Can a US Driver Drive in Guinea-Bissau? — IDP Recommended, Right-Hand Roads
United States
Guinea-Bissau
An American licence holder can drive in Guinea-Bissau, with an International Driving Permit strongly recommended to carry alongside the US licence. There is no side switch — Guinea-Bissau drives on the right like the US — so the real challenge is road condition, not the lane.
Guinea-Bissau is one of West Africa’s least-visited countries, a former Portuguese colony of mangroves, islands and rough roads. Few American tourists drive here, and those who do should plan around the conditions, not the bureaucracy.
Can an American licence holder drive in Guinea-Bissau?
Yes. Your US licence is accepted for a visit, and an International Driving Permit is strongly recommended to carry with it. Portuguese is the official language and French is widely used at the regional borders, so a US licence on its own can be hard for an official to read; the IDP supplies a standard translation that smooths checkpoints. Carry the IDP, your US licence and passport together, and arrange the permit at home — you will not get one locally.
No side switch — the roads are the issue
Here is the good news for an American driver: Guinea-Bissau drives on the right, exactly like the US. The wrong-side reflex that catches Americans out in much of the world simply does not apply, so your instincts at junctions and turns are correct. The challenge is entirely about surfaces and infrastructure. Outside the capital, Bissau, roads range from patchy tarmac to graded laterite that turns to deep mud in the rainy season; potholes, washed-out sections and unmarked hazards are normal. A high-clearance vehicle is sensible, and travelling between towns is best done in daylight only.
Speeds, fuel and honest cautions
Posted limits are 50 km/h in town, 80 on rural roads and 100 on the main highway, but you will rarely reach them — the road condition is the real speed limit. Our data carries no verified drink-drive figure for Guinea-Bissau, so do not assume a margin: drive completely sober, especially as roadside help is scarce and distances between towns are long. Fuel stations are concentrated around Bissau, so fill the tank before heading into the interior. The emergency number is 112.
Check what documents you need with the Driving Permit Checker, and plan fuel and distances with the Fuel Cost Calculator before you set out.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, with an IDP strongly recommended. Guinea-Bissau is a former Portuguese colony where French and Portuguese dominate, so an IDP gives officials at checkpoints a recognised translation of your US licence.
On the right, the same as the United States. That removes the side-switch hazard — the harder part is the state of the roads and the limited fuel network outside Bissau.
Towns are limited to 50 km/h, rural roads to 80 and the main highway to 100 km/h, but potholed surfaces and unpredictable traffic usually keep you well below those figures.