Guinea-Bissau is a small West African country squeezed between Senegal and Guinea, where mangrove channels break the coast into estuaries and islands. Most visitors come for the Bijagós Archipelago, a biosphere reserve of dozens of islands reached by boat from Bissau, with saltwater hippos on Orango and nesting sea turtles, and spend a few days in the capital, whose old Portuguese quarter, Bissau Velho, sits by the port. Guinea-Bissau is outside the EU's Roam Like at Home area, so European SIM cards roam there at their operators' rates.
Key facts for Guinea-Bissau
- EU roaming: not covered by Roam Like at Home
- Local networks: varies by plan
- Emergency numbers: police 117; ambulance and fire 1313
- Embassies: in Bissau
Political instability
The country has had decades of political turmoil, and in November 2025 the army seized power after disputed elections. Large demonstrations can be called at short notice and disrupt transport and services. Stay away from military installations, government buildings and gatherings, follow local media, and if you are unsure about the situation in an area, stay in your hotel. Police ask for identification regularly, so carry your passport, especially when driving or taking a taxi.
Visa and health papers
You need a visa, so contact a Guinea-Bissau embassy well before travelling; there is one in Paris, and others in neighbouring countries such as Senegal. Your passport must be valid for 6 months after arrival, and every traveller needs a yellow fever vaccination certificate.
Bissau and the islands
Pickpocketing and the snatching of bags and phones are relatively common in Bissau, so keep your phone out of sight in the street. Security forces have little presence in remote areas, so travel to the Bijagós with an established operator, and expect a weak signal or none at all on the smaller islands. Download maps and any documents you need while you are still in Bissau.
Landmines and roads
Bissau has been declared clear of landmines, but mines and unexploded ordnance remain elsewhere, especially in the regions of Bafatá, Oio, Biombo, Quinara and Tombali. Outside the capital, take local advice and stay on paved roads. Road conditions and driving standards are poor, so avoid travelling after dark, and expect difficult driving in the rainy season, from June to October. Any trace of alcohol at the wheel can mean a fine or prison, hire cars need their registration card on board, and local insurance under the ECOWAS Brown Card scheme is recommended.
Health, laws and money
Medical facilities are extremely limited and hospitals are not fully operational, so insurance with medical evacuation is essential. Malaria, dengue, Zika and yellow fever are present, and schistosomiasis is a risk in fresh water. Penalties for drug offences are severe and prison conditions are harsh. Same-sex relationships are legal, but society is conservative.
Guinea-Bissau runs on cash. The currency is the West African CFA franc, cards are rarely accepted and cash machines are few, so bring enough euros and change money only at official bureaux de change.
Getting connected
A travel eSIM installed before departure is ready when you land at Osvaldo Vieira International Airport in Bissau. An Africa plan also covers Senegal, The Gambia, Guinea and Cabo Verde, convenient for a trip around the region. Keep your home SIM for bank verification codes, with data roaming turned off.
Local SIM cards: Orange and Telecel sell prepaid SIMs in Bissau, and you need your passport to register one.
Consular protection: who to call in Guinea-Bissau
- Call 117 for the police and 1313 for an ambulance or the fire service. Response can be slow, so keep your hotel's and your insurer's numbers handy.
- Portugal, Spain and France have embassies in Bissau, while the US and the UK assist their nationals from Dakar, in Senegal. Check the Telcomia app for your own country's nearest mission, with address and phone.
- If you are an EU citizen and your country is not represented in Guinea-Bissau, you can ask any other EU embassy there for help, and it must treat you as it would its own nationals (Article 23 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the EU).
- Portuguese is the official language and Kriol is widely spoken; the Telcomia app has emergency phrases in Portuguese.
Guinea-Bissau travel-safety page →
Questions travellers ask about Guinea-Bissau
Is Guinea-Bissau covered by EU roaming?
No. It is outside Roam Like at Home, so your operator's roaming rates apply.
Do I need a visa?
Yes. Apply through a Guinea-Bissau embassy, and bring your yellow fever certificate.
Which networks does a Telcomia eSIM use in Guinea-Bissau?
It depends on the plan, with 4G where available.
Will I have signal in the Bijagós?
On the main islands, often yes; on the smaller ones, expect little or none, so download what you need in Bissau.
The short version
Sort out the visa and the yellow fever certificate early, install the eSIM at home, keep away from demonstrations, travel to the islands with an established operator, stay on paved roads outside Bissau, carry euros in cash, and save 117 and 1313.
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