Is It Safe to Travel to Guinea-Bissau in 2026?
Guinea-Bissau - Level 3: Reconsider Travel
Last updated: · Source: U.S. Department of State
⚠ Reconsider Travel
The U.S. State Department recommends reconsidering travel to Guinea-Bissau due to elevated risks. Key factors: civil_unrest, health, natural_disaster.
Guinea-Bissau, officially the Republic of Guinea-Bissau, is a country in West Africa that covers 36,125 square kilometres (13,948 sq mi) with an estimated population of 2,026,778. It borders Senegal to its north and Guinea to its southeast.
Is It Safe to Travel to Guinea-Bissau in 2026?
Guinea-Bissau is currently rated Level 3 — Reconsider Travel by the U.S. Department of State. Reconsider travel to Guinea-Bissau due to unrest, inadequate health infrastructure, and landmines. There is no U.S. embassy or consulate in Guinea-Bissau, and the U.S. government has limited ability to provide emergency services to U.S. citizens.
Key concerns cited in the advisory:
- civil_unrest
- health
- natural_disaster
The overall security situation has been worsening recently. Contributing factors: Guinea-Bissau has had periods of political instability for decades, including recent political unrest in November 2025., Large-scale demonstrations related to the local political situation may occur with little notice..
Traveler Impact
Solo travelers face significant risks from civil unrest and inadequate health infrastructure, with limited access to emergency services and potential for arbitrary enforcement of laws.
Business travelers may encounter operational disruptions due to political instability and civil unrest, along with challenges in accessing reliable healthcare services.
Families with children should be cautious due to inadequate healthcare facilities and the presence of landmines, which pose serious safety risks in various regions.
Remote workers may find some connectivity in urban areas, but the overall instability and health risks necessitate careful planning and preparation.
Data on this page comes from the U.S. Department of State, the CDC, the World Bank Worldwide Governance Indicators, and Freedom House. All sources are updated regularly and cross-referenced to provide a composite safety picture for Guinea-Bissau.
▶Safety and Stability Ratings
Threat Severity (0-10 scale)
Guinea-Bissau has an overall threat severity of 7.1 out of 10. Crime risk is rated 7.0/10, terrorism risk 0.0/10, and kidnapping risk 0.0/10.
Governance Indicators (World Bank, percentile)
Political Stability▶
Measures the likelihood that the government will be destabilized or overthrown by unconstitutional or violent means, including politically-motivated violence and terrorism. Higher percentile means greater stability.
Rule of Law▶
Captures perceptions of the extent to which agents have confidence in and abide by the rules of society, including the quality of contract enforcement, property rights, the police, and the courts, as well as the likelihood of crime and violence.
Control of Corruption▶
Captures perceptions of the extent to which public power is exercised for private gain, including both petty and grand forms of corruption, as well as capture of the state by elites and private interests.
Government Effectiveness▶
Captures perceptions of the quality of public services, the quality of the civil service and the degree of its independence from political pressures, the quality of policy formulation and implementation, and the credibility of the government's commitment to such policies.
Regulatory Quality▶
Captures perceptions of the ability of the government to formulate and implement sound policies and regulations that permit and promote private sector development.
Voice & Accountability▶
Captures perceptions of the extent to which a country's citizens are able to participate in selecting their government, as well as freedom of expression, freedom of association, and a free media.
Data from World Bank Worldwide Governance Indicators (2023).
Freedom Status: Partly Free — scored 43/100 by Freedom House (2024). View full freedom profile →
▶Entry Requirements and Health
Entry Information
Visa
Check embassy for details
Currency
West African CFA Franc (XOF)
Language
Portuguese
Notable restrictions:
- drug possession illegal including medical marijuana
- e-cigarettes prohibited
Vaccinations
Required:
- Yellow Fever: Vaccine is required for all arriving travelers ≥1 year old.
Recommended:
⚠ Malaria Risk: high
Recommended medications: Atovaquone-proguanil, doxycycline, mefloquine, tafenoquine
Active health notices:
- watchGlobal Measles: Measles cases are rising in many countries around the world. All international travelers should be fully vaccinated against measles with the measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine, according to CDC's measles vaccination recommendations for international travel.
Vaccination data sourced from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Consult a travel health professional before your trip.
Common Questions About Traveling to Guinea-Bissau
▶What is the current travel advisory level for Guinea-Bissau?
▶Is it safe to travel to Guinea-Bissau right now?
▶Do I need a visa to visit Guinea-Bissau?
▶What vaccines do I need for Guinea-Bissau?
▶Is Guinea-Bissau safe for solo travelers?
▶How bad is crime in Guinea-Bissau?
More Guinea-Bissau Data
Partly Free — 43/100 on the Freedom House index.
Governance indicators including rule of law, corruption control, and regulatory quality.
View all 195 countries color-coded by advisory level.
Read the full advisory on travel.state.gov.
Access this data programmatically. Free tier available.
On-demand country risk PDFs from 6 government sources.