1

Hello. The invitation is necessary. As for where to get it, well, that's a good question! I'm currently in touch with a travel agency that's looking into setting up a trip to EG for me. The problem for most people is that invitation letters are basically impossible to get, at least for tourism purposes. This same company spent three months trying to get a letter for a British national and eventually gave up. Americans are the only people who can get in without a visa, but even they have to submit some paperwork to the embassy in DC, including a bank statement that shows at least $2000 in their account(s).

Regarding any other permits, I can't help. Presumably, you're best off going through an agency that can navigate the insane amount of red tape.

If you find a way to get in, please post back here. Otherwise, I'm afraid you're going to have to wait for a more accommodating regime to take power. It's a shame, but there's not much that can be done.

2

hi,
don't trust the people at their german embassy! we asked for a transit visa in june 2012, supplied all the documents required in time (flight reservation in/out of malabo, application forms, photos, etc.; in this case technically no invitation is required!), only to be told three weeks later that we would't get the visa, since there would be some political fiestas on our planned day of arrival. Ms engonga, the secretary, pretends to decide and to know everything - however, we got deported immediately after arrival in malabo and sent back to france, although she had told us that transit visas would be issued at malabo airport.
in short: reserve plenty of time for organizing a letter of invitation in advance, which seems to be inevitable for a tourist visa, and be prepared for the worst at arrival, even with a valid visa... good luck! as a european citizen you won't get a visa anywhere else than in berlin, they won't issue it in libreville or douala.
cheers,

3

I traveled to EQ Guinea earlier this year (US passport) and didn't need to submit any paperwork beforehand to Washington, they let me in at the airport with no problems or questions. This was during the Africas Cup matches though so there may have been some leniency there.

4

except US citizens everybody else needs a visa, obtainable in your home country, if EG has an embassy there, if not in the nearest country where EG has an embassy, in the case of Switzerland it is their consulates in either Paris or Berlin.
In Germany they ask for Police clearance, HIV test, plus on top of that an invitation, in Paris they did not ask the invitation, but a hotel booking in Malabo would be enough, and also no HIV test, but a police clearance from your home country is still mandatory.
Yes, its correct, both the EG embassies in Libreville and Yaounde, as well as their consulate in Douala did not entertain my application.There is also an embassy in Sao Tome, but the same.
I have not managed to get a visa yet, but I m collecting information about it for more than a year.
It will be one of my last remaining UN countries to visit, a very hard nut to crack!

5

You could try the EG embassy in Brussels instead of Berlin, they do not ask for an invitation letter anymore (we are currently trying this). We were requested for an interview at the consulate to explain the purpose of our travel, let's see how this turns out...

6

to be confirmed after we pick up the documents later this week, but it seems like we got the visa for EG after 4 visits to the embassy :-)

7

Ohnoyoko

What's the name of the company that is looking into setting a trip to EG for you? Have you already returned? How was it?

8

edit: (sorry I take back my words I just noticed your question was adressed to someone else;-))

no company, we did it ourselves. It took seven visits and an interview with the consul. No guarantees though, we got sent back at Cogo despite having a visa (see my other post).

Edited by: LienV

9

It sounds like a tough country to get in. Thank you anyway.

10

Hello. Unfortunately, the trip fell through because the guy who tried to organize it disappeared. I've found one other place that says they can arrange for some ecotourism. I might look into that. Otherwise, it sounds like EG really is a no-go country. Several people here have reported just how awful the authorities have been to them. Maybe things would be a bit different for me, as I am American and (theoretically) a bit more free to come and go. Even then, I'd rather avoid EG for now. My Spanish is very poor, so I'd be in a world of hurt if the authorities came after me. Maybe I'll give it another go if a more tourist-friendly government appears. To go at any other time would be done solely to add a rare stamp to my passport.