Guinea

Passport validity requirements

To enter 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 Guinea for up to 90 days. Make sure you apply for the correct visa – British nationals have been refused entry with the wrong one.

Applying for a visa

You can apply online for an e-visa for private and business travel. You must apply several days in advance and upload scanned documents, including a yellow fever vaccination certificate. When you arrive in Guinea, take your e-visa registration receipt to the entry checkpoint, where border officials will issue your visa.

Vaccine requirements

To enter Guinea, you must have a certificate to prove you’ve had a yellow fever vaccination if you’re coming from a country listed as a transmission risk.

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

Customs rules

There are strict rules about goods you can take into or out of Guinea. You must declare anything that may be prohibited or subject to tax or duty.

Taking money into Guinea

There is no limit on cash you can bring into Guinea. When you leave, you cannot take more than 100,000 Guinean francs, or 5,000 US dollars or the equivalent in euros.   

Customs rules

There are strict rules about goods you can take into or out of Guinea. You must declare anything that may be prohibited or subject to tax or duty.

Taking money into Guinea

There is no limit on cash you can bring into Guinea. When you leave, you cannot take more than 100,000 Guinean francs, or 5,000 US dollars or the equivalent in euros.   

Emergency services in Guinea

There are no emergency services in Guinea. If you need urgent medical assistance, contact a clinic in Conakry:

Clinique Pasteur: +224 621 35 01 01 or +224 664 26 98 53

Clinique Ambroise Paré: +224 631 40 10 40

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:

• finding English-speaking lawyers, funeral directors and translators and interpreters in Guinea
• dealing with a death in Guinea
• being arrested or imprisoned in 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

Get travel advice updates  

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Follow FCDO: 

• travel advice on X

• travel advice on Facebook

You can also contact FCDO online.

Help abroad in an emergency

If you’re in Guinea and you need emergency help from the UK government, contact the British Embassy in Conakry.  

The British Embassy in Conakry can only provide limited emergency consular assistance. Access to the Embassy is strictly by appointment only. Please send an email to BritishEmbassy.Conakry@fcdo.gov.uk for consular assistance or to make an appointment. If you need urgent consular help, call +44 (0) 1908 516 666.

FCDO in London

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

Risk information for British companies

The Overseas Business Risk service offers information and advice for British companies operating in Guinea on how to manage political, economic, and business security-related risks.

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 photo ID such as a passport.

Illegal drugs

Do not become involved with illegal drugs of any kind. 

If you commit a drugs crime, you are likely to be prosecuted. There are heavy penalties for those convicted.

Using cameras in secure areas

Photography and filming in many areas is highly restricted. This includes:

• military bases and checkpoints
• the President’s residence and offices
• police and gendarmerie HQs

It’s illegal to photograph or film anything of strategic value such as airports and bridges. Do not photograph military or police installations or government buildings, or you could be arrested.

Individuals may prefer not to be photographed. If in doubt, ask, or do not take pictures.

Money

Credit cards are not widely used in Guinea and obtaining hard currency is very difficult. There are a few ATMs in Conakry that accept foreign cards, but they give only small amounts of currency. They are also unreliable. Banks in Conakry accept international credit cards and exchange money.

Exchanging foreign currency on the street is illegal. Foreign nationals have been arrested and held in military custody for using unofficial money changers even for small amounts, including at the airport.

LGBT+ travellers

Same-sex sexual activity is illegal. Penalties range from 6 months to 3 years in prison and a fine of 500,000 to 1 million Guinean francs.

Same-sex relationships are not widely accepted or understood. Read more advice for LGBT+ travellers.

Precious stones

You need an export licence to take precious stones out of Guinea. Gem smuggling is illegal, and anyone convicted can expect a severe prison sentence. Local prison conditions are harsh.