Local Laws

CRIMINAL PENALTIES: While you are traveling in Equatorial Guinea, you are subject to its laws. Foreign laws and legal systems can be vastly different from our own. If you break local laws in Equatorial Guinea, even unknowingly, you may be expelled, arrested, or imprisoned. Your U.S. passport won’t help you avoid arrest or prosecution. It’s very important to know what’s legal and what’s not wherever you go.

There are also some things that might be legal in the country you visit, but still illegal in the United States. You can be prosecuted in the United States for engaging in sexual conduct with children or for using or disseminating child pornography in a foreign country regardless of the legality of these activities under that country’s laws. Counterfeit and pirated goods are illegal in the United States and if you purchase them in a foreign country, you may be breaking local law as well.

In the recent past, a special permit from the Ministry of Information and Tourism was required for virtually all types of photography. Although the law has changed, police or security officials may still attempt to impose a fine on people taking photographs. It is forbidden to take photos of the Presidential Palace and its surroundings, military installations, airports, harbors, government buildings, and any other area deemed sensitive by the local government. Police and security officials have attempted to take photographers into custody for perceived or actual violations of this policy, or to seize the camera of persons photographing in the country. As these situations have the potential to become hostile, you should exercise prudence and caution while taking photographs.

While some countries will automatically notify the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate if a U.S. citizen is detained or arrested in a foreign country, that might not always be the case. To ensure that the United States is aware of your circumstances, request that the police and prison officials notify the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate as soon as you are arrested or detained overseas.

Official Corruption: It is not uncommon for a uniformed member of the police or security forces to stop motorists on the pretext of minor or nonexistent violations of the local motor vehicle regulations in order to extort small bribes. Visitors are advised not to pay bribes, and to request that the officer provide a citation to be paid at the local court or a receipt stating the violation, amount due, and the officer’s name. If it appears that you may be asked to go to a police station or are held up at roadblocks for an extended period of time, you should contact the U.S. Embassy’s duty officer at +240 222-516-008 to report the situation.

SPECIAL CIRCUMSTANCES: Equatorial Guinea is almost exclusively a cash economy. The country has very few hotels that accept credit cards. Generally, credit cards and checks are not accepted, and credit card cash advances are not available. Most local businesses do not accept travelers' checks, dollars, or euros. However, dollars can be exchanged at local banks for Central African Francs (CFA). Cash in CFA is usually the only form of payment accepted throughout the country. ATMs are increasingly available in major cities, but their use is not widespread. Although they are generally secure, travelers may find them out of order, so it is best not to rely entirely on ATMs to obtain cash.

WOMEN TRAVELER INFORMATION: If you are a woman traveling abroad, please review our information for women travelers.

LGBT RIGHTS: There are very few openly Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender (LGBT) individuals in Equatorial Guinea. There are no laws criminalizing same-sex conduct and no reports of anti-LGBT violent attacks; however, societal stigmatization against the LGBT community is a problem. While discussions of sexual orientation and homosexuality are not completely taboo, and there are no legal impediments to LGBT lifestyles, LGBT lifestyles are not generally accepted. For further information on LGBT travel, please read our LGBT travel information.

ACCESSIBILITY: While in Equatorial Guinea, individuals with disabilities may find accessibility and accommodation very different from what you find in the United States. Accommodation for individuals with disabilities is not mandated by Equatoguinean law, and travelers with disabilities may encounter difficulties accessing transportation and public buildings. Although sidewalks often are available in major cities (especially in Malabo and Bata), road crossings are frequently uneven and curbs in need of repair. Neither Malabo nor Bata has a public transportation system, and few vehicles are accessible to individuals with disabilities. Public buildings, including restaurants, bars, medical facilities, stores, and government offices, are rarely accessible and frequently have steps or partially obstructed entrances.