No travel can be guaranteed safe. Read all the advice in this guide. You may also find it helpful to:
\n\nIf you choose to travel, research your destinations and get appropriate travel insurance. Insurance should cover your itinerary, planned activities and expenses in an emergency.
\n\nThe Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) provides advice about risks of travel to help you make informed decisions. Find out more about FCDO travel advice.
\n\nSign up to get email notifications when this travel advice is updated.
\n\nFollow FCDO:
\n\nThis information is for people travelling on a full ‘British citizen’ passport from the UK. It is based on the UK government’s understanding of Gabon’s current rules for the most common types of travel.
\n\nThe authorities in Gabon set and enforce entry rules. If you’re not sure how these requirements apply to you, contact the Gabon High Commission on 020 7823 9986 or email gabonembassyuk@gmail.com.
\n\nYour passport must have an ‘expiry date’ that is at least 6 months after the date you arrive in Gabon.
\n\nCheck with your travel provider that your passport and other travel documents meet requirements. Renew your passport if you need to.
\n\nYou will be denied entry if you do not have a valid travel document or try to use a passport that has been reported lost or stolen.
\n\nWhen returning to the UK, British citizens must carry a valid British passport or certificate of entitlement. See Dual citizenship.
\n\nYou must have a visa to enter Gabon.
\n\nYou must apply for a visa before travelling. For more information on the visa application process, contact the Gabon High Commission in the UK on 020 7823 9986 or email gabonembassyuk@gmail.com.
\n\nThe most reliable way to get a visa is through the High Commission in the UK.
\n\nFor business travel, you must provide a letter of invitation from an individual or company in Gabon explaining the reason for your trip.
\n\nFor tourist travel, you must provide a hotel booking or letter from your hotel confirming your stay.
\n\nTo enter Gabon, you must have a certificate to prove you’ve had a yellow fever vaccination.
\n\nFor full details about medical entry requirements and recommended vaccinations, see TravelHealthPro’s Gabon guide.
\n\nThere are strict rules about goods you can take into or out of Gabon. You must declare anything that may be prohibited or subject to tax or duty.
\n\n","slug":"entry-requirements","title":"Entry requirements"},{"body":"There is a high threat of terrorist attack globally affecting UK interests and British nationals, including from groups and individuals who view the UK and British nationals as targets. Stay aware of your surroundings at all times.
\n\nUK Counter Terrorism Policing has information and advice on staying safe abroad and what to do in the event of a terrorist attack. Find out how to reduce your risk from terrorism while abroad.
\n\nAlthough there’s no recent history of terrorism in Gabon, attacks cannot be ruled out.
\n\nPresidential elections will be held on 12 April, 2025, in Gabon. We do not expect significant disruption, however British Nationals should continue to exercise vigilance in crowded areas and near polling stations, and avoid rallies.
\n\nProtests and unrest can occur without warning and the situation could change quickly. During periods of unrest, police checks may increase. Make sure you have all required documentation with you and avoid large gatherings.
\n\nBorders have reopened following the military takeover in August 2023, but some disruption may happen. Contact your travel provider for more information and follow instructions from local authorities.
\n\nYou should:
\n\nPolitical and security tensions following the August 2023 military coup resulted in some tourists being held and questioned about their reasons for travelling to Gabon. Some individuals had their passports taken and were briefly prevented from leaving the country. While the situation has stabilised, current political and security sensitivities mean that the authorities may treat tourists with heightened scrutiny.
\n\nProtests in Gabon are not common but happen on occasion and may turn violent without warning. You should avoid all demonstrations and rallies and remain vigilant during periods of unrest.
\n\nThere have been incidents of robbery, armed attacks and rape in Gabon.
\n\nYou can take steps to reduce your risk and help protect your belongings, including:
\n\nTaxis in Gabonese cities operate like buses, picking up more passengers if there is room in the car. They often take indirect routes. There have been reports of violent assaults and robberies on taxi passengers. Use licensed taxis, and ask to book the taxi exclusively so it does not pick up other passengers. Check with your tour operator or travel provider if they have a taxi service you can use.
\n\nThere have been reports of carjackings in Libreville. If you’re a victim of an attack, stay calm and surrender your valuables and your vehicle if asked. Do not resist.
\n\nTo reduce your risk:
\n\nCredit cards are not widely accepted except at hotels. Credit card fraud is common outside the major hotel chains. Be alert when paying by card and withdrawing cash from ATMs.
\n\nBy law, you need to be able to show proof of your identity to the authorities if asked. Carry your passport and visa, or a certified copy of the photo and visa pages of your passport.
\n\nPossession of drugs is a serious offence and punishment can be severe, including a prison sentence.
\n\nPhotography of government and military buildings and airports is illegal and may lead to arrest.
\n\nSame-sex sexual activity is not illegal. There are no laws against discrimination on the grounds of sexual orientation. Gabon remains a conservative society and discrimination can be a problem for those open about their sexual identity. Same-sex marriage is not recognised in Gabon.
\n\nRead more advice for LGBT+ travellers.
\n\nIf you are planning to drive in Gabon, see information on driving abroad.
\n\nYou’ll need to have both the correct version of the international driving permit (IDP) and your UK driving licence with you in the car.
\n\nRoad conditions in the centre of Libreville are generally good. Conditions in local inland areas are poor and driving can be hazardous. During the rainy season from October to mid-December and mid-February to May, many roads are passable only with a 4-wheel-drive vehicle. Avoid travelling by road at night as many roads are unlit.
\n\nOfficial checkpoints are common. Police will ask for your passport, driving licence and vehicle registration documents. See more information on drivers being stopped by police (in French). Your car should also have a:
\n\nBritish government employees do not use domestic flights run by Gabonese airline companies unless this is unavoidable.
\n\nPirates have carried out armed attacks on commercial shipping vessels in the Gulf of Guinea. Take extreme care when travelling in coastal waters.
\n\nIf you’re travelling by sea, read about the regional risks at sea.
\n\n","slug":"safety-and-security","title":"Safety and security"},{"body":"Before you travel check that:
\n\nThis is particularly important if you have a health condition or are pregnant.
\n\nCall 117, 1300, 011760873 or 1333 and ask for an ambulance. Operators may only speak French.
\n\nThese numbers are not always reliable. Emergency help can be limited.
\n\nContact your insurance company quickly if you’re referred to a medical facility for treatment.
\n\nAt least 8 weeks before your trip:
\n\nSee what health risks you’ll face in Gabon, including:
\n\nThe Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) estimates that around 44,000 adults aged 15 or over in Gabon are living with HIV; the prevalence percentage is estimated at 3.8% of the adult population compared with the prevalence percentage in adults in the UK of around 0.2%. You should take normal precautions to avoid exposure to HIV/AIDS.
\n\nThe legal status and regulation of some medicines prescribed or bought in the UK can be different in other countries.
\n\nRead best practice when travelling with medicines on TravelHealthPro.
\n\nMedical facilities are limited, particularly in rural areas. Make sure you have adequate travel health insurance and accessible funds to cover the cost of any medical treatment abroad and repatriation.
\n\nFCDO has a list of medical providers in Gabon where some staff will speak English.
\n\nRead FCDO guidance on travel and mental health. There is also mental health guidance on TravelHealthPro.
\n\n","slug":"health","title":"Health"},{"body":"The Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) cannot provide tailored advice for individual trips. Read this travel advice and carry out your own research before deciding whether to travel.
\n\nAmbulance: 117. Depending on your mobile network, call: 1300, 0174 or 0880 for SOS Médecins. Operators may only speak French.
\n\nFire: 177
\n\nPolice: 177
\n\nNone of these numbers are guaranteed to be reliable. Emergency help can be limited in some places that are hard to reach
\n\nContact your travel provider and your insurer if you are involved in a serious incident or emergency abroad. They will tell you if they can help and what you need to do.
\n\nFor refunds or changes to travel, contact your travel provider. You may also be able to make a claim through insurance. However, insurers usually require you to talk to your travel provider first.
\n\nFind out more about changing or cancelling travel plans, including:
\n\nFCDO has guidance on staying safe and what to do if you need help or support abroad, including:
\n\nSee how to get help from the UK government abroad including in an emergency.
\n\nYou can call FCDO in London if you need urgent help because something has happened to a friend or relative abroad.
\n\nTelephone: 020 7008 5000 (24 hours)
\n\n\n\nSign up to get email notifications when this travel advice is updated.
\n\nFollow FCDO:
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