Equatorial Guinea
Equatorial Guinea is a small country on the Gulf of Guinea, in Central Africa — not to be confused with Guinea or Guinea-Bissau in West Africa — and Africa's only Spanish-speaking country, where French and Portuguese are also official languages. Its mainland region, Río Muni, lies between Cameroon and Gabon, with its largest city, Bata, on the coast. The capital, Malabo, stands on Bioko, a volcanic island off the coast of Cameroon that rises to Pico Basilé, the country's highest mountain, and the small island of Annobón lies far to the south-west, beyond São Tomé and Príncipe.
Visa Requirements for Equatorial Guinea
Visitors to Equatorial Guinea need a visa before the journey, and the main route is the e-visa — applied for online, open to all nationalities and valid for a stay of up to 90 days. There is no visa on arrival, so the visa is arranged before departure. Applying in person at an embassy of Equatorial Guinea is the other route to a short-stay visa.
Before you travel
Apply for the e-visa online
The e-visa is applied for online before the journey, and a fee is charged with the application. Once approved, it is printed and carried with the passport.
Arrival through Malabo's airport
E-visa holders must arrive through Malabo's international airport, on Bioko island.
Check the stamp on arrival
At immigration, make sure the border officer issues the visa and stamps the passport before leaving the desk.
Passport valid six months
The passport must be valid for at least six months after the day of arrival.
Yellow fever certificate required
Every traveller needs a yellow fever vaccination certificate to enter Equatorial Guinea.
Applying at an embassy
Instead of the online route, the visa can be applied for in person at an embassy of Equatorial Guinea.
Visa types
E-Visa
For a short visit — tourism, business or seeing family — applied for online by travellers of any nationality, who then arrive through Malabo's international airport.
Embassy Visa
For travellers who apply in person at an embassy of Equatorial Guinea rather than online.
Work & Residence Permits
A visitor's visa does not cover work: employment needs a work permit, and a stay beyond 90 days needs a residence permit.
Guides
Equatorial Guinea is travelled for its forests and the animals that live in them, on the volcanic island of Bioko and on the mainland. Few people visit for pleasure and little is built for those who do, so a trip is planned before arrival rather than improvised, and it takes a host, a guide, a driver and time. Most international flights land on Bioko, and the mainland is reached by the domestic flight to Bata, so a trip through both halves starts on the island and runs to about two weeks. Road journeys end before dark, and a passport or a copy stays within reach for the police and military roadblocks.
Equatorial Guinea travel guide →
The full guide: Moka's crater lakes, the turtle beaches of Ureka and the Gran Caldera on Bioko, Monte Alén's forest and Bata on the mainland, and two weeks through both halves.
Money in Equatorial Guinea →
The CFA franc, cash machines only in Malabo and Bata, cards at a few hotels, and cash brought for the whole stay.
Getting around Equatorial Guinea →
Arriving at Malabo's airport, the flight to Bata, the roads of Bioko and the mainland, a car with a driver, and roadblocks.
Health & safety in Equatorial Guinea →
The hours after dark, papers and police checks, malaria and yellow fever, drinking water and altitude, medical care and insurance.
Cities & planning
Regions
Embassies & missions
Accredited missions for Equatorial Guinea
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a visa to visit Equatorial Guinea?
Yes. Visitors need a visa before the journey, and the main route is the e-visa: applied for online, open to all nationalities and valid for a single entry and a stay of up to 90 days. The other route to a short-stay visa is to apply in person at an embassy of Equatorial Guinea.
Can I get a visa on arrival in Equatorial Guinea?
No. There is no visa on arrival, so the visa is arranged before departure — the e-visa online, or a visa from an embassy of Equatorial Guinea. E-visa holders must arrive through Malabo's international airport, on Bioko.
How long must my passport be valid for Equatorial Guinea?
The passport must be valid for at least six months after the day of arrival in Equatorial Guinea.
Do I need a yellow fever certificate for Equatorial Guinea?
Yes. Every traveller needs a yellow fever vaccination certificate to enter Equatorial Guinea, whatever the nationality, so the certificate is packed with the passport.
What happens on arrival with an e-visa?
The approved e-visa is printed and carried with the passport. At immigration in Malabo, make sure the border officer issues the visa and stamps the passport before leaving the desk.
Planning a trip to Equatorial Guinea? Check what you need to enter and apply online in minutes.
Visaja keeps this page's contact details and visa guidance under continuous review — still, requirements can change at short notice, so confirm the essentials with the mission or the official government portal before you travel.