Skip to main content

Guinea Bissau Visa for Canada Citizens 2026

Visa on Arrival

Canadian citizens must obtain a visa on arrival at Osvaldo Vieira International Airport in Bissau; the visa costs around USD 50-100 and is issued on the spot with valid supporting documents.

Guide last updated September 29, 2026. Always verify with official sources before travel.

What you need

  • Passport valid for at least 6 months beyond your arrival date, with at least 2 blank pages
  • Return or onward flight ticket
  • Proof of accommodation (hotel booking or invitation letter)
  • Proof of sufficient funds for your stay
  • Yellow fever vaccination certificate (required for entry into Guinea-Bissau)
  • Passport-size photo (2 recent photos, white background, 35x45mm)
  • Biometrics: fingerprints and photo taken on arrival at the airport visa desk
  • Travel health insurance: strongly recommended, not formally mandated

Visa types

  • Tourist visa on arrival: single entry, valid for stay up to 30 days, approximately USD 50-100 depending on nationality and length of stay
  • Business visa on arrival: single entry, up to 30 days, requires an invitation letter from a Bissau-Guinean company, similar fee range
  • Both types can usually be extended once inside the country at the Serviço de Estrangeiros e Fronteiras (immigration department) in Bissau

Visa on arrival

  • Available at Osvaldo Vieira International Airport (Bissau); land border crossings from Senegal and Guinea are less reliable for on-arrival issuance, so arriving by air is recommended
  • Steps: present passport, yellow fever certificate, and return ticket at the immigration counter; complete a short arrival form; pay the fee in cash (USD or CFA francs, no card payment available)
  • Fee is generally USD 50-100, payable in cash only - carry exact change as small-denomination change is often unavailable
  • Queue tips: flights into Bissau are infrequent, so arrival halls can be crowded around flight arrivals from Lisbon or Dakar; have all documents ready before reaching the counter to speed processing

Fees & processing time

  • Visa on arrival fee: approximately USD 50-100 (varies by length of stay), payable in cash in USD, EUR, or CFA francs
  • No separate service fee since there is no VFS/BLS outsourcing for Guinea-Bissau
  • Total cost estimate: USD 50-110 including a small administrative stamp fee
  • Processing time: issued immediately at the airport, typically within 20-40 minutes depending on flight arrival volume
  • No official express/priority lane is available

Tips for Canada travelers

  • Confirm your yellow fever vaccination certificate is in order before departure - travelers without it can be denied boarding or entry
  • Bring exact cash in small denominations; card and mobile payment are not accepted for the visa fee
  • Common rejection reasons: missing yellow fever certificate, insufficient cash for the fee, no proof of onward travel
  • There is no Guinea-Bissau embassy in Canada, so a visa on arrival is effectively the only practical route - pre-arranging an e-visa is not currently available
  • Extensions beyond 30 days must be requested in person in Bissau well before the visa expires, as overstays are fined at the airport on departure

Official links & resources

Always confirm requirements with government or embassy sources before applying.

This guide is for information only. Visa policies change without notice. Travel Visa Stack is not an immigration authority. Always verify with official government or embassy sources before making travel plans.