport, official passport and other travel documents provided the type is specified.
  • A copy of the passport with a validity of at least six months must be submitted. The consular page of the Embassy in Lisbon additionally requires the physical original of the foreign passport to be brought at the time of application. Which pages of the passport need to be copied, the number of blank pages required, the requirement for a biometric or machine-readable passport, and rules regarding damaged passports are not definitively specified in the central official source.
  • One recent passport-sized photograph must be submitted. The exact dimensions of the photograph, background color, date of capture limit, printing standard, and digital file specifications are not definitively specified in the central official source.
  • Professional information must be provided on the application form. Employees are asked for the name, address and telephone number of the employer; students and researchers are asked for the name and address of the educational or research institution. The form does not explicitly state that, in addition to this information, a work certificate, payslip, student certificate or company documents must be submitted as mandatory supporting documents.
  • The reference person or organization in Guinea-Bissau and accommodation information must be written on the form. Whether a hotel reservation, invitation letter, identity document of the inviting person, or proof of accommodation must be submitted as mandatory supporting documents for every application is not definitively specified in the central official source.
  • The purpose of travel must be stated in the application. The official form includes options for tourism, diplomatic travel, courtesy visit and transit. The applicant must mark the appropriate option among single entry, double entry or multiple entry; must indicate the requested duration of stay in days, the planned date of arrival, and whether entry into the country will be by air, sea or land.
  • For minor applicants, the name, address and citizenship of the person exercising parental authority or legal guardianship must be written on the form. In an application made on behalf of a minor, the parent or legal guardian must sign the form. Information about children traveling with the applicant must also be stated on the form. The requirement for a birth certificate, custody decision, consent from the other parent, or documents proving family ties is not definitively specified in the central official source.
  • The official fee schedule of the Consulate General in Algarve specifies for a 30–45 day visa: 60 euros for normal processing, 70 euros for urgent processing; for a 90-day visa: 90 euros for normal processing, 110 euros for urgent processing; for a 180-day visa: 180 euros for normal processing, 210 euros for urgent processing. These amounts are the local schedule of the Consulate General in Algarve; at other representations, the fee, currency and service type may vary.
  • The Consulate General in Algarve requires payment to be made at a Banco Montepio branch and the payment or deposit receipt to be submitted at the time of application. The Embassy in Lisbon, on the other hand, states that it accepts bank transfer or payment by Multibanco at the consulate. The payment method should be checked according to the representation applied to.
  • It is declared on the official application form that fees paid are non-refundable if the visa is refused.
  • Round-trip ticket or flight reservation, daily travel itinerary, the method of proving sufficient financial means, the period to be covered by the bank statement, and the minimum amount required in the account are not definitively specified in the central official source.
  • Whether travel health insurance is mandatory and, if so, the minimum coverage amount required are not definitively specified in the central official source.
  • Requirements for fingerprinting, facial image or other biometric data collection, mandatory interview, medical report and vaccination certificate are not definitively specified in the central official source.
  • The requirement for translation of documents, notarization, apostille, or legalization at the consulate is not definitively specified in the central official source.
  • How far in advance the application must be made before travel and the current official processing time are not definitively specified in the central official source. The existence of normal and urgent fee options does not in itself imply a definitive processing time.
  • The exact validity period of the visa, the permitted duration of stay and number of entries depend on the category requested at the time of application and the consulate's decision. Although the local fee schedule includes 30–45, 90 and 180 day categories, a single maximum duration of stay applicable to all applications is not definitively specified in the central official source.

Transit Visa Requirements

  • "Transit" appears as a separate visa purpose on the official application form. The applicant must mark the transit option and complete and sign the official visa application form in full.
  • A copy of the passport valid for at least six months and one recent passport-sized photograph must be submitted. The representation applied to may require the physical original of the passport to be submitted as well. The number of blank pages required in the passport and the exact technical specifications of the photograph are not definitively specified in the central official source.
  • The type and number of the travel document, issuing authority, date of issue and validity dates, requested number of entries, planned date of arrival, estimated duration of stay, and the air, sea or land route to be used must be indicated on the form. The reference and accommodation fields in Guinea-Bissau must also be completed.
  • For minor transit visa applications, the information of the parent or legal guardian must be written on the form and the form must be signed by the parent or legal guardian. Children traveling with the applicant must be stated on the form.
  • A visa or residence permit for the final destination country, confirmed onward flight ticket, transit route, the requirement to remain in the international transit area of the airport, and specific border crossing points where the transit visa may be used are not definitively specified in the central official source.
  • The transit visa fee, how far in advance the application must be made, official processing time, the visa's validity, and the number of permitted transits are not definitively specified in the central official source. The current local fee and document list of the consulate applied to must be used.
Population
2,297,808(2026 est.)
Official language
Portuguese
Government type
Semi-presidential republic
Continent
Africa
Capital
Bissau
Currency
West African CFA franc
Area
36,125 km²
Phone code
+245

Guinea-Bissau: Key Destinations

Guinea-Bissau's capital and primary gateway is Bissau, home to Osvaldo Vieira International Airport. The city serves as the main entry point and offers a mix of colonial architecture and waterfront markets. Other key urban centers include Bafatá and Gabú, which provide access to inland regions.

The country's cultural richness is centered on the Bijagós Archipelago, a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve with unique traditions and pristine beaches. The mainland coast features mangrove-fringed rivers and historic towns like Cacheu, once a Portuguese trading post. Bolama Island retains abandoned colonial buildings and a relaxed atmosphere.

Travelers often begin in Bissau before heading to the Bijagós Islands by boat or air. Domestic flights and informal transport connect Bissau to regional hubs like Bafatá and Gabú, while river taxis serve coastal and island destinations. A typical itinerary combines a few days in the capital with exploration of the archipelago's remote communities.