Guinea-Bissau Citizenship by Investment in 2026: The Complete Guide

Guinea-Bissau is the newest and the least documented direction I write about. I want to say this at the start: in the official texts I could not find a citizenship by investment programme. What exists is the Nationality Law, which allows the Government to grant citizenship by decree, and a new direction that BRIDGES is preparing with a $90,000 contribution. Below is what I could confirm on 29 October 2026 in the Nationality Law as amended in 2010, on the National People’s Assembly website and on the BRIDGES programme page.

What BRIDGES describes

The BRIDGES page calls Guinea-Bissau a new direction. Its timeline says that in August 2026 a preliminary version of the page was published and that the full list of stages, the budget and the document list are being completed. The page gives these figures:

• an investment contribution of $90,000 for the main applicant, paid in stages;
• an all-in estimate from $95,000 for one person in the application;
• a first stage, the personal data check, of one week and $5,000 net;
• the spouse and children are included in the same application, with their rates confirmed in writing.

The page also says that the full set of stages and the budget are fixed in the agreement before the work starts. In other words, the $90,000 is the announced figure, not a published state tariff.

The legal basis

The law in force is the Nationality Law, Law No. 2/92 of 6 April 1992, as amended and republished by Law No. 6/2010 of 21 June 2010 in the Boletim Oficial No. 25. Article 9 lets the Government grant citizenship by decree, on the proposal of the Minister of Justice. The ordinary conditions are adulthood, a minimal knowledge of Guinean culture and six years of habitual and legal residence.

Paragraph 3 of the same article allows the Government to waive both the culture and the residence conditions for people who render, or are called to render, relevant services to the State in the national development process. The law does not mention investment or a fixed amount. My reading is that any investment route would have to rest on this discretionary power. I explain this in the guide to Article 9 and the programme status.

Who can apply

BRIDGES lists the conditions for the main applicant: at least 18 years old, no criminal record, no sanctions and a confirmed legal source of funds. The law adds its own grounds for refusal. Under Article 12, the Public Prosecutor can oppose an acquisition, for example in case of a conviction for a crime punishable by more than six years of prison or a manifest lack of any link with the national community.

The family

BRIDGES writes that the spouse and children are included in one application. The spouse needs a registered marriage. For children, the age limits are confirmed when the budget is calculated, and other dependants are confirmed before filing. The law itself allows minor children of a naturalised parent to receive citizenship on request (Article 6). More in the family and dual citizenship guide.

How the process runs

BRIDGES describes five stages: a consultation, the personal data check, the agreement with the budget, the file and submission, and the decision with the passport. No large payments are made before the agreement is signed. If the check is not passed, the work stops at stage 1. Details are in the process and documents guide.

The passport

According to the BRIDGES Passport Index of 4 October 2026, the Guinea-Bissau passport ranks 86th of 199 and opens 50 destinations without a prior visa. The country is a member of ECOWAS, which matters for travel in West Africa. Holders need a visa for the Schengen area, the United Kingdom, the United States and Canada. Since 1 January 2026 the US can require a visa bond from Guinea-Bissau nationals applying for a B1/B2 visa. See the passport guide.

The political context

The state that would sign a naturalisation decree is in a transition. The BBC reported that the military seized power in November 2025 and that transitional president Horta N’Tam set elections for 6 December 2026. DW reported in October 2026 that the elections were postponed with no new date. I mention this because a decree depends on the Government, and political changes can affect any discretionary procedure.

My honest assessment

Guinea-Bissau may suit someone who wants a low entry price and travel in West Africa, and who accepts that the conditions are still being finalised. It does not suit someone who needs visa-free Europe or a programme with a public tariff and years of track record. Before paying anything beyond stage 1, I would ask for the full budget, the legal basis of your decree and the timeline in writing.