Flag of Equatorial GuineaEquatorial Guinea

Money & currency

Money in Equatorial Guinea

Updated 2026-10-04

Money & Currency
FCFA

Central African CFA Franc (XAF)

Currency code: XAF

Practical Money Tips

The Central African CFA franc, pegged to the euro

Equatorial Guinea pays in the Central African CFA franc (XAF, often written FCFA), the currency it shares with Cameroon, Gabon, the Republic of the Congo, Chad and the Central African Republic. The franc is pegged to the euro at a fixed rate, so euros are the foreign currency to bring and the easiest to change at the banks of Malabo and Bata. It is not the West African CFA franc of Senegal or Côte d'Ivoire: the notes of one zone are not accepted in the other.

Few cash machines, and only in Malabo and Bata

Cash machines are scarce: a small number stand in Malabo and Bata, and they are often out of service or out of cash. Some in Malabo take foreign cards, but none can be relied on, and outside the two cities there are practically none.

Cards at a few Malabo hotels, cash everywhere else

Foreign cards are taken almost only by international hotels and a few large businesses in Malabo, and card machines often fail. Markets, local restaurants, taxis and transport between towns take cash in francs. Some hotels want cash or a bank transfer for the room as well, so ask how it is paid when booking.

Bring the cash for the whole stay

Arrive with enough euros in cash for the entire trip and change them into francs at a bank in Malabo or Bata. Change enough before heading to the south of Bioko or into the mainland interior, where there are practically no cash machines and everything is paid in cash.

Note: Always check current exchange rates before traveling. Currency exchange is available at airports, banks, and authorized money changers.

Common Money Questions

What currency does Equatorial Guinea use?

The Central African CFA franc (XAF), the shared currency of six Central African countries, pegged to the euro at a fixed rate. Prices are given in francs, and everyday payments are made in francs and in cash.

Can I pay in euros or US dollars?

Not for everyday payments, which are made in francs. Banks in Malabo and Bata change both, but euros are the easier of the two: the franc is pegged to the euro, while dollars are changed less readily and at varying rates.

Can I draw cash with a foreign card?

Sometimes, in Malabo, at one of the few cash machines that take foreign cards — when it works and has cash in it. That is too uncertain to plan a trip on, so arrive with the cash the stay needs.

Do contactless and phone payments work?

No. Contactless and phone payments are not supported, and card payment of any kind is limited to a few international hotels and large businesses in Malabo.

What can I do with francs left over at the end of the trip?

Spend them or change them back at a bank in Malabo or Bata before leaving. Central African francs stay good in Cameroon, Gabon and the other countries that share them, but they are hard to change anywhere else.

Is tipping expected in Equatorial Guinea?

There is no firm tipping custom. Rounding up a taxi fare and leaving a tip for hotel staff are appreciated, and local eateries rarely add a service charge to the bill.

Entry rules, visa types and practical notes live on the Equatorial Guinea overview.

This overview comes from Visaja's worldwide missions database (visaja.com), checked against official government sources; for binding answers, the mission itself always has the final word.