Everything you need to know about a Guinea-Bissau visa
It
is a mandatory requirement for British nationals to obtain a visa in order to
enter Guinea Bissau.
Since Guinea Bissau does not have an Embassy in London,
the only way to lodge a visa application is through the Guinea Bissau Embassy
in Paris at 94 Rue St Lazare. Additional nearby countries having Guinea Bissau
consuls are Senegal and Portugal.
Guinea Bissau E-visa for British citizens
There is also an e-visa portal through which you can apply online for a visa. After filling in all the details online, you will receive a visa issuing confirmation by email.
You need to present this document at the border crossing or entry point to the country. You will also get a visa slip that needs to be printed and presented to the visa officer at the airport, alongside your passport.
Guinea Bissau Visa on Arrival for British citizens
Another option is to go for a visa on arrival, obtained at Guinea Bissau International Airport. In order to seek one, you need to show a letter of authorisation from the Migration Office of Guinea Bissau accompanied by your passport.
In order to get the letter of authorisation, you need to submit the details of the purpose of visit, stay duration, and a scanned passport to your contact in Guinea Bissau.
He will then submit these documents to the Migration Office and fill in the request form.
Once approved by the Chief Officer of the Migration Office, your contact has to send you the letter of authorisation through email or fax. At the entry point, you have to present a printed copy of this letter, alongside your original passport, in order to receive the VOA.
However, both the VOA and e-visa options have been reported to be unreliable by several travelers. Hence, we would strongly advise you to lodge an application for a regular visa through the Embassy in Paris, Portugal, or Senegal.
Types of Guinea Bissau Traditional Visas
Guinea Bissau missions issue traditional visas in two major types:
- Single-entry and multiple-entry tourist visa
- Single-entry and multiple-entry business visa
The validity of the aforementioned visa types are dictated by the consul, depending on the purpose of your visit.
Tourist visa
In order to apply for a tourist visa, you will need:
- A filled in and signed tourist visa application form
- A passport with a minimum validity of at least six months from the date of arrival in Guinea Bissau and containing a minimum of two blank pages
- A recent, clear, and colored passport-size photo, taken against a light backdrop
- Proof of accommodation and travel arrangements
- Yellow Fever Certificate
Business visa
The documents required to lodge an application for a business visa are the same as those detailed under the tourist visa section.
Additionally, you will also need to submit a Business Introduction Letter.
Once you deposit the whole application package at the consular section of the embassy, your visa should be approved within 10-14 working days.