Wayzata World Factbook 1996/The World Factbook - 1996 Edition - Wayzata Technology (3079) (1996).iso/pc/text/tvltxt/guinea_b.tvl

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Guinea-Bissau - Consular Information Sheet
July 28, 1994

Country Description:  Guinea-Bissau is a developing nation on the west coast
of Africa.  Portuguese is the official language; French is also widely
spoken.  Facilities for tourism are minimal, particularly outside the
capital city.

Entry Requirements:  A passport and a visa are required.  The visa must be
obtained in advance; recent visitors arriving without visas via land or air
have been turned back.  Visa applications must be accompanied by two photos
and evidence of yellow fever immunization.  All travelers are required to
pay an airport departure tax of $16, payable in hard currency only.  Further
information may be obtained from the Embassy of the Republic of Guinea-
Bissau, 918 16th Street, N.W., Mezzanine Suite, Washington, D.C. 20006,
telephone [phone].

Medical Facilities:  Medical facilities in Guinea-Bissau are extremely
limited.  Medicines often are not available.  Malaria is common, as are
other tropical diseases.  Doctors and hospitals often expect immediate cash
payment for health services.  U.S. medical insurance  is not always valid
outside the United States.  Travelers have found that supplemental medical
insurance with specific overseas coverage has proven to be useful.
Information on health matters can be obtained from the Centers for Disease
Control's international travelers hotline, telephone [phone].

Information on Crime:  Petty thievery and pickpocketing are increasingly
common, particularly at the airport, in markets and at public gatherings.
Thieves have occasionally posed as officials to make off with bags and other
personal items.  The loss or theft abroad of a U.S. passport should be
reported immediately to local police and to the nearest U.S. embassy or
consulate.  The pamphlets "A Safe Trip Abroad" and "Tips For Travelers to
Sub-Saharan Africa" provide useful information on personal security while
traveling abroad and on travel in the region in general.  Both are available
from the Superintendent of Documents, U.S. Government Printing Office,
Washington, D.C. 20402.

Drug Penalties:  U.S. citizens are subject to the laws of the country in
which they are traveling.  Penalties for possession, use or trafficking in
illegal drugs are strictly enforced.  Convicted offenders can expect jail
sentences and fines.

Restrictions on Photography:  Visitors should request permission from
security personnel before photographing military or police installations.

Currency Regulations:  Small U.S. currency denominations are most useful for
exchange into Guinea-Bissau pesos.  Credit cards and travelers checks are
rarely accepted in Guinea-Bissau.  Inter-bank fund transfers are frequently
difficult and time-consuming to accomplish.  Taking pesos out of the country
is expressly prohibited.

Telephones:  Travelers may have difficulty finding public phones and
receiving international calls.  Telephone services are expensive.

Registration:  U.S. citizens who register at the U.S. Embassy may obtain
updated information on travel and security in Guinea-Bissau.

Embassy Location:  The U.S. Embassy is located in Bairro de Penha in the
capital city of Bissau.

The mailing address is American Embassy Bissau, C.P. 297, 1067 Codex,
Bissau, Guinea-Bissau.  The telephone number is (245) 25-2273/4/5/6.  The
fax number is (245) 25-2282.

No. 94-138

This replaces The Consular Information Sheet dated October 18, 1993, to add
information on country description, entry requirements, medical facilities,
crime, currency, photography and telephones; and to report the new location
and telephone numbers of the U.S. Embassy.