Residence & citizenship
Bissau-Guinean Citizenship by naturalisation
Acquisition of Bissau-Guinean nationality by long-term residents and spouses of nationals under the nationality law.
Expert reviewed Official guidance referenced
Under review — check current rules
Residence duration (approx. 6 years), the marriage requirement (3 years + 1 year residence), and dual-citizenship treatment are drawn from summaries of Decreto-Lei n.º 6/2011 and must be verified against the official text; exact figures unconfirmed.
Important information
Immigration rules and fees can change. This information is for general guidance only and does not constitute legal advice. Always check the latest requirements on the official Guinea-Bissau government website before you apply.
On this page
- Official name
- Naturalisation (aquisição da nacionalidade)
- Route type
- Citizenship / naturalisation
- Governing law
- Decreto-Lei n.º 6/2011 de 23 de Fevereiro
- Residence requirement
- Around 6 years
- Figure requires official confirmation
- By marriage
- 3 years of marriage plus 1 year residence
- Figure requires official confirmation
Who it is for
- Long-term lawful residents of Guinea-Bissau
- Spouses of Bissau-Guinean nationals
- People who have made substantial contributions to the country's development
Requirements
- Required period of lawful residence (or qualifying marriage)
- Legal age and capacity
- Clean serious-criminal record
- No conduct against state security or foreign military/political service
- Renunciation of former nationality where required
How to apply
Submit a naturalisation application to the ministry responsible for immigration with proof of residence or marriage, identity, criminal-record and supporting documents under Decreto-Lei n.º 6/2011.
Official sources
For the most accurate and up-to-date information, always refer to the official government sources.
Verified against official gov.uk sources · last reviewed 2026-08-21. Information only — not legal advice.