Local Laws

Criminal Penalties: You are subject to local laws. If you violate local laws, even unknowingly, you may be expelled, arrested, or imprisoned. 

Furthermore, some laws are also prosecutable in the U.S., regardless of local law. For examples, see our website on crimes against minors abroad and the Department of Justice website.

Arrest Notification: If you are arrested or detained, ask police or prison officials to notify the U.S. Embassy immediately. See our webpage for further information.

Language: The official language of Gabon is French. English is not widely spoken or understood.

Identification: You should always carry identification and proof of legal immigration status in Gabon in case you are stopped at a police checkpoint. Examples of identification include a residence permit (carte de sejour), U.S. passport or a legalized photocopy of your U.S. passport, biographic information page, and your Gabonese visa page. City hall offices in Gabon can legalize passport photocopies for a nominal fee.

Photography: Taking photographs of the Presidential Palace, airport, and military or other government buildings is strictly forbidden.

Official Corruption: Official corruption is common, but paying bribes is strongly discouraged and may make you a target for further attempts at securing bribery payments.

Currency: Gabon is largely a cash economy. Credit cards are accepted at only a few major hotels, and, because of the high rate of credit card fraud, you should exercise caution when using them. Traveler’s checks can be cashed or dollars exchanged for Central African Francs (XAF) at hotels and banks. ATMs are available in major urban centers and dispense XAF. Exercise caution when withdrawing funds from ATMs.

Faith-Based Travelers: See the Department of State’s International Religious Freedom Report.

LGBTI Travelers: There are no legal restrictions on same-sex sexual relations or the organization of LGBTI events in Gabon. Although there have been no reports of violence against LGBTI persons, discrimination, including in housing and employment, is a problem.  As a result, most LGBTI individuals choose to keep their status secret, except in trusted circles. The fear of stigma likely leads to an underreporting of incidents.   

See our LGBTI Travel Information page and section 6 of our Human Rights report for further details.

Travelers Who Require Accessibility Assistance. While in Gabon, individuals with disabilities may find accessibility and accommodation very different from what you find in the United States. The law prohibits discrimination against persons with “physical, mental, congenital, and accidental” disabilities and requires access to buildings or services for persons which such disabilities. Most public buildings, however, do not provide adequate access. There is some societal discrimination against persons with disabilities and treatment facilities are limited.

Students: See our Students Abroad page and FBI travel tips.

Women Travelers: See our travel tips for Women Travelers.