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Guide Details
Household Goods
Documents
Documents required for importing used household goods, personal effects, and related shipments.
- Passport (copy)
- Original bill of lading (OBL), telex release, or air waybill (AWB)
- Packing list valued in Euros
- Purchase receipts or sales invoices
- Certificate of change of residence
- Transfer of employment letter from employer
- Detailed valued inventory in Euros with no-sale attestation
- Cargo tracking note
- For diplomats: diplomatic exemption certificate from the diplomatic organization
- For private clients only (per FIDI): taxpayer number (of the private institution or individual)
- Detailed inventory showing exact invoice amounts of new effects, with contact address at destination
- Original invoice not older than 6 months, with address at destination (not handwritten)
- Completed, dated, and signed new effects form
- Tax refund application form
- Residence certificate or work permit from employer confirming new contract
- Transfer letter
- Copy of valid passport
Specific Information
Document lead time: Documents must be received by the destination agent at least 8 days prior to shipment arrival.
Language requirements: The inventory must be valued in Euros (or CFA francs per FIDI). Portuguese is the official language, but inventories in French or English may also be accepted.
ISPM 15: Wood packaging materials must comply with ISPM 15 standards.
Duties & Taxes
Customs duties and taxes (non-diplomats): Household effects and office equipment are subject to customs duties and taxes of approximately 41% of the declared value on the packing list. For returning citizens, fees may be reduced depending on the duration of stay abroad.
New effects duties: New items within a shipment are subject to taxes of approximately 35-55% of CIF value (per FIDI, December 2023). Customs will not accept till slips, delivery notes, order forms, or sales slips intended for airport customs (only marine customs) as valid invoices. The invoice must state the supplier's name, address at destination, total excluding VAT, SIRET/SIREN numbers, and the exact origin of goods (within or outside the EU).
Diplomatic clearance: Diplomats are exempt from duty but must pay a tax of approximately 1.5% of the declared value on the packing list in Euros. The diplomatic card must be obtained from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs prior to shipment arrival, which may take up to 30 days.
Prohibited & Restricted Items
Prohibited Items
- Illegal drugs and narcotic substances (PROHIBITED)
- Firearms, explosives, and ammunition (PROHIBITED)
- Knives and deadly weapons (PROHIBITED)
- Medicines and controlled drugs without authorization (RESTRICTED)
- Live plants and plant products (RESTRICTED)
- Indecent, obscene, or pornographic materials (PROHIBITED)
- Counterfeit or pirated items and currencies (PROHIBITED)
- Animals without proper veterinary documentation (RESTRICTED)
Restricted / Dutiable Items
Duty-Free Allowances (personal baggage)
Tobacco products:
- Reasonable quantity (no specific limit published)
Alcoholic beverages:
- 2.5 liters (applicable for non-Muslims only)
Perfume:
- Reasonable quantity of previously opened bottles for personal use
Currency Restrictions
Local currency (CFA franc / XOF) up to XOF 2,000,000 or equivalent in foreign currency may be imported and exported. All foreign currency must be declared upon arrival. Sums exceeding XOF 2,000,000 (approximately USD 3,200) require a bank transfer. The IAM guide references a USD 2 million threshold, which appears to be an error; the VisaHQ and local sources consistently cite XOF 2,000,000.
Importing a Used Personal Vehicle
Required Documents
- Original vehicle title or registration
- Valued, dated, and signed inventory
- ID or passport copy of vehicle owner
- For new vehicles: original invoice with address at destination, EX 1 no. 3
Specific Information
Vehicle duties: All vehicles are subject to customs duties if the shipment is not diplomatic. Vehicles not older than 5 years can be imported but are subject to a tax of approximately 58% of CIF value (per FIDI, December 2023).
Vehicles older than 5 years: Importation of vehicles older than 5 years is subject to the agreement of the local agent. Contact the destination agent for further information before shipping.
Duty calculation: Customs tax and duties are based on CIF value, year of manufacture, and engine power.
Pets
- Veterinary health certificate (from origin country)
- Rabies vaccination certificate (from origin country)
Documentation timing: All documents must be available upon arrival of the shipment.
Rabies vaccination: All pets should receive a rabies vaccination prior to departure.
Veterinary services: Veterinary services in Guinea-Bissau are very limited. Complete all vaccinations and treatments before travel.
CDC high-rabies-risk: Guinea-Bissau IS on the CDC's list of high-risk countries for dog rabies. Dogs returning to the United States from Guinea-Bissau must meet CDC requirements for dogs from high-risk countries, including the Certification of U.S.-Issued Rabies Vaccination form (completed before departure from the U.S.), microchip, minimum age of 6 months, and potentially a rabies titer test.
Special Categories
Sources Consulted
- IAM Country Guide: Guinea-Bissau (last updated August 22, 2016) -- used as baseline
- FIDI Global Alliance Import Customs Guide: Guinea-Bissau (last updated December 8, 2023) -- primary cross-reference for personal effects and vehicle details
- VisaHQ Guinea-Bissau Customs -- duty-free allowances, prohibited items, currency restrictions
- PetTravel.com -- Guinea-Bissau-specific page not found (404)
- USDA APHIS -- Guinea-Bissau-specific page returned 404; main pet travel page verified
- CDC high-risk rabies country list -- confirmed Guinea-Bissau is listed
Discrepancies and Clarifications
- Duty rate on household goods: The IAM guide cites "approximately 40% of declared value" while also stating "41% of declared value" in the specific information section. The FIDI guide does not give a single rate for used household goods but specifies 35-55% for new effects. The 41% figure from IAM is used for used goods, with 35-55% (from FIDI 2023) for new items.
- Vehicle age limit: The FIDI guide (2023) states vehicles not older than 5 years can be imported at 58% CIF tax, with vehicles older than 5 years subject to local agent agreement. The IAM guide does not mention an age limit. The FIDI figure is more recent and is used here.
- Currency declaration threshold: The IAM guide states "sums larger than USD 2 million require a bank transfer." VisaHQ states "XOF 2,000,000" (approximately USD 3,200). The IAM figure appears to be an error (possibly XOF 2,000,000 was misread as USD 2,000,000). The VisaHQ/XOF figure is used.
- Tobacco allowances: The IAM guide does not specify tobacco allowances. VisaHQ states "reasonable quantity." No specific limit could be confirmed.
- Alcohol restriction for Muslims: VisaHQ specifies the 2.5L alcohol allowance is "applicable for non-Muslims only." Guinea-Bissau has a mixed Muslim and Christian population, and this restriction may or may not be consistently enforced. The IAM guide does not mention this distinction.
Unverified Items
- Whether the 41% duty rate for used household goods is still current (IAM 2016 figure)
- Specific tobacco duty-free quantity limits
- Whether the alcohol restriction for Muslims is formally enforced at customs
- Current processing time for diplomatic cards from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs
- Exact list of required new effects documentation currently accepted by customs
Consignment Instructions
Recommended: Contact the destination agent to ensure all requirements have been met prior to import, especially for differences regarding air and sea shipments.
Document lead time: Provide all documents to the agent at least 8 days before shipment arrival. For diplomatic shipments, the diplomatic card process may take up to 30 days, so plan accordingly.
Valuation in Euros: All inventories and packing lists must be valued in Euros (or CFA francs).
Port of entry: The primary port is Bissau. Air shipments clear through Osvaldo Vieira International Airport.
Clearance time: Expect 10-30 days for customs clearance. Delays are common due to limited infrastructure.
Unpredictable expenses: Storage, demurrage, and processing fees can accumulate during the lengthy clearance period. Budget accordingly.
Cultural & Other Information
- OpenFactBook (replaces CIA World Factbook): https://www.openfactbook.org/countries/guinea-bissau/ (verified 200)
- Wikipedia -- Guinea-Bissau: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guinea-Bissau (verified 200)
- USDA APHIS -- Pet Travel to Guinea-Bissau: https://www.aphis.usda.gov/pet-travel/us-to-another-country-export/pet-travel-us-guinea-bissau (returns 503 to this proxy; standard WAF/IP block, confirmed live -- Guinea-Bissau-specific page now exists, supersedes the generic APHIS hub link used in the prior version)
- VisaHQ -- Guinea-Bissau Customs: https://www.visahq.com/guinea-bissau/customs/ (verified 200)
Useful resources