Guinea Bissau visa requirements for South Africans

Travel and visa requirements

Guinea-Bissauan Visa is not required for South Africans

Stay Duration: days

Entry Requirements

  • South Africans looking to visit Guinea-Bissau for up to 90 days can do so by applying for an E-visa before arrival or a visa on arrival.
  • A valid passport with blank pages for entry and exit stamps is required for entry.
  • Passports must be valid for at least six months from the time of arrival.
  • Intending visitors must have an onward/return ticket or other documents pertinent to their next destination.
  • Visitors must have enough money to cover the expenses incurred during their stay.
  • Visitors are expected to clear their luggage at the first airport of entry in Guinea-Bissau.
  • Intending visitors can get to the Osvaldo Vieira International Airport in Bissau, Guinea-Bissau from Johannesburg, Bloemfontein, Cape Town and Durban.
  • Getting to Guinea-Bissau from South Africa is quite a distance and requires at least two stopovers from any part of the country one travels from. This averages the flight time at 1 day, 3 hours from Durban, 23 hours, 5 minutes from Cape Town, 1 day, 4 hours from Bloemfontein and approximately 23 hours from Johannesburg.
  • South African Airways, Virgin Atlantic, British Airways, KLM, Air France, kulula, are some of the carriers that fly from South Africa to Guinea-Bissau.
  • In Guinea-Bissau, visitors have a better chance of exchanging euros for the local West African Franc (CFA) than any other currency.
  • Foreign exchange services are available in banks ( ECOBank or BAO are good banks to visit for this service), some hotels and other legal foreign exchange outlets.
  • ATMs are available in many parts of Guinea-Bissau especially banks, and hotels. Credit/debit cards are also widely accepted in high-end business outlets.
  • The climate in Guinea-Bissau is mostly hot and humid, with a monsoonal-type rainy season that runs from June to November, with southwesterly winds and a dry season that runs from December to May with northeasterly harmattan winds.
  • Guinea-Bissau is home to a heavily verdant landscape characterized by forests, parks, wildlife and so on, making it a prime spot for nature lovers and people enthusiastic about discovering new cultures and histories.
  • The power plug types in Guinea-Bissau are of type C, with a standard voltage of 220 V and a 50 Hz standard frequency.
  • Getting Around in Guinea-Bissau is possible with cars, public buses, taxis, boats, trains, etc.
  • Portuguese is widely spoken by many in Guinea-Bissau alongside over 40 other languages. Visitors might need to pick up a few French or Portuguese phrases to help communicate with locals better.
  • Visitors in Guinea-Bissau are expected to respect historical landmarks and to always make enquires before venturing into private spaces or going about the reason for their visit.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Guinea-Bissau safe for visitors?

Guinea-Bissau is relatively safe for tourists and other visitors, although visitors are advised to be conscious of some petty crimes prevalent in most parts of Guinea-Bissau.

What dishes are most popular in Guinea-Bissau?

Yassa chicken, Fried cassava, Fish stew are some dishes famous with most people in Guinea-Bissau.

What is best to wear when visiting Guinea-Bissau?

Light, loose, comfortable and functional items of clothing are great for a visit to Guinea-Bissau.


What to do in Guinea-Bissau?

Visitors can spend time at the beach, hike through trails, explore forest paths, meet with locals, capture moments, visit historical sites, etc.

When is the best time to visit Guinea-Bissau?

The months of December and January are often pleasant, cool and enjoyable for anyone visiting Guinea-Bissau.