International Driver's License for Guinea-Bissau

Guinea-Bissau recognizes the International Driver's License under international road traffic conventions, and foreign drivers are advised to carry one as an official translation of their home country license. Guinea-Bissau drives on the right, and having an IDL alongside your national license helps police and rental agencies read your credentials in a language they recognize. You can apply online through E-ITA and have your permit ready in minutes.

An International Driver's License (IDL) and International Driving Permit (IDP) are the same type of document — a booklet that translates the details of your national driver's license into multiple languages. In Guinea-Bissau it does not replace your home license; you carry both together, and the IDL simply makes your existing license understandable to local authorities and car-hire desks.

Guinea-Bissau generally allows visitors to drive on a valid foreign license for the duration of a short tourist stay, and an IDL is meant to accompany that license rather than extend it. If you plan to settle or stay long term you would eventually need to look into a local Guinea-Bissau license, but for typical travel your home license plus an IDL is the expected combination.

It is best to arrange your IDL before you fly, because Guinea-Bissau does not issue foreign-license translations to short-term visitors on arrival, and there is no reliable local counter for last-minute travelers. Since E-ITA is an online application, you can complete it from anywhere in a few minutes — even shortly before departure — so you land already holding the document rental desks and police expect.

* People drive on the right side of the road.

* The minimum age to drive a car is 18 years old. The minimum age to rent a car is 21 years old.

* Guinea-Bissau does have a national seat belt law. We recommend always wearing a seat belt if it is available.

* Guinea-Bissau does have a national law prohibiting mobile phone use while driving. Using a hands-free device is permitted.

* Guinea-Bissau does have a national law requiring the use of helmets when on motorcycle or scooter. This applies to both drivers and passengers. Child passengers under the age of 6 are not allowed.

* Legal Blood Alcohol Content Level: 0.05%. Do not drink and drive.

* The maximum driving speed is 50 km/h (31 miles/hour) in urban areas and 80 km/h (49 miles/hour) in rural areas.

Guinea-Bissau sets its legal blood alcohol limit at 0.05%. That is a low threshold, so the safest choice is not to drink at all before driving. Roads outside the capital can be poorly lit and unpaved, which makes staying fully sober even more important.

Yes. Guinea-Bissau has a national law requiring helmets for both the rider and the passenger on any motorcycle or scooter, and children under the age of 6 are not permitted as passengers. Motorbikes are a common way to get around, so keep a helmet on at all times even for short trips.

Formal car-hire options in Guinea-Bissau are limited, and where rental is available the desk will typically want to see your home license together with an IDL so staff can read your details. Carrying the physical IDL booklet, minimum-age-21 eligibility, and a passport smooths the process and reduces the chance of being turned away.

Anyone who already holds a valid national driver's license can apply. The IDL is a translation of that license, so your home license must be current — the IDL is only valid alongside it. Through E-ITA you apply online in minutes without needing to visit an office in Guinea-Bissau.