San Antonio de Palé

Passport validity requirements

To enter Equatorial Guinea, your passport must have an ‘expiry date’ at least 6 months after the date you arrive.

Check with your travel provider that your passport and other travel documents meet requirements. Renew your passport if you need to.

You will be denied entry if you do not have a valid travel document or try to use a passport that has been reported lost or stolen.

Dual nationals

When returning to the UK, British citizens must carry a valid British passport or certificate of entitlement. See Dual citizenship.

Visa requirements

You must have a visa to visit Equatorial Guinea. Short-term visas are valid for 90 days. For longer stays you must apply at local police stations.

Applying for a visa

Complete the online visa application form and upload the required documents. The processing time is 72 hours. Print out the e-visa letter to present on arrival, and border officials will issue your visa.

You can also apply in person at the embassy and get the visa before you travel.

Make sure you get your passport stamped.

Make sure the border control officer issues your visa and puts a stamp in your passport. Travellers have reported being delayed or threatened with detention because their passports have not been properly processed.

Residence permits

Long-term visitors must get a residence permit of one-year validity from the Ministry of National Security. If you have a residence permit, you will not need a visa.

Vaccine requirements

You must have a certificate to prove you’ve had a yellow fever vaccination, due to a risk of yellow fever transmission.

For full details about medical entry requirements and recommended vaccinations, including yellow fever, see TravelHealthPro’s Equatorial Guinea guide.

Health screening

You may have to fill in a health questionnaire about any recent travel to Ebola-affected countries, including Liberia, Guinea and Sierra Leone.

Customs rules

You must declare anything that may be prohibited or subject to tax or duty.

Customs rules

You must declare anything that may be prohibited or subject to tax or duty.

Emergency services in Equatorial Guinea

Ambulance: 3101

Police: 666 404040 or 666 303030

Emergency numbers and emergency response are unreliable. Emergency help can be limited in some places that are hard to reach. You may need to get local advice and arrange private transport.

Contact your travel provider and insurer

Contact your travel provider and your insurer if you are involved in a serious incident or emergency abroad. They will tell you if they can help and what you need to do.

Refunds and changes to travel

For refunds or changes to travel, contact your travel provider. You may also be able to make a claim through insurance. However, insurers usually require you to talk to your travel provider first.

Find out more about changing or cancelling travel plans, including:

• where to get advice if you are in a dispute with a provider
• how to access previous versions of travel advice to support a claim

Support from FCDO

FCDO has guidance on staying safe and what to do if you need help or support abroad, including:

• being arrested or imprisoned in Equatorial Guinea
• getting help if you’re a victim of crime
• what to do if you’re in hospital
• if you’re affected by a crisis, such as a terrorist attack

Contacting FCDO 

Help abroad  

See how to get help from the UK government abroad including in an emergency. 

Help in the UK  

You can call FCDO in London if you need urgent help because something has happened to a friend or relative abroad.  

Telephone: 020 7008 5000 (24 hours)  

Find out about call charges

Get travel advice updates  

Sign up to get email notifications when this travel advice is updated.  

Follow FCDO: 

• travel advice on X

• travel advice on Facebook

Before you travel

No travel can be guaranteed safe. Read all the advice in this guide. You may also find it helpful to: 

• see general advice for women travellers
• read our guide on disability and travel abroad
• see general advice for LGBT+ travellers
• read about safety for solo and independent travel
• see advice on volunteering and adventure travel abroad

Travel insurance

If you choose to travel, research your destinations and get appropriate travel insurance. Insurance should cover your itinerary, planned activities and expenses in an emergency.

About FCDO travel advice

The Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) provides advice about risks of travel to help you make informed decisions. Find out more about FCDO travel advice.

Get travel advice updates

Sign up to get email notifications when this travel advice is updated. 

Follow FCDO:   

• travel advice on X

• travel advice on Facebook

• Travel Aware on Instagram

Laws and cultural differences

Personal ID

Always carry your passport or residence permit (or copies) with you throughout the country. Security checks have increased across the country. Follow all official advice and remain non-confrontational if stopped by authorities. If you fail to show identification documents on request, you could be arrested and detained.

Illegal drugs and prison sentences

Possession of drugs is a serious offence and punishments can be severe, including prison sentences.

Using cameras in secure areas

Photographing government or military buildings or airports is illegal and you could be arrested and detained.  

Behaviour in public

Showing affection in public may attract unwanted and negative attention. It is uncommon for opposite or same-sex couples to show affection in public.

LGBT+ travellers

Same-sex relationships are not illegal in Equatorial Guinea, but there is no legal protection against discrimination based on sexual orientation. Society is very conservative and discrimination can be a problem for those open about their sexual identity. Same-sex marriage is not recognised in Equatorial Guinea. 

Read more advice for LGBT+ travellers.

Money

You can only pay by credit card at a few major hotels including the Hilton and Sofitel. There are a limited number of ATMs in Malabo and Bata – some accept international bank cards. Local banks will exchange cash euros, British pounds and US dollars.