With no consulate in the United States, Bissau-Guinean civil documents are obtained in Guinea-Bissau, which in practice means a relative attending the registry in person. Planning around that is the whole of the advice.
Quick facts
Civil registration coverage in Guinea-Bissau has historically been uneven outside the main towns, so a record may be harder to locate than expected. Where nothing can be found, the question of what evidence is acceptable belongs to the authority there, not to a guide.
Fees breakdown
| Service | Cost | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Civil certificates | Charged in Guinea-Bissau | Obtained through the registry |
| Power of attorney for a relative | See that page | Usually the practical key |
| U.S. certificate | $15–$50 | State vital records office |
| Certification chain | $3–$25 plus $20 | Consular step unavailable here |
| Portuguese translation | Per page | Where required |
For a child born in the United States to Bissau-Guinean parents, registering the birth at home will normally require someone in Guinea-Bissau acting with a properly prepared document from here.
How to proceed
- Identify a relative in Guinea-Bissau who can attend the registry.
- Ask what that registry requires before preparing anything.
- Prepare a power of attorney if one is needed.
- Order the U.S. certificate and arrange a Portuguese translation.
- Establish how the document will be legalised, since it cannot be done here.
- Keep copies of everything before it travels.
Documents to gather
- Parents’ Bissau-Guinean passports or identity documents.
- Any existing civil certificates the family holds.
- Child’s U.S. birth certificate.
- Portuguese translation where required.
- Contact details for the relative who will act.
- Proof of your status in the United States.
Where to enquire
At the Permanent Mission to the United Nations in New York, and with the civil registry in Guinea-Bissau through a relative.
Additional notes
The relative is the route
Without a consulate, someone on the ground is usually the only way a civil matter progresses.
Ask the registry first
Requirements vary by locality, and preparing the wrong document from six thousand kilometres away is expensive.
Portuguese
Everything official is in Portuguese. Budget for translation.
Keep copies
Documents that travel this far are very difficult to replace.