Reality Brief: Malabo

Current alerts

• Heightened vigilance throughout the country

  Rising crime in Malabo and Bata, risky taxis, piracy in the Gulf of Guinea; particular care on the mainland borders.

  Published on March 6, 2026 · France Diplomatie, Travel advice: Equatorial Guinea, safety

Alerts checked on October 2, 2026 against the sources cited.

Essentials before you arrive

• A visa is compulsory; it is not issued on arrival without a prior application. Apply at an Equatorial Guinea embassy or online (e-visa, processed in 72 hours); with the e-visa, print the letter and present it at the border, where the visa is issued.

  France Diplomatie, Travel advice: Equatorial Guinea, entry and residenceGOV.UK (FCDO), Equatorial Guinea travel advice: entry requirementsGovernment of Canada, Travel advice: Equatorial GuineaGuide: Entry and residence

• Make sure the border officer issues the visa and stamps your passport: travellers without a stamp have been held up or threatened with detention. Fingerprints and a photo are taken at entry.

  GOV.UK (FCDO), Equatorial Guinea travel advice: entry requirementsFrance Diplomatie, Travel advice: Equatorial Guinea, entry and residenceGuide: Entry and residence

• Your passport must be valid for at least 6 months (after arrival according to the UK, after exit according to Canada).

  GOV.UK (FCDO), Equatorial Guinea travel advice: entry requirementsGovernment of Canada, Travel advice: Equatorial GuineaGuide: Entry and residence

• The vaccination record is checked at entry. France says yellow fever vaccination is compulsory for travellers from endemic areas and strongly recommended for everyone; the UK lists it as required.

  France Diplomatie, Travel advice: Equatorial Guinea, entry and residenceFrance Diplomatie, Travel advice: Equatorial Guinea, healthGOV.UK (FCDO), Equatorial Guinea travel advice: entry requirementsCDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention), Travelers' Health: Equatorial GuineaGuide: Entry and residence

• Identity checks are frequent: always carry your passport with visa or residence permit (or copies).

  France Diplomatie, Travel advice: Equatorial Guinea, entry and residenceFrance Diplomatie, Travel advice: Equatorial Guinea, safetyGuide: Entry and residence

• Malaria is present. Protect against bites and take preventive treatment prescribed by a doctor; any fever requires prompt medical attention.

  France Diplomatie, Travel advice: Equatorial Guinea, healthCDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention), Travelers' Health: Equatorial GuineaGuide: Health

• Police 113, gendarmerie 114, fire 115. The UK lists the ambulance on 3101 and notes that emergency response is unreliable.

  France Diplomatie, Travel advice: Equatorial Guinea, useful contactsGOV.UK (FCDO), Equatorial Guinea travel advice: getting helpGovernment of Canada, Travel advice: Equatorial GuineaGuide: Health

• The currency is the Central African CFA franc (XAF). The economy is cash-based: exchange money only at banks and bring enough cash.

  Government of Canada, Travel advice: Equatorial GuineaGuide: Money and banking

Living in Malabo

• Crime has risen with the economic crisis, in Malabo (especially Semu, Ela Nguema, Ewaiso) and Bata. Avoid the "paseos" of Malabo and Bata alone and at night and be careful near nightlife venues.

  France Diplomatie, Travel advice: Equatorial Guinea, safetyGOV.UK (FCDO), Equatorial Guinea travel advice: safety and securityGuide: Safety and emergencies

• Several taxis, licensed or not, have been involved in robberies and assaults, especially against women. Avoid riding alone in a taxi, even by day; prefer a car with driver or a pre-booked taxi.

  France Diplomatie, Travel advice: Equatorial Guinea, safetyGOV.UK (FCDO), Equatorial Guinea travel advice: safety and securityGuide: Safety and emergencies

• Police and army roadblocks are common: stop, stay polite and show your papers. "Passage fees" may be demanded; the UK advises asking for a written ticket.

  France Diplomatie, Travel advice: Equatorial Guinea, safetyGOV.UK (FCDO), Equatorial Guinea travel advice: safety and securityGuide: Safety and emergencies

• Piracy is a high risk in the Gulf of Guinea: recreational sailing is strongly advised against and banned near Bioko. Ferries between the island and the mainland have been attacked: fly instead.

  France Diplomatie, Travel advice: Equatorial Guinea, safetyGuide: Safety and emergencies

• Cards are in theory accepted in Malabo (banks, airport, some chains, upmarket hotels), but technical problems often prevent their use. ATMs are few, in Malabo and Bata.

  France Diplomatie, Travel advice: Equatorial Guinea, useful informationGovernment of Canada, Travel advice: Equatorial GuineaGuide: Money and banking

• Photographing public buildings, ports, airports, presidential palaces, barracks, police stations or official convoys is illegal without authorisation. Avoid even carrying binoculars.

  France Diplomatie, Travel advice: Equatorial Guinea, useful informationFrance Diplomatie, Travel advice: Equatorial Guinea, safetyGOV.UK (FCDO), Equatorial Guinea travel advice: safety and securityGuide: Daily life and local laws

Field experience

• Tip

  Pharmacies, clinics and hospitals

  Listed in OpenStreetMap (not exhaustive): pharmacies (9), clinics (1), hospitals (2). Locate those near your home in the first days and check opening hours and on-call services locally.

• Tip

  Where to shop for food

  Listed in OpenStreetMap (not exhaustive): markets (4), supermarkets (15). Compare a few basic prices between market and supermarket before settling into habits.

• Tip

  Banks, cash machines and exchange

  Listed in OpenStreetMap (not exhaustive): banks (13), cash machines (2). Withdraw and change money at these official places, preferably during the day, never in the street.

• Tip

  A shop for your SIM card

  Listed in OpenStreetMap (not exhaustive): phone and internet (1). Go with your passport: SIM registration is often mandatory.

• Tip

  Consulates in the city

  Listed in OpenStreetMap (not exhaustive): consulates (1). Note the address of your country's consulate or the nearest embassy.

• Emergency numbers

  Police 113, gendarmerie 114, fire 115; Malabo public security 666 30 30 30 or 666 40 40 40.

  113114115+240 666 30 30 30+240 666 40 40 40

  France Diplomatie, Travel advice: Equatorial Guinea, useful contacts· Oct 2, 2026

• Embassy of France in Equatorial Guinea

  Passport: France

  French embassy and consular section in Malabo.

  Carretera del Aeropuerto, BP 326, Malabo+240 333 09 20 05+33 533 520 088

  France Diplomatie, Travel advice: Equatorial Guinea, entry and residence· Oct 2, 2026

• Hôpital La Paz

  Hospital.

  Sipopo, Malabo+240 555 570 333

  France Diplomatie, Travel advice: Equatorial Guinea, useful contacts· Oct 2, 2026

• Clinique Virgen de Guadalupe

  Clinic.

  Calle Rey, Malabo+240 350 093 213

  France Diplomatie, Travel advice: Equatorial Guinea, useful contacts· Oct 2, 2026

• Pharmacie moderne de Malabo

  Pharmacy.

  Avenida de la Libertad, Malabo+240 333 098 278

  France Diplomatie, Travel advice: Equatorial Guinea, useful contacts· Oct 2, 2026