Guinea-Bissau visa requirements for British citizens
British citizens need a visa for Guinea-Bissau and must apply for it before the trip at a consulate or embassy.
- Minimum passport validity
- 6 months
Why is this passport validity required? →
Last verified: 3 October 2026
Verified practical details
You'll need to apply for a visa at a consulate or embassy before travelling. Here are the practical details we've verified:
Authorisation system
Embassy or border visa
The online visa platform is not working. A visa can also be requested at the border or at the Guinea-Bissau Consulate in Ziguinchor (Senegal), but Spain's Foreign Ministry warns that the conditions under which these are granted are neither clear nor stable, and recommends travelling with a visa issued before departure.
Required documents
- Passport valid for at least six months.
- A visa issued before travel, which is what Spain's Foreign Ministry and the UK Government recommend.
- Yellow fever vaccination certificate.
Transit rules
After the military coup of 26 November 2025 the country is going through a period of instability, so avoid demonstrations and follow the news. Always carry ID, especially when driving or in a taxi, as the police ask for it often. Outside Bissau some areas still have landmines: stay on paved roads and marked tracks. Driving with any trace of alcohol can bring a fine and prison. The northern border with Casamance closes from 12:30 to 13:30 and from 18:00.
More Guinea-Bissau rules
They don't depend on your passport, so they are on the Guinea-Bissau page:
Official portal: . Destination data verified on 3 October 2026. Sources: exteriores.gob.es (travel advice of Spain's Ministry of Foreign Affairs for Guinea-Bissau, updated 19 March 2026: visa required, platform not working, border visa or Ziguinchor, yellow fever, coup, landmines, currency, borders); gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/guinea- bissau (UK Government: visa required through an embassy, ID, landmines, drink-driving); data.unesco.org (World Heritage List). All checked on 3 October 2026.
Travel insurance for Guinea-Bissau
It isn't listed as mandatory for this entry, but without insurance, medical care during the trip can get expensive.
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Things to see and do in Guinea-Bissau
Tours, skip-the-line tickets and day trips, most with free cancellation up to 24 hours before.
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This pair in context
In the other direction, citizens of Guinea-Bissau need a visa to enter the United Kingdom. See the Guinea-Bissau → United Kingdom page.
Of the 10 passports from Northern Europe that VisaRadar tracks, for travel to Guinea-Bissau 9 need a prior authorisation or a visa on arrival and 1 need a visa.
With a passport from the United Kingdom, in the rest of Western Africa you can enter Cape Verde, Gambia and Senegal visa-free; you need a prior authorisation or a visa on arrival for Benin, Burkina Faso, Guinea, Ivory Coast, Mauritania, Nigeria, Sierra Leone and Togo; you need a visa for Ghana, Liberia, Mali and Niger.
A passport from the United Kingdom ranks 35 of 199 in the VisaRadar passport ranking and reaches 156 of 198 destinations without applying for a visa in advance.
Counts from the same requirements matrix behind this page's verdict, using the UN M49 subregions.
Frequently asked questions
Do British citizens need a visa for Guinea-Bissau?
Yes. You must apply for the visa in advance at the relevant consulate or embassy.
What minimum passport validity is required?
Passport valid for at least six months.
What currency is used in Guinea-Bissau?
West African CFA Franc (XOF).
What do British passport holders need for the countries near Guinea-Bissau?
With a passport from the United Kingdom, in the rest of Western Africa you can enter Cape Verde, Gambia and Senegal visa-free; you need a prior authorisation or a visa on arrival for Benin, Burkina Faso, Guinea, Ivory Coast, Mauritania, Nigeria, Sierra Leone and Togo; you need a visa for Ghana, Liberia, Mali and Niger.
Related pages
See Guinea-Bissau requirements for other passports →
See entry requirements to United Kingdom for other passports →
Informational only. Always verify requirements with the official embassy or consulate before you travel.