Residence permit (residencia) for expatriates, requiring a work permit
Equatorial Guinea's foreigners law is Law No. 03/2010 of 30 May (Ley Reguladora del Derecho de Extranjería). Under it, expatriates living in the country get a residence permit from the Ministry of National Security's Directorate General of Foreigners and Borders. Ministerial Order 01/2021 lists the documents for a first residence permit and for renewals, and both lists include a work permit from the competent ministry. Employers may not recruit expatriates who are not properly regularised.
1 entry rule for Equatorial Guinea based on recent travel
These apply to people who were recently in certain countries. Sign in and add your trips to see whether any apply to you.
Yellow fever certificate needed after a stay in countries with risk of yellow fever transmission (WHO list)
Travellers aged 9 months and over arriving from a yellow fever risk country need a valid yellow fever certificate.
WHO International Travel and Health, Annex 1: Countries with risk of yellow fever transmission and countries requiring proof of vaccination against yellow fever (18 Nov 2022, revised 3 Jan 2023) WHO ITH Country List: Vaccination requirements and WHO recommendations for international travellers, 2022 edition (18 Nov 2022, revised 3 Jan 2023) Checked October 19, 2026
Life in Equatorial Guinea
Money
3
Currency
Central African CFA Franc
XAF
Central African CFA Franc
Cost of living
45
Price level · US = 100
World Bank price levels, 2024
Tax
Up to 25%
Income tax (national)
VAT 15%
New tax law in force from 6 Dec 2024 cut the top rate from 35% to 25%; exempt minimum raised from 1,000,000 to 1,400,000 (XAF).
Your edge here Members
What gives you an edge here: passports, visas and permits you hold, work, study, language and family ties
Who it’s for
Foreign nationals who work in Equatorial Guinea and need to live there beyond a visit.
Eligibility
Legal entry
You need a valid passport with a visa and an entry stamp from an official border post. People who entered illegally cannot apply (Order 01/2021, art. 4).
Work permit
A work permit issued by the competent ministry is required for both first issue and renewal of the residence permit.
Prior stay or visa extension
For a first application, show an earlier stay recorded in your passport, or a visa extension.
- Earlier stay is called permanencia and must be recorded in the passport
- Visa extension is issued by the Directorate General of Foreigners and Borders
Official wording
A first application needs an earlier stay (permanencia) recorded in the passport, or a visa extension issued by the Directorate General of Foreigners and Borders.
A sneak peek at what's inside
- Next requirementGood conduct and criminal record
- Document checklistApplication addressed to the Minister of State in charge of National Security
- FeesResidence permit fee
The full requirements are for members
Create an account and subscribe to see every requirement, the full document checklist, fees, steps, processing times and conditions, and how your profile compares.
- 2 more requirements
- 11 documents
- 1 fee
- 5 steps
- Processing times and conditions
Places to visit in Equatorial Guinea
Attractions picked for you, based on your profile and interests.
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Official sources
Other routes to Equatorial Guinea
All routes to Equatorial Guinea →Work permits in other countries
- GreeceEU Blue Card - residence permit for highly qualified employees
- GuatemalaTemporary residence for migrant workers
- GuyanaEmployment visa and work permit
- Hong Kong SAR ChinaGeneral Employment Policy (GEP) – Professionals
- CroatiaStay and work permit (single permit) for employment
- HaitiHaiti residence permit
