Just Landed in Equatorial Guinea? Your First 7 Days

Two operators dominate: Muni, the market leader, and GETESA, which is state-owned and carries the Orange brand. Coverage is reasonable in Malabo and Bata but thin on the rest of Bioko and the mainland, and mobile data is the main way most people get online. Speeds are modest and inconsistent, and fixed home internet is expensive and unreliable, so a good phone data plan is your workhorse.

Typical cost: A SIM runs roughly 3,000-6,000 XAF (about USD 5-10) and requires passport registration. Monthly data bundles range from around 10,000 XAF for a modest allowance to 25,000-30,000 XAF for heavier use, and fixed home internet where available costs considerably more.

The currency is the Central African CFA franc (XAF), shared across the CEMAC region and pegged to the euro at a fixed rate of 655.957 XAF to one euro. This is a deeply cash-based society: you carry physical notes for almost everything, because card acceptance is rare outside a handful of international hotels and a few oil-company venues.

Opening an account: Foreigners typically bank with BGFIBank, CCEI Bank GE (part of Afriland First Bank) or Ecobank, and the account is usually opened through an employer who provides the introduction. You will need your passport, residence permit and a proof-of-employment or salary letter, and the process is slow, in-person and paperwork-heavy, so expect it to take weeks rather than days.

Cash: Keep small and medium denominations for taxis, markets and daily needs, as change is often scarce. ATMs are few, frequently out of cash and often reject foreign cards, so withdraw when a machine is working and never rely on plastic. Many expats keep a euro reserve, given the fixed peg and the ease of exchange.

Tipping: Tipping is not deeply ingrained and is generally not expected. Rounding up or leaving around 5-10 percent at upscale restaurants and hotels catering to expats is appreciated but optional, and small tips to helpful drivers or porters are a normal courtesy rather than an obligation.

Anyone staying beyond a short visit needs a residence permit (tarjeta de residencia) processed through immigration, almost always via an employer or sponsor rather than by the individual directly. Foreigners are legally expected to carry identification at all times and may be stopped and checked at police and military posts, so registration is not a formality you can quietly skip. The process is bureaucratic, in-person and dependent on your company's local relationships, and the exact steps and timing tend to shift, which is why almost everyone relies on a sponsor to navigate it.

Deadline: Begin the residence permit process within your visa's validity, generally within the first weeks of arrival. Your employer sets the precise timing, and delays are common, so start early and keep chasing it.

Where: Handled at immigration (Migracion) offices under the Direccion General de Seguridad in Malabo or Bata, normally by your company's local sponsor or fixer rather than by you personally.

There are no ride-hailing apps such as Uber or Bolt. Getting around means shared and private taxis, which are usually unmetered, so you agree the fare before setting off, or a company car and driver, which is what most expats use for both convenience and security. Public transport between towns is limited, and crossing between Bioko and the mainland requires a domestic flight or a ferry rather than a road trip.

From the airport: Malabo International Airport (SSG) sits about 7-9 km from central Malabo, roughly a 15-20 minute drive. Use a pre-arranged company or hotel car wherever possible. Otherwise take an airport taxi and firmly agree the price before getting in, commonly 5,000-10,000 XAF into the city. On the mainland, Bata Airport (BSG) is similarly close to the city centre.

Most expats live in employer-provided compounds or serviced apartments in Malabo or Bata, which is by far the safest and simplest route and is often written into the contract. The open rental market is small, expensive for basic quality and typically arranged in person through contacts or an agent, as there is little in the way of reliable online listings. Air conditioning, a generator and a stable water supply are the features that matter most.

Typical rent: A furnished, expat-standard apartment in Malabo runs roughly 800,000-2,000,000 XAF per month (about USD 1,300-3,300), with a secure home including generator and water starting around 600,000 XAF. Basic local studios and simple apartments are far cheaper, from around 50,000-150,000 XAF, but come with much lower quality and reliability.

Deposit norm: Landlords commonly ask for two to three months' rent upfront as a deposit, plus the first month, and almost always in cash. Verify who actually owns or manages the property before handing over money, since rental scams targeting newcomers are a real risk.

Public healthcare is very limited and standards are low, and serious cases are frequently stabilised locally and then evacuated abroad. Private clinics in Malabo, such as La Paz Medical Centre and other company-linked facilities, offer the best available care but cannot handle complex emergencies or major surgery. On the mainland, options in Bata are more limited again, so plan around evacuation rather than assuming local treatment.

How to access it: For anything serious, go directly to a private clinic and expect to pay in cash upfront; do not rely on ambulances, which are scarce and unreliable, and arrange private transport if you need to move a patient. Keep a personal supply of any prescription medicines you depend on, since pharmacies are poorly and inconsistently stocked and specific brands are often missing.

Insurance: International health insurance with guaranteed medical evacuation cover is essential and is usually provided by employers. Confirm before you arrive that your policy covers air evacuation to Europe or South Africa, name the assistance provider, and keep the 24-hour number and policy details on you at all times.

• Greet people properly in Spanish before getting to business; a handshake and a few unhurried pleasantries are expected and skipping them reads as rude.
• Dress modestly and neatly, as scruffy or revealing clothing draws attention and disapproval, and smart dress earns respect in offices and official settings.
• Show visible courtesy toward police, military and officials, and address them politely and calmly at checkpoints, using titles where you can.
• Keep a low profile and avoid any loud criticism of the government or the president in public, online or with people you do not know well.
• Accept that time is flexible; meetings and appointments often start late, and pushing hard for punctuality can come across as aggressive.
• Use your right hand for greetings, giving and receiving, and show deference to elders and senior figures in any group.
• Ask permission before photographing people, and never point a camera at anything official, military or infrastructure-related.

• Never photograph the airport, ports, government buildings, military sites, checkpoints or officials, as this regularly leads to detention and equipment being seized.
• Political discussion is genuinely sensitive and surveillance is a real concern, so stay neutral and non-committal in conversations with strangers.
• Checkpoints can involve requests for bribes; stay calm, polite and patient, keep your documents in order, and lean on your employer rather than getting confrontational.
• Public displays of frustration or raised voices with officials can escalate quickly and rarely help, so keep your composure even when things are slow.
• Same-sex relationships and drug use carry serious social and legal risk, and discretion is strongly advised.