Living in Guinea
Information for British citizens moving to or living in Guinea, including guidance on residency, healthcare and driving.
This guide sets out essential information for British citizens moving to or living in Guinea. Read about how our embassy in Guinea can help.
This information is provided as a guide only. You should get definitive information from the Guinean local authorities. The Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) is not liable for any inaccuracies in this information.
Support for British Nationals Abroad: A Guide sets out how British nationals can stay safe abroad and how the FCDO can help if you do get into difficulty.
Read general guidance on moving or retiring abroad.
To stay up to date: follow the British Embassy Conakry on Facebook and Twitter/X.
Before you go
See our travel advice for Guinea for up-to-date information on entry requirements, local laws and customs, safety and emergencies. See also Overseas Business Risk for Guinea.
Visas and residency
Check the entry requirements for Guinea in our travel advice.
Guinea has introduced an electronic visa, also called e-visa to facilitate entry into its territory. For further information on how to apply for a visa to enter Guinea, visit the visa website.
For any inquiry regarding your online visa application or complaints/feedback, please send an email to [email protected].
Passports and travel
You can apply for or renew your British passport from Guinea.
Check the Guinea travel advice for passport validity requirements.
Healthcare in Guinea
There is no reciprocal healthcare agreement between Guinea and the UK.
You must ensure you have private healthcare cover for Guinea. Please find a list of medical facilities here.
Medical facilities in Guinea are generally poor. Equipment is basic and often not sterile. You should carry basic medical supplies, and consider including an emergency dental kit if travelling outside of Conakry. There are minimal facilities for dealing with heart problems and major trauma. For serious medical treatment, medical evacuation to Europe is necessary. There are some well-stocked pharmacies in Conakry but few outside the capital. You should ensure that medicine is genuine. Make sure you have adequate supplies of prescription medication, bearing in mind the risk of delays due to flight cancellations. Make sure you have adequate health insurance and accessible funds to cover the cost of any medical treatment abroad and repatriation.
NOTE: UK Travel insurance providers will not generally cover your healthcare costs if you live overseas.
Medicine
If you are on a prescription for any medication you should ensure you have a supply of it, or are able to obtain it when in Guinea. Certain medicines may not be available in Guinea, including major brands readily available in the UK, and you may be prohibited from taking them into the country. You should consult your GP before travelling to Guinea to find out about any alternative medication.
Read the guidance if you need to travel with medicines.
Local laws and customs
Those who commit criminal offences can expect to be subjected to local law. There are heavy penalties for those convicted. Local prison conditions are harsh, with food and water often not supplied on a regular basis. Pre-trial detention is extensive and can last for many months.
Foreigners and Guinean nationals are required to show identification if asked by the police or other law enforcement agencies. You are allowed to carry photocopies of the relevant pages of your passport, provided they are certified by the Guinean police. Keep the original in a safe place.
Although homosexuality is not explicitly mentioned in the Guinean Penal Code, Article 274 from 2016of the Code states that ‘indecent acts and acts against nature committed with an individual of the same sex will be punished by imprisonment from six months to three years and a fine of 500,000 to 1,000,000 Guinean francs. If the act is with a minor of less than 18 years, the maximum sentence will be pronounced. If the act is committed with violence or attempted violence the sentence will be 5-10 years’. We have no reports of any attacks on persons linked to their sexuality. However, homosexuality is not widely accepted or understood. See our information and advice page for the LGBT community before you travel .
Photography and filming in many parts of the country is forbidden or subject to strict rules which are enforced rigidly. It is forbidden to photograph or film anything of strategic value e.g. bridges. Do not photograph military or police installations or government buildings. Individuals may prefer not to be photographed. If in doubt, seek permission or do not take pictures.
Safety and security
For assistance or to report a crime, dial 117. Motorists have encountered theft at gun point, particularly at night. These crimes are often carried out by individuals dressed in police or military uniforms and carrying military weapons. There have been incidents of violent car-jackings, especially in the outlying suburbs of Conakry. Burglaries and break-ins are common.
There are regular reports of robberies on the roads to Mamou, Faranah, Kissidougou, Guékédou, Macenta, N’zérékoré. The British Embassy Conakry is aware of reports of police extorting cash from foreigners and Guineans.
If you plan to arrive in Conakry on a flight after dark you should arrange your airport transfer before you travel.
Those involved in trading gold and diamonds should take particular care; this trade attracts criminal gangs, who are known to resort to kidnapping and extortion. Trading scams involving diamonds, gold export and gold certification have been reported.
Working in Guinea
If you are planning to move to Guinea and work, you will need a visa. Read the Guinean government’s guide on how to get a visa.
There are not many opportunities for foreigners across Guinea, however some professional roles are available for foreigners, particularly with international companies, and in the healthcare and childcare sectors. Conakry is the most likely place to find work. In order to find professional work in Guinea, it is best to contact international companies directly. Most foreigners moving to Guinea tend to move to work with companies that they are already working for.
Studying in Guinea
If you plan to study in Guinea, you must meet all visa requirements before you travel. Visit the official visa website for Guinea for more information.
Contact the relevant higher education provider in Guinea to check what fees you have to pay.
Tax
You should get professional advice on paying tax in Guinea. Find an English-speaking lawyer in Guinea.
Read guidance on:
- tax if you leave the UK to live abroad
- tax on your UK income if you live abroad
- tax if you get a pension and live abroad
- paying National Insurance while abroad to protect your State Pension and entitlement to other benefits and allowances
Benefits
Check which UK benefits you can claim while abroad and how to claim them.
Many income-related benefits such as Pension Credit and Housing Benefit cannot be paid if you’re abroad for more than 4 weeks.
Pensions
Read State Pension guidance if you have lived in Australia, Canada or New Zealand and you are claiming or waiting to claim your UK State Pension.
If you retire in Guinea, you can claim your UK State Pension or new UK State Pension.
Contact the International Pension Centre for further information.
Life certificates for UK State Pensions
If you get a ‘life certificate’ from the UK Pension Service, you must respond as soon as possible. Your payments may be suspended if you do not.
Money and banking
Credit cards are not widely used in Guinea. ATM facilities accept foreign cards, but should not be relied on as a means of getting money. There are a limited number of ATMs in Conakry, which give only small amounts of currency. International credit cards may be used to withdraw cash over the counter. Banking outside Conakry can be difficult, with few ATMs available.
Exchanging foreign currency on the street or using unofficial money changers is illegal. Those using money changers, even for small amounts, including at the international airport, have been arrested and detained in military custody. Obtaining hard currency in Guinea is very difficult.
Accommodation and buying property
Driving in Guinea
Read the information on driving abroad here.
If you’re asked for a letter authenticating, certifying or validating your UK driver’s licence, you should contact your UK issuing office (eg the DVLA).
You will need an International Driving Permit to drive. You can get International Driving Permits over the counter from 2,500 UK Post Offices. You will not be able to buy an International Driving Permit outside the UK, so get one before you travel.
If you wish to take your vehicle with you, see taking a vehicle out of the UK
Disabled drivers
If you have a UK Blue Badge and live in Guinea, you must return it to the original UK issuing authority.
Voting
You may be able to vote in some UK elections. You can:
Births, deaths, marriage and civil partnership
Births
If your child is born in Guinea you should register the birth with the local authorities. You can then register with the UK authorities and apply for a UK birth certificate.
If your child has British nationality, you do not need to register the birth with the UK authorities to apply for a British passport.
Deaths
If someone dies in Guinea read our guidance on:
Marriage and civil partnership
Find out how you can get married or get a civil partnership abroad
Emergencies
Dial 117 for the police, 18 for ambulance, and 442-020 for the fire brigade.
For assistance or to report a crime, kindly contact your local police station.
If you have been the victim of a rape or sexual assault in Guinea, read the information for survivors of rape and sexual assault in Guinea. See also list of English speaking lawyers in Guinea for legal advice.
If you’re the victim of a crime, have been arrested, or are affected by a crisis, contact the British Embassy Conakry.
Read the guidance on international parental child abduction if your child may be at risk of this.
Returning to the UK
Read the guidance on returning to the UK permanently which includes information on bringing family members, tax and access to services.