Yes, citizens of Guinea-Bissau need a visa for Vietnam. Guinea-Bissau is not on Vietnam’s visa exemption list, so the simplest choice is the Vietnam visa for Bissau-Guinean citizens issued online: a 90-day e-visa costing US$25 for single entry or US$50 for multiple entry, usually ready in about 3 working days.
Cashew nuts are Guinea-Bissau’s main export, and Vietnam is one of the largest buyers and processors of raw cashews, so many visitors travel for trade. This page is about Guinea-Bissau, not Guinea (Conakry) or Equatorial Guinea. Below you will find the e-visa steps, payment, flights, timing, costs and who to contact.
Vietnam visa for Bissau-Guinean citizens: quick facts (November 2026)
- Bissau-Guinean passport: visa needed. Guinea-Bissau is not on Vietnam’s visa exemption list.
- Portuguese passport: e-visa needed as well.
- Best option: e-visa, up to 90 days, US$25 or US$50.
- Processing: about 3 working days, longer around Tet.
- Time difference: Vietnam is 7 hours ahead of Bissau.
- Embassies: Vietnam covers Guinea-Bissau from Rabat; no Bissau-Guinean mission in Vietnam.
How many Bissau-Guinean visitors go to Vietnam
Vietnam’s Ministry of Public Security counted 30 arrivals on Bissau-Guinean passports in 2019. The figure dropped to 1 in 2021 and stayed at 1 in 2022, so travel has not yet recovered.
Vietnam visa for Bissau-Guinean citizens: your options
| Option | Length | Government fee | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Single-entry e-visa | Up to 90 days | US$25 | One trading trip or holiday |
| Multiple-entry e-visa | Up to 90 days | US$50 | Repeat visits to cashew buyers and processors |
| Visa on arrival (approval letter) | As stated on the letter | US$25 / US$50 cash + letter fee | Some urgent air arrivals |
| Phu Quoc exemption | Up to 30 days | Free | Phu Quoc island only |
Many Bissau-Guineans also hold a Portuguese passport. Portugal is not on the Vietnam visa exemption list, so that passport needs an e-visa too; use one passport for the whole trip.
How to apply for a Vietnam visa from Guinea-Bissau
- Check your passport. It must be valid for at least six months after arrival, with blank pages.
- Type your name without accents. Copy the Portuguese spelling from the two lines of letters at the bottom of your data page, with the given names and surnames split exactly as shown there.
- Prepare a 4×6 cm portrait on a white background, no glasses, plus a full scan of the data page. See our Vietnam visa photo guide.
- Apply on evisa.gov.vn or through our service if you want your form checked before it is sent.
- Choose your entry gate from the list of e-visa ports of entry, matching the airport where you land.
Cost of the Vietnam visa for Bissau-Guinean citizens
The government fee is US$25 for single entry and US$50 for multiple entry, the same for every nationality. The payment is made online in US dollars by international card. Many local cards are not enabled for this, so a buyer, partner or relative abroad often pays with an international Visa or Mastercard. With a service, you pay the government fee plus a service fee, and the full total appears before payment. Compare all routes in our Vietnam visa cost guide.
When to apply: cashew season, Tet and the time difference
Vietnam is 7 hours ahead of Guinea-Bissau all year. The 3 working days are counted on Hanoi time, so a form sent at 11 am on a Friday in Bissau arrives at 6 pm in Hanoi, after office hours, and processing starts on Monday. Read more in our Vietnam visa processing time guide.
- Cashew season: the harvest and export season runs from about April to July, when traders visit Vietnamese buyers. Apply at least 2 weeks before you fly.
- Tet: Vietnam’s Lunar New Year starts on 6 February 2027. Processing slows or pauses around it; in 2026 the pause ran from 14 to 22 February. Apply in January for a February trip.
- Flights: there are no direct flights. Most travelers fly from Bissau through Lisbon, Casablanca or Dakar, then on to Asia. Check the transit rules where you change planes.
Embassies covering both countries
Vietnam for Guinea-Bissau. There is no Vietnamese embassy in Bissau. Instead, the Embassy of Vietnam in Rabat, Morocco, covers Guinea-Bissau. You need the embassy only for paper visas or special cases, not for an e-visa.
Guinea-Bissau for Vietnam. Guinea-Bissau has no embassy or consulate in Vietnam. In an emergency, such as a lost passport, contact the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Bissau, which will tell you which mission can help.
Worked examples
- Cashew exporter from Bissau meeting processors in Dong Nai: a single-entry e-visa with “business” as the purpose and the buyer’s details on the form.
- Agronomist from Bafatá on a 3-week processing course in Ho Chi Minh City: a single-entry e-visa, with the host company as sponsor.
- Bissau-Guinean-Portuguese trader based in Lisbon, two trips in a season: a multiple-entry e-visa (US$50) on either passport.
FAQ: Vietnam visa for Bissau-Guinean citizens
Do citizens of Guinea-Bissau need a visa for Vietnam?
Yes. Guinea-Bissau is not on Vietnam’s visa exemption list, so you need an e-visa or another visa.
Is there a Vietnamese embassy in Guinea-Bissau?
No. The Embassy of Vietnam in Rabat covers Guinea-Bissau. For most trips, apply for the e-visa online.
Can I get a visa on arrival?
Only with an approval letter arranged before the flight, and only at international airports. See our guide to Vietnam visa on arrival.
Do I need the Digital Arrival Card?
If you land in Ho Chi Minh City, Hanoi, Da Nang, Phu Quoc or Cam Ranh, submit the free card within 72 hours before arrival. It is not a visa. Learn more about the Vietnam e-visa.
Checking a different passport? Our Vietnam visa requirements by nationality list covers all 196 passports from A to Z.
Sources: Vietnam Government Resolutions 44/NQ-CP, 229/NQ-CP, 127/NQ-CP and 389/NQ-CP; Vietnam Ministry of Public Security arrival figures. Last reviewed: 10 November 2026. We are an independent visa service, not a government website.
