Skip to content

Visitor & short-stay visas

Bissau-Guinean ECOWAS visa-free entry

Visa-free short-stay entry for nationals of ECOWAS member states under the regional free-movement protocol.

Expert reviewed Official guidance referenced
Book a consultation

Under review — check current rules

The exact short-stay period and any registration requirement for ECOWAS nationals should be confirmed with the Migration Office.

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
ECOWAS free-movement entry
Route type
Visa exemption (short stay)
Who qualifies
Nationals of ECOWAS member states
Travel document
Valid passport or ECOWAS national ID card
Maximum stay
Up to 90 days
To be confirmed
Cost
Free — no visa required
Where to apply
No advance application; present your passport at the border
Yellow fever certificate
Required for entry

Who it is for

  • Citizens of ECOWAS member states (e.g. Senegal, The Gambia, Guinea, Nigeria, Ghana, Cabo Verde)
  • Holders of diplomatic/service passports of certain CPLP states

What you can do

  • Enter and remain for a short stay without a visa
  • Travel on a national ID card if an ECOWAS citizen
  • Apply for residence and permits if intending to stay long-term

Requirements

  • You must be a citizen of an ECOWAS member state (for example Senegal, Guinea, The Gambia, Nigeria, Ghana, Mali, Côte d'Ivoire, Cabo Verde, Sierra Leone, Liberia, Togo, Benin, Burkina Faso or Niger).
  • A valid travel document — a valid national passport (or ECOWAS travel document) accepted for cross-border travel within the community.
  • A yellow fever vaccination certificate, which is required to enter Guinea-Bissau.
  • You must not intend to stay beyond the 90-day visa-free period; longer stays require a residence or other permit.

How to apply

There is no visa to apply for. Under the ECOWAS Protocol on Free Movement of Persons, citizens of member states may enter Guinea-Bissau without a visa for up to 90 days.

Simply present your valid passport (and yellow fever certificate) to the border police on arrival at Osvaldo Vieira International Airport or at a land border with Senegal or Guinea.

If you wish to stay, work or study beyond the 90-day period, apply for the appropriate residence permit through the migration authorities before that period expires.

Documents you may need

  • Valid ECOWAS national passport or ECOWAS travel document
  • Yellow fever vaccination certificate
  • Proof of onward/return travel or purpose of visit (may be requested)

Frequently asked questions

  • Up to 90 days per visit under the ECOWAS free-movement protocol. To stay longer you must obtain a residence permit before the 90 days run out.

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.

Related Bissau-Guinean visas

Book a consultation