Starting a business in Guinea-Bissau: foreigner's guide (2026)

The Investment Code (Decree-Law No. 03/2009) guarantees that foreign and domestic investors enjoy equal treatment before the State and all its institutions. 100% foreign capital is permitted; no general equity caps apply across most sectors.

The Centre de Formalização de Empresas (CFE) consolidates company-name reservation, notarisation of statutes, commercial registry filing, tax identification number (TIN), social security registration, and commercial licenses under one roof. Procedures reduced from 17 to approximately 9 since 2011.

A private limited company (SARL) requires a minimum share capital of XOF 1,000,000 (~€1,525), deposited in a bank account at incorporation. A public limited company (SA) requires XOF 10,000,000 (~€15,250); a listed SA requires XOF 100,000,000 (~€152,500).

The CFE can theoretically complete core registration in 1–2 days; the World Bank Doing Business 2020 profile recorded ~9 days for the official process. In practice, full operational readiness—including bank account opening, sector licences, and labour registration—takes 15–30 business days and practitioners warn to budget up to several months.

Core steps: (1) reserve company name at CFE; (2) notarise articles of incorporation; (3) file with Commercial Registry; (4) obtain TIN from Tax Authority; (5) register with National Social Security Institute (INSS); (6) obtain applicable sector licence (commercial/industrial/tourism). Foreign documents must be consulate-certified before submission.

The Investment Code provides tax incentives—corporate tax reducible from 25% to 12.5% for investments in priority sectors, with tax holidays of up to 50% for six years on eligible projects. Profits may be freely repatriated. Practical risks include political instability, weak rule of law, and infrastructure gaps that can lengthen timelines unpredictably.