So, I finally decided to get myself a Guinea-Bissau ID card. It’s something I’ve been putting off, but you know how it is – life gets in the way, and these things get pushed to the back burner.
First off, I needed to figure out what I needed. A buddy of mine told me that, as a US citizen I have to show my passport, a visa, and proof that I had a return ticket to enter Guinea-Bissau. That was a bit of a surprise, but fair enough. He also said that the quickest way to get from the U.S. to Guinea-Bissau is to fly, which takes roughly 15 hours and costs anywhere from $500 to $1,800. Seemed like a pretty wide range, but I guess it depends on when you book and all that. I knew that the distance between the United States and Guinea-Bissau is over 6,500 kilometers, that’s a long haul flight. It sounds like a bit of a mess. And, For Indian Nationals, they have visa on arrival facility, which is valid for 90 days, at a fee of 100 US $. I’m not an Indian, but it’s also a way to get into Guinea-Bissau.
I started by gathering all my documents. It’s always a pain, but I managed to track down my passport, and I already have a visa from a previous trip. I booked a round-trip ticket to make sure I had proof of my return, just like my buddy suggested.
Submitting My Application
Next, I had to find out where to submit my application. A bit of digging online told me that the National Identity Card will be sent to the National Identification Office, and once it’s ready, you can pick it up. Sounded simple enough. I went to my local office, and the process was pretty straightforward. I filled out their forms, handed in my birth certificate – that’s what they needed from me. Oh, man, finding that birth certificate was a mission in itself, but I got it done. But they also told me that I need a resident card, I have to prepare some additional documents to get it, like completed administrative form, and a handwritten request with a detailed description of something, I need to double-check that later.
The Waiting Game
Now comes the waiting. Honestly, it wasn’t as long as I expected. I had it in my head that these things take forever, but it was relatively quick. Got my resident card finally, then went back to get my Guinea-Bissau ID card. I got the call to collect my ID, and off I went. Picked it up, and it was all good.
Final Thoughts
All in all, it wasn’t too much of a hassle. Just a bit of running around, filling out forms, and waiting. But hey, I got my Guinea-Bissau ID card now. It feels good to have that sorted. If you’re thinking about getting one, my advice is to make sure you have all your documents ready – passport, visa, proof of return ticket, and birth certificate. And then just follow the process, it’s not rocket science. I also need to remind you guys that the resident card is a must-have thing if you want to apply for a Guinea-Bissau ID card.
- Gather your documents.
- Submit your application.
- Wait for it to be processed.
- Collect your ID card.
- Don’t forget your resident card!
That’s my experience, hope it helps someone out there!
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