Equatorial Guinea customs rules & duty-free allowances
Equatorial Guinea's customs service is small and under-resourced, and officers at Malabo and Bata airports have wide discretion. The biggest risk is not the duty-free allowance but the currency controls: the CFA franc is pegged to the euro and tightly regulated, so undeclared cash above the threshold can be seized on the spot. Keep your declaration honest, your receipts handy, and expect a bag search even if you walk through the green channel.
Duty-free allowances
Prohibited — banned from import
- Narcotics and psychotropic substances (cocaine, heroin, cannabis, amphetamines) — severe penalties including long prison terms
- Counterfeit currency and counterfeit branded goods
- Pornographic material and anything deemed offensive to public morals
- Live animals and birds without a veterinary import permit
- Fresh meat, poultry and unpasteurised dairy products from any country
- Walkie-talkies and unlicensed radio transmitters
Restricted — allowed with a permit or declaration
- Firearms, ammunition and imitation weapons — require a police permit issued before arrival
- Satellite phones and encrypted communication devices — need a licence from the telecommunications regulator
- Drone cameras — must be declared and may be held until you depart
- Prescription medicines containing controlled substances — need Ministry of Health approval
- Plants, seeds and soil — require a phytosanitary certificate
Arriving: red vs green channel
There is no automated kiosk or e-gate. You fill out a paper customs declaration card (usually distributed on the flight) and hand it to an officer. Green channel if you have nothing to declare and are under all limits; red channel if you are over any limit or carrying restricted goods. If you have nothing to declare, walk through green — but be ready for a bag search anyway, especially on flights from Douala, Madrid or Addis Ababa.
Bringing medication
Bring personal medication in original packaging with a doctor's letter or prescription. Anything containing narcotics, psychotropics or codeine requires prior authorisation from the Ministry of Health — without it, you risk arrest. Common Western drugs like tramadol and some strong painkillers are controlled here. Declare all medication at the red channel.
Food, plants & animal products
All meat, poultry, dairy, fresh fruit, vegetables, seeds and soil are prohibited without a phytosanitary certificate. This is enforced to protect against African swine fever and fruit fly. Canned or processed foods in sealed commercial packaging are usually allowed in small quantities for personal use. Declare any food or plant material.
Rules worth knowing
CFA franc cash controls
The Central African CFA franc is pegged to the euro and its transfer is regulated. If you arrive with more than XAF 5,000,000 (about USD 8,200) in cash, you must declare it. Undeclared excess can be confiscated and you may face a fine. Keep your bank withdrawal slips.
Yellow fever certificate is mandatory
Equatorial Guinea requires a yellow fever vaccination certificate for all travellers over 9 months old arriving from or transiting a yellow fever risk country. Without it, you can be vaccinated on arrival at your own cost or refused entry. This is a health rule enforced at the same checkpoint as customs.
No duty-free shop on arrival
Malabo International Airport has no arrivals duty-free. Buy your allowance before boarding or on the plane. If you exceed the allowance, the officer calculates duty in cash — US dollars or CFA francs accepted, but no card machine.
Exporting art and artefacts
Taking out wooden carvings, masks or cultural objects may require an export permit from the Ministry of Culture. Without it, customs can seize the item. If you buy art, ask the seller for a receipt and check whether a permit is needed.