Most trips to Guinea-Bissau can be completed without any special problems. The greatest risk is linked to political instability and poor infrastructure. For information on coronavirus see the section on Health.
Safety
Most trips to Guinea-Bissau can be completed today without any special problems. The greatest risk is linked to political instability and poor infrastructure. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs encourages travelers to exercise caution when traveling to or staying in Guinea-Bissau.
In 2012, there was a coup in Guinea-Bissau, and the country subsequently went through an unstable political period. Foreigners were, however, to a small extent subject to violence. Elections were held at the President and National Assembly in April and May 2014, and the security situation has remained stable since then.
The Norwegian Embassy in Lisbon is responsible for Guinea-Bissau. Norway has no embassy or consulate in the country. The Norwegian authorities’ ability to provide consular assistance to Norwegian nationals is limited. The nearest Norwegian embassy is located in Accra, Ghana.
The danger of terrorist incidents in Guinea-Bissau is considered low. There is no terrorism in the country’s recent history, and there are no local terrorist groups. The risk of transnational extremist groups trying to attack foreign interests in Guinea-Bissau is considered small. However, there is a danger of being attacked by terrorist attacks in most places in the world, and Guinea-Bissau is no exception. Travelers should be alert and take reasonable precautions.
Although crime in the country is considered low by West African standards, both local and foreigners may be subject to theft and petty crime. The risk of kidnapping is low. Violent crime is rare in the capital Bissau, but the country’s extensive organized drug smuggling makes caution necessary. Companies are regularly exposed to fraud, theft and extortion of organized criminals.
The transport infrastructure is very little developed in Guinea-Bissau. Lack of lighting makes it necessary to exercise great care when driving at night. Due to the remaining landmines from the Civil War and the War of Independence, it is important not to leave designated roads and paths.
Demonstrations and protests have been frequent in the past, especially in Bissau. The turmoil has to a small extent been directed directly at foreigners, but larger gatherings of people should be avoided, as unrest can quickly get out of control. New unrest may occur at short notice.
Guinea-Bissau is prone to epidemics, droughts and floods. Over the past 20 years, floods and droughts have hit most people, though with very few deaths. Epidemics have in many cases claimed a significant number of lives, most recently in 2005 (about 400 dead) and 2008 (about 220 dead). For more information on natural disasters in Guinea-Bissau, see Preventionweb or EM-DAT
Norwegian citizens staying in or planning a trip to Guinea-Bissau are encouraged to register their journey at http://www.reiseregistrering.no/. Norwegian citizens are encouraged to have valid travel insurance.
In the event of an emergency, Norwegian citizens should visit another European embassy in Bissau. Below are contact information for three of these. You should also contact the Norwegian Embassy in Lisbon.
Portugal:
Embaixada de Portugal em Bissau
Avenida Cidade de Lisboa, Bissau
Tel: +245 320 3379
Spain:
Embajada de Espana and Bissau
Praça dos Her¨®is Nacionais
Tel: +245 672 22 46 (during business hours) +245 600 10 10 (outside business hours)
France:
Embassy of France ¨¤ Bissao
Avenida dos Combatentes da Liberdade da P¨¢tria
Tel: +245 325 44 89 (during business hours) +245 539 32 80 (outside business hours)
Embassy of Norway in Portugal:
Avenida Dom Vasco da Gama, 1
1400-127 Lisbon
Tel: +351 213 009 100
E-mail: emb.lisbon@mfa.no
It is also possible to contact the UD’s 24-hour operating center on +47 23 95 00 00 The center can also be contacted outside the embassy’s opening hours, either by telephone or e-mail: UDops@mfa.no.
Entry
Please note that entry regulations may change. The Foreign Service is not responsible if the following information on entry regulations or visa requirements is changed at short notice. It is the responsibility of the traveler to ensure that travel documents are valid for entry and to familiarize themselves with the current entry rules for each country.
Norwegian citizens need a visa to stay in Guinea-Bissau. It is possible to obtain a visa on arrival, but the process can be expensive and time-consuming. It is therefore advantageous to obtain a visa in advance.
The Guinea-Bissau Embassy in charge of Norway is located in Berlin:
Embassy of the Republic of Guinea-Bissau in Berlin, Germany
Address: Kronenstrasse 72,10117 Berlin, Germany
Tel: 0049 30 20 65 81 58
E-mail: info@botschaft-guinea-bissau-berlin.de
Website: http: // www.botschaft-guinea-bissau-berlin.de/
The website is only available in German. Visa is issued by Agent Bridge Corporation which has English language website: http://www.bridge-corporation.com/
Health
Coronavirus (covid-19): Norwegian travelers should keep abreast of the development of the coronavirus. See the Norwegian health authorities’ recommendations regarding travel on the Institute of Public Health’s websites, on regjeringen.no, as well as updated maps of cases in the world on WHO’s websites.
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The standard of hospitals in Guinea-Bissau is generally poor, and it can be difficult to get help in emergencies. The supply of ambulances and doctors is inadequate. Operations should be carried out in Europe. It is encouraged to bring personalized medicines and a travel pharmacy away from home. Guinea-Bissau was not affected by the Ebola epidemic as of March 2015, but there is a certain risk of spread from infected neighboring countries.
One should consult with Norwegian health authorities regarding the health situation in Guinea-Bissau before entering the country. Contact the Public Health Institute or a private travel clinic six to eight weeks before departure to inquire about which vaccines are recommended and required. As Guinea-Bissau borders the meningococcal belt, it is recommended to take meningococcal vaccination. Malaria is also widespread. If you come from another area with yellow fever, you must bring a valid vaccination card against this fever. The Zika virus is considered to be endemic in Guinea-Bissau, ie the virus is believed to be present in the area and may act as occasional occasional or minor outbreaks. You can read up-to-date information about the virus, its spread, and how to protect yourselfPublic Health Institute website.
Practical information
Landline telephone networks are unstable. It is encouraged to bring a cell phone. Internet access in the country is limited.
The official language of Guinea-Bissau is Portuguese, which is spoken by a minority of the population. In addition to this, several different languages are spoken in Guinea-Bissau, including Creole, French, Balanta, Fula, Manjaco, Manding, Peppel.
About fifty percent of the country’s population is Muslims. Many have religious affiliation with animist religions (tribal religions), which comprise around forty percent of the population. Between five and ten percent are Christians.
Area code: +245 (allcitycodes)
Currency: CFA-Franc (XOF)
National Day: September 24 (Independence Day)
Emergency Number: There is no emergency number in Guinea-Bissau.