Guyana
Last update 21 August 2023Diplomatic missions
Risk index
Level 2: Increased attention (please be informed in detail about the current situation in the country)
2
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We call on Bulgarian citizens to refrain from travelling!
Co-operative Republic of Guyana
The Republic of Bulgaria does not have a functioning embassy in Guyana. Guyana is serviced by the Embassy in Brasilia, Brazil.
Embassy of the Republic of Bulgaria in Brasilia, Brazil
Address: SEN Av. das Nações, Qd. 801, Lt.08, CEP70432-900, Brasília DF
Telephone: +55 61 3223 6193; +55 61 3223 9849
Fax: +55 61 3323 3285
Working hours: 09:00 – 17:30
Opening hours: 9:00 – 17:30
Е-mail: [email protected]
Website: www.mfa.bg/embassies/brazil
High Commission of Guyana in London
(not accredited for Bulgaria, only legalises documents)
Address: London W2 4LP, 3 Palace Court, Bayswater Road
Telephone: +44 20 7229 76 84
Fax: +44 20 7727 98 09
Working hours: 09:30 – 17:30 ч.
E-mail: [email protected]
Embassy of the Co-operative Republic of Guyana in Belgium
Address: 12 Avenue du Bresil, 1050 Brussels
Telephone: +32 2 675 6312; +32 2 675 6216; +32 2 732 2021
Fax: +32 2 672 5598
E-mail: [email protected]
Embassy of the Co-operative Republic of Guyana in Greece
Address: 206 Syrgrou Avenue Kallithea, Athens, Greece-17672
Mailing address: P.O. Box 75208-Kallithea, Greece-17610
Telephone: +30 1 958 5064
Fax: +30 1 958 5149
Email: [email protected]
General information
Security level:
The level of crime in the Co-operative Republic of Guyana is high. Precautions should be taken to protect personal belongings. It is recommended to avoid wearing expensive jewellery or displaying large amounts of money in public. It is a good idea to keep valuables, passports, tickets in a safe place using photocopies of the documents.
Extreme caution is recommended for unorganized visits to the following neighbourhoods in the capital Georgetown: Buxton, Stabroek, Bourda and in the vicinity of the National Park, as well as during night-time visits to the coastal area of the city.
National emergency telephone number — 911.
Healthcare:
The percentage of people infected with the HIV virus is quite high.
Regions 1 (Barima-Waini), 7 (Mazaruni), 8 (Potaro-Siparuni), 9 (Upper Essequibo) in the western part of the country along the borders with Venezuela and Brazil are particularly at risk from the spread of malaria.
According to the United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS, over 1.1% of Guyana's population is likely to be HIV/AIDS carriers, one of the highest rates among South American countries.
Cases of food poisoning are common, so visitors are advised ensure that they have stomach-ache remedies purchased from local pharmacies. As a precaution, it is also recommended to consume only boiled or bottled water.
The medical assistance that can be provided in Co-operative Republic of Guyana is limited, especially in the inland. Hospitals in the capital Georgetown have facilities for emergency check-ups and for hospital stays. When planning visits to the rainforest, tourists are advised to take out international medical insurance to facilitate transport to hospitals in the border areas of the FR Brazil (Roraima state) in case of severe injuries.
Specifics of the local legislation:
Drug trafficking is a serious crime: long sentences and heavy fines are imposed for drug possession and trafficking. The minimum sentence for drug offences is three years. Prison conditions in the Co-operative Republic of Guyana are harsh. Pack all your own luggage and do not carry things that do not belong to you.
Guyana's anti-narcotics authorities at the airport regularly stop and search foreigners who fit a certain profile.
Homosexual activity is illegal. Public displays of homosexuality such as holding hands or kissing in public can lead to arrest and imprisonment.
Foreign nationals are required to carry identity documents at all times. It is recommended that a copy is carried while the originals are left in safe storage at the places of stay. Failure to produce proof of identity when checked by the authorities will result in a fine and possible detention for questioning. When entering or leaving the country, customs authorities strictly control the import or export of firearms, seeds, plants and rare birds, requiring licences/permits issued by the competent authorities.
When entering the country, it is mandatory to affix the stamp of the border authorities, and foreign nationals should pay increased attention to this, as the absence of a stamp may prevent leaving the country and may lead to detention.
Only licensed ferries should be hired for tours of the country's coastline, as the use of unregistered boats and ships is common but prohibited by law.
Road traffic:
Traffic is in the left line in the Co-operative Republic of Guyana. Foreigners must obtain a permit to drive in the country, which is issued by the Inland Revenue Department, License Revenue Division, on the grounds of a valid national or international driving licence. The permit issued is valid for 30 days.
Practical advice:
Voltage across Guyana is 120/240V. Larger shops and hotels accept credit cards, but cash is the most widely used.
Voltage in Georgetown is 110v, and 220v in most other places in the country.
Local currency:
The local currency in the Co-operative Republic of Guyana is the Guyanese dollar (GYD).
USD 1 = GYD 212
EUR 1 = GYD 225
Climatic characteristics:
The rainy periods are from May to mid-August and from mid-November to mid-January. There is a constant threat of flooding during these periods.
There is a constant risk of hurricanes along the Atlantic coast, especially from early June to mid-November. During this period, plane flights are often cancelled and road traffic is blocked along the Atlantic coast, including the capital Georgetown. Due to weather conditions, it is not uncommon for mobile phones and GPS systems to not have a good signal, especially in inland areas.
Travel papers and visas
Bulgarian citizens need a visa for the CR Guyana. When applying for a visa, the following documents must be submitted:
— a completed form; — a passport valid for more than 6 months after the date of arrival in the country;
— 3 passport size photographs;
— proof of funds to cover the stay in the CR Guyana.
Attention!
Your passport must have at least one blank page so that the entry visa can be affixed to it. There should be no other visa stamps on the back of this page other than the border control stamps.
A yellow fever vaccine is mandatory, with an exemption only for children under 1 year. Typhoid, dengue and malaria vaccines are recommended.
Travellers arriving in the country by plane are required to have a return or onward ticket.
The duration of the tourist visa is 90 days, with a possible one-time extension of up to an additional 90 days by the Ministry of Home Affairs in Georgetown.
For a planned stay of more than 180 days, a long-stay visa is applied for, with the authorities assessing the length of validity of the visa.
If the time limit set in the visa is exceeded, fines shall be imposed, the amount of which shall be determined by a judge.
Competitive service
Issuance of identity documents:
The Embassy of the Republic of Bulgaria in Brazil accepts applications for Bulgarian identity documents.
Emergency Travel Document:
In case of emergency (lost/stolen passport), Bulgarian citizens can seek on-the-spot assistance from a diplomatic mission of an EU Member State to obtain an Emergency Travel Document. In case of need for such a document, citizens should contact the Embassy of the Republic of Bulgaria in Brazil for assistance.
Certifications and legalizations:
In order to be valid in Bulgaria and to be able to serve before the Bulgarian institutions, all documents issued by the authorities in Guyana to Bulgarian citizens must bear the stamp of its Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Then, they need to be certified by the Embassy of Guyana in London. The signature and certifications of the Embassy of Guyana in London are certified by the Consular Office of the Embassy of Bulgaria in Great Britain.
Once the documents have been prepared in this way, they must be translated into Bulgarian by an authorized company in Bulgaria and certified by the Department of Certifications and Legalizations with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Bulgaria.