What's Illegal inGuinea-Bissau?

The single thing worth knowing first: Drug-trafficking transit concerns (West Africa cocaine corridor). Drug penalties strict. Same-sex relations not formally criminalized. Political instability historically — periodic coups. Photography of military restricted. It is the kind of rule that looks minor at home and becomes a serious problem at the border or in public, which is exactly why it tops this page.

Within recreational substances, Guinea-Bissau treats Cannabis/Weed and CBD oil as off-limits. Carrying or doing any of these can mean confiscation, fines, or detention depending on the case — and a foreign prescription, habit, or "I didn't know" rarely helps once you are stopped. Each entry below links to the official source it is checked against, with the verified ones marked.

Two things travelers regularly get wrong about Guinea-Bissau: Same-sex relations are not criminalized but social conservatism applies; and Distinct from Guinea (Conakry) and Equatorial Guinea — different countries. Assumptions like these are how otherwise careful visitors end up in trouble, so it is worth checking the specifics rather than guessing.

One important caveat: Bijagós Archipelago has separate practical rules in some islands; tourism is supply-limited. Laws and their enforcement can shift between regions and over time, so treat this page as a sourced starting point and confirm anything borderline against the official links before you rely on it.