Bijagos Archipelago, Cashew Kingdom & West African Carnival Culture
Taxes are assessed and paid in West African CFA francs (XOF), the national currency, which is pegged to the euro at a fixed rate of 655.957 XOF to 1 EUR.
The Direcção Geral das Contribuições e Impostos (DGCI), under the Ministry of Finance, handles domestic taxes. Customs duties are managed separately by the customs directorate (Direcção Geral das Alfândegas).
Broadly, if you spend more than 183 days in the country in a tax year or have your habitual home and centre of interests there. Residents are generally taxed on a wider base than non-residents, who are typically taxed only on local-source income.
Yes. Guinea-Bissau has introduced a value added tax (IVA) to replace its former sales tax, in line with WAEMU regional harmonisation. Confirm the current standard rate and registration threshold with the DGCI.
Strongly recommended for anyone with a business, property or significant income. Filing is largely paper-based and the practical application of rules evolves, so a Bissau-based contabilista is valuable for staying compliant.
Yes, comprehensive international health insurance that includes medical evacuation is essential. Local facilities cannot handle many serious conditions, and evacuation to Dakar or Europe is often the only option.
Yes. A yellow fever vaccination certificate is mandatory for entry, and you must carry it with you. It is checked on arrival.
Yes, malaria is present throughout the country all year. Take antimalarial prophylaxis prescribed by a doctor, use treated bed nets and repellent, and seek medical attention promptly for any fever.
Supply is inconsistent even in Bissau's pharmacies. Bring your own supply of any regular medication for the full duration of your stay, along with copies of your prescriptions and generic drug names.
No. Drink only bottled, boiled or properly treated water, and avoid ice of unknown origin, to reduce the risk of typhoid, cholera and other waterborne illnesses.
No. Guinea-Bissau is overwhelmingly a cash economy. Card acceptance is rare and limited mainly to some hotels and larger businesses in Bissau, and ATMs can be unreliable. Always carry CFA francs in cash.
No. Power outages are frequent, and many homes and businesses run on private generators or solar. Prioritise housing with backup power and budget for generator fuel.
Portuguese is the official language for formal dealings, but Kriol (Guinea-Bissau Creole) is the everyday lingua franca. Learning basic Kriol greatly improves daily life; French can also help.
The dry season, roughly November to April, is more comfortable and better for travel, including to the Bijagós Islands. The rainy season (June to October) brings heavy rains that can make roads impassable.
Local basics are cheap, but imported goods and expatriate-standard housing and services are costly. Budget especially for generator fuel, water and any imported products you need.