Guinea-Bissau customs rules & duty-free allowances

Last reviewed October 1, 2026·Official source

Guinea-Bissau's customs service is small, cash-focused and often operates on negotiation rather than published tariff schedules. The single biggest risk for a visitor is arriving with undeclared hard currency or a bag that looks like merchandise, because officers routinely open bags and expect a 'dash' (informal payment) if they find anything. The country is a known transshipment point for Latin American cocaine heading to Europe, so narcotics enforcement is genuinely severe and foreign nationals have been prosecuted.

Duty-free allowances

Alcohol

1.0 L

1 litre of spirits over 22% ABV, or 2 litres of wine/beer, per adult. Locally stated as '1 litro de bebida destilada' — no duty is charged on that amount. Anything above is assessed at the discretion of the officer; there is no published duty rate, so expect an informal charge. Must be 18+.

Tobacco

200 cigarettes

or 50 cigars / 250 g

Cash to declare

$10,000

Declare anything at or above 5,000,000 XOF (about USD 8,000–8,300 at 2026 rates; the CFA franc is pegged to the euro at 655.957 XOF = EUR 1). Declaration is made verbally to the customs officer at the red channel and recorded on the customs declaration slip — there is no separate currency form. Undeclared cash is routinely seized and a percentage 'fine' negotiated on the spot.

Goods duty-free

$800

Personal effects and used clothing for your own use enter free. New goods, gifts and electronics above roughly 500,000 XOF (about USD 800) are technically dutiable, but Guinea-Bissau applies no published flat rate — the officer assesses a value and you negotiate. Keep receipts for anything expensive; a laptop and phone for personal use are normally waved through.

Prohibited — banned from import

All narcotics and psychotropic drugs, including cannabis, cocaine, heroin and khat — Guinea-Bissau is a major cocaine transit country and penalties are severe
Firearms, ammunition and military equipment without prior written authorisation from the Ministry of Interior
Counterfeit currency and counterfeit branded goods
Pornographic material and any material deemed offensive to Islam or the state
Fresh fruit, vegetables, seeds, soil and plant cuttings from outside the region
Unpasteurised meat and dairy products from outside West Africa

Restricted — allowed with a permit or declaration

Prescription medicines containing narcotics or psychotropics — require prior authorisation from the Ministério da Saúde Pública
Satellite phones and two-way radios — require a licence from the telecommunications regulator (ARN)
Drones — require a permit from the civil aviation authority; unregistered drones are confiscated
Live animals and pets — require a veterinary import certificate and rabies vaccination proof
Commercial quantities of any goods — require an import licence and a customs broker

Arriving: red vs green channel

Osvaldo Vieira International Airport is small and arrivals are processed in one hall. There is no automated red/green channel — you walk past a customs desk after immigration and an officer decides whether to stop you. A paper customs declaration is usually handed out on the plane or at the desk; fill it in even if you have nothing to declare, and keep it, because it is sometimes checked again on departure. If you have nothing to declare, hand the slip to the officer and keep walking; do not volunteer that you have 'nothing' loudly, and do not offer money unprompted.

Bringing medication

Bring personal medication in its original pharmacy packaging with the prescription or a doctor's letter showing your name and dose. There is no formal quantity limit for personal-use prescription drugs, but anything containing narcotics (codeine, tramadol, morphine, benzodiazepines) requires prior authorisation from the Ministério da Saúde Pública and should be declared. Note that Guinea-Bissau has no functioning pharmacy regulation outside Bissau and counterfeit drugs are common — bring what you need. Cannabis, khat and all narcotics are strictly illegal.

Food, plants & animal products

Fresh fruit, vegetables, seeds, cuttings, soil and unpasteurised dairy or meat products from outside West Africa are prohibited and will be confiscated. Cooked, commercially packaged food in sealed tins or packets is generally fine. If you are arriving overland from Senegal or Guinea, plant material is inspected more aggressively because of crop-disease controls in the region. Declare any plant or animal product at the customs desk.

Rules worth knowing

Cash is the real customs issue

Guinea-Bissau is a cash economy and the customs service is under-resourced. Officers focus on currency, not on your duty-free whisky. If you are carrying more than about 5,000,000 XOF (roughly USD 8,000) in any currency, declare it in writing on the arrival slip. Undeclared cash is seized and you will be asked to pay a 'fine' — often 10–30% — before it is returned.

Expect an informal 'dash' request

It is common for an officer who finds a minor irregularity (a few extra bottles, a new phone still in its box) to suggest a small cash payment instead of a formal assessment. This is not legal, but it is the practical reality. If you want a receipt and a formal process, insist politely and ask for the chefe do posto; otherwise budget a small amount of XOF for this.

Departure tax and exit checks

There is an airport departure tax (currently around 10,000 XOF, about USD 16) that is sometimes included in your ticket and sometimes collected in cash at the airport. Keep the customs slip you filled in on arrival — it is occasionally checked when you leave, especially if you are carrying electronics you brought in.

Overland arrivals from Senegal are stricter on plants and animals

If you cross at São Domingos or via the Trans-Gambia corridor, expect a veterinary and phytosanitary inspection as well as customs. Meat, milk, live poultry and plant material are frequently confiscated at the land border even when the same items would pass at the airport.

Frequently asked questions

Yes. A paper declaration slip is normally handed out on the flight or available at the customs desk. Fill it in even if you have nothing to declare, and keep it — it is sometimes asked for on departure. There is no electronic declaration system.

Up to about 5,000,000 XOF (roughly USD 8,000) in any combination of currencies. Above that, declare it on the arrival slip. There is no legal limit on how much you can bring, only a reporting requirement — but undeclared amounts are seized and a fine is negotiated.

Yes, for personal use, in original packaging with a prescription or doctor's letter. If it contains a narcotic or psychotropic (codeine, tramadol, benzodiazepines, morphine), get prior authorisation from the Ministério da Saúde Pública before you travel. Bring enough for your whole trip — reliable pharmacies are limited outside Bissau.

No. Osvaldo Vieira International Airport has no arrival duty-free shop. Buy your allowance before you fly, or in Dakar if you transit. There is a small departure-side shop but it is not reliably stocked.

There is no published duty rate. The officer will assess a value and either charge you a negotiated amount in cash or confiscate the excess. For a few extra bottles this is usually a small cash payment; for commercial quantities you may be referred to the customs directorate and face a formal fine.

Not without a permit. Drones require authorisation from the civil aviation authority and satellite phones from the telecoms regulator (ARN). Unregistered devices are confiscated at customs. A normal mobile phone and laptop for personal use are fine.

Fresh fruit, vegetables, seeds, soil, plant cuttings, unpasteurised dairy and raw meat from outside West Africa are prohibited and will be taken. Sealed, commercially packaged food — biscuits, tinned goods, coffee — is generally allowed. Overland arrivals from Senegal face stricter phytosanitary checks.

Official source

Direcção Geral das Alfândegas da Guiné-Bissau (General Directorate of Customs of Guinea-Bissau)