The Republic of Gabon is a beautiful country located in central Africa. Foreigners who want to visit the country will probably need to apply for a Gabon visa. For further information regarding the requirements, duration, visa types and processing time, applicants who need a visa can read the article below.
Who Needs a Visa for Gabon?
Citizens of the following countries do not need a visa to enter and visit Gabon (unless otherwise specified):
- Benin
- Chad
- Sao Tome and Principe
- Cameroon
- Equatorial Guniea
- South Africa
- Central African Republic
- Mauritius
- Tunisia
- Republic of Congo
- Morocco
Other Visa Exemptions
Applicants of the countries listed below who fulfil some of the following criteria do not need a visa to enter the country:
- Holders of a Sao Tome and Principe passport.
- Holders of a diplomatic passport issued by:
- Germany
- Turkey
- Holders of a diplomatic, official, or service passport issued by:
- Benin
- Brazil
- Burkina Faso
- China
- Cote d’Ivoire
- Cuba
- Djibouti
- Egypt
- France
- Guinea
- Israel
- Mali
- Russia
- Senegal
- South Korea
How to Apply for a Gabon Visa?
There are two options for applying for a Gabon visa:
- Apply for a Gabon e-Visa.
- Apply at the port of entry.
- Apply for a Gabon embassy visa.
Apply for an E-Visa
Foreign citizens who want to apply for a Gabon e-Visa, must follow these steps:
- Enter the official page of Immigration Gabon e-Visa.
- Select the visa type you want to apply for.
- Fill out the Gabon visa application form.
- Attach other required documents.
- Wait for an answer.
- If you receive a positive answer, download the visa application form and print it.
- Submit the letter at the port of entry; you will be issued an e-Visa sticker.
Apply at the Port of Entry
Citizens of the following countries can obtain a Gabon visa at the port of entry and stay in the country for 90 days:
- All EU citizens
- Mexico
- Australis
- Oman
- Argentina
- Qatar
- Bahrain
- Russia
- Brazil
- Saudi Arabia
- Canada
- South Africa
- China
- South Korea
- India
- Turkey
- Indonesia
- United Arab Emirates
- Japan
- United Kingdom
- Kuwait
- United States
Important: Everyone who is issued with an authorization travel document by the Immigration Office prior travelling to Gabon, are eligible to obtain a visa on arrival.
Apply for a Gabon Embassy Visa
Foreign citizens listed below qualify for a Gabon embassy visa:
- Aland Islands
- French Guinea
- Northern Mariana Islands
- American Samoa
- French Polynesia
- Pitcairn Islands
- Anguilla
- Gibraltar
- Puerto Rico
- Antarctica
- Greenland
- Reunion
- Aruba
- Guadeloupe
- Saint Barthelemy
- Bermuda
- Guam
- Saint Helena
- Bonaire
- Guernsey
- Saint Martin
- British Indian Ocean Territory
- Isle of Man
- Saint Pierre and Miquelon
- British Virgin Islands
- Jersey
- Sint Maarten
- Cayman Islands
- Martinique
- South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands
- Cocos Islands
- Mayotte
- Svalbard and Jan Mayen
- Cook Islands
- Montserrat
- Tokelau
- Curacu
- New Calendonia
- Turks and Caicos Islands
- Falkland Islands
- Niue
- United States Virgin Islands
- Faroe Islands
- Norfolk Island
- Wallis and Futuna
To apply for a visa at the embassy/consulate of Gabon in your home country follow these steps:
- Contact the nearest embassy or consulate of Gabon in your home country and book a visa appointment.
- Fill out the Gabon visa application form and sign it at the end.
- Gather all the required documents.
- Submit the required documents to the embassy or consulate of Gabon.
- Wait for a response.
Gabon Visa Requirements
When applying for a Gabon visa, you must submit the following documents:
- Valid travel documents.
- Fully completed and signed Gabon visa application form.
- Passport-sized photo in colors in line with Gabon visa photo requirements.
- Valid health insurance . You need a document proving that your travel insurance can cover all the risks of medical problems while traveling to Gabon.
- An accommodation proof. Your hotel reservation details or any other accommodations you have made.
- A letter of invitation from a friend or a family member.
- Criminal record.
- Bank statement.
- A travel itinerary. Proof that you have purchased or booked a return ticket to your home country.
Note: Other additional documents may be required depending on the type of visa you plan on applying for, and keep in mind that any missing document can lead to your visa being rejected.
Processing Time for a Gabon Visa
The processing time for a Gabon visa is between three to seven working days. Keep in mind that the processing time for your visa application can be extended if there is any missing information or document.
Duration of a Gabon Visa
The duration of a Gabon visa depends on the type of visa you are applying for and for how long you plan on staying in the country:
- A single entry visa is issued for one to three months.
- A multiple entry visa is issued for three to six months.
Can a Gabon Visa be Extended?
The Immigration Office grants a Gabon visa extension if the applicant is issued with a visa valid for one or two months:
- A visa issued for one month can be extended for two months.
- A visa issued for two months can be extended for one month.
However, the Immigration Office can not extend visas granted for three to six months.
To apply for an extension of their visa, the applicant must apply for an extension to the Directorate General of Documentation and Immigration (DGDI) in Libreville.
Gabon Visa Fees
Here are the Gabon visa fees:
- €85 for a single entry visa valid for one to three months.
- €200 for a multiple entry visa valid for six months.
The applicant can finish the visa application fee payment at the port of entry.
Gabon Visa Types
Here are the Gabon visa types you can apply for:
- Tourist visa.
- Work visa.
- Study visa.
- Business visa.
Tourist Visa
A tourist visa is issued for foreign citizens who want to visit the country for tourism purposes. The duration of a tourist visa is three months. Foreigners who want to stay longer than three months must apply for a Gabon residence permit.
Work Visa
A work visa is issued to foreigners who want to work in Gabon. To apply for a Gabon work visa, you must first apply for a business e-Visa or a business visa at the embassy/consulate of Gabon in your home country. Then your employer in the country must apply for a work permit on your behalf since they will sponsor your trip to Gabon.
Next, the employer must submit the required documents to the Ministry of Labor and Human Resources showing that they will sponsor the worker (applicant). Then the employer must apply for the work permit with the Work Department in the Ministry of Labor and Human Resources. To apply for a work permit, the employer must submit these documents:
- Copy of the applicant’s passport.
- A letter of invitation issued from the company.
- The fee payment receipt.
After receiving a response for the work permit, the applicant can obtain their work permit, pay for an additional fee payment that is required and start working in Gabon.
Study Visa
Foreign citizens who want to study in Gabon must apply for a study visa. A study visa will allow the applicant to study in Gabon until they finish their studies.
For further information regarding a Gabon study visa, contact the embassy or consulate of Gabon.
Bussines Visa
A business visa is issued to foreigners who want to visit the country for business purposes. To apply for a business visa, the applicant must submit the following documents:
- Valid passport.
- Fully completed and signed visa application form.
- Two passport-size photographs.
- A letter of invitation from a host in Gabon.
- A travel itinerary.
- A letter from the company stating the duration of your trip and stating that they will financially support the applicant.
For further information regarding the requirements, contact the embassy/consulate of Gabon.
Residence Permit for Gabon
There are two types of residence permits in Gabon that the applicants can apply for if they want to stay longer than three months in the country. Applicants who want to apply for a Gabon residence permit must submit their application to the Department of Documentation and Immigration:
- Free residence permit. A free residence permit is issued to foreigners who work for the country.
- Fee-paying residence permit. A fee-paying residence permit is issued to foreigners who want to stay in Gabon for other purposes.
The validity of both residence permits is two years (renewable).
Travel Tips for Gabon
Here are some travel tips you probably will need before travelling to Gabon:
- Do not walk alone at night.
- Avoid public gatherings; they can get violent.
- Avoid minibuses and taxis; they are not safe.
- There is a high chance of scamming, so be careful who you talk to.
- There is poor water quality, so be prepared for that.
- Do not take important things with you when you go out. There is a high risk of pickpockets.