Deep coverage16 verified routes across visit, study, work, investment, family and more.
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Select the passports you hold to see short-stay access and per-route eligibility for Gabon.
5 routes
Visit
Short stays: tourism, transit, business trips, medical, pilgrimage.
Tourist Visa
Gabon e-Visa (Tourist, 1-3 Month Single Entry)
Gabon's electronic entry visa for tourism and short visits, applied for on the DGDI portal (evisa.dgdi.ga / edgdi.dgdi.ga) before travel. The single-entry version covers a stay of 1 to 3 months and the stamp fee is EUR 70, plus an online service/filing fee of about EUR 15; the EUR 70 stamp is paid in cash on arrival at Leon Mba International Airport in Libreville. The e-Visa is valid only for travellers arriving by air through Libreville; it does not authorise work and does not lead to residence. Applicants must present a yellow-fever vaccination certificate, return ticket and hotel booking. Gabon reintroduced visa requirements for G20/EU/US and most other nationalities on 4 October 2023.
Online e-Visa applicationCompleted application on the DGDI e-Visa portal with account creation and host/hotel selection.
Passport bio-data pageScan of a passport valid at least 6 months beyond arrival, uploaded to the portal.
Passport photographRecent passport-size photo with a clear background.
Yellow fever vaccination certificateMandatory international certificate of vaccination against yellow fever.
Return or onward ticketConfirmed return/onward air ticket.
Proof of accommodationHotel booking or host invitation in Gabon.
Proof of fundsOptionalEvidence of sufficient means for the stay.
Tourist Visa
Gabon e-Visa (6-Month Multiple Entry)
The multiple-entry version of Gabon's DGDI e-Visa, valid for 6 months and allowing several entries for tourism, repeat business trips or family visits. The stamp fee is EUR 185 plus an online filing fee of about EUR 15; the stamp is paid in cash on arrival at Leon Mba International Airport in Libreville. As with all e-Visas, entry is restricted to air arrival via Libreville. It does not authorise local employment or lead to residence. A yellow-fever certificate is mandatory.
Online e-Visa applicationCompleted application on the DGDI e-Visa portal selecting the 6-month multiple-entry option.
Passport bio-data pageScan of a passport valid at least 6 months beyond arrival.
Passport photographRecent passport-size photo with a clear background.
Yellow fever vaccination certificateMandatory international yellow-fever vaccination certificate.
Return or onward ticketConfirmed onward/return air ticket for each visit.
Proof of accommodationHotel booking or host invitation in Gabon.
Tourist Visa
Gabon Consular Tourist / Private Visit Visa
The traditional single-entry consular visa for tourism or private/family visits, issued by Gabonese embassies and consulates for travellers entering by land, sea or air (the e-Visa is restricted to Libreville airport). The standard official fee is about EUR 110 with roughly 7 working days' processing, or about EUR 165 for 24-72h express service; maximum stay is typically 30 days. A yellow-fever certificate is mandatory. The visa does not authorise work and does not lead to residence.
Government fee
€110
Processing time
7 days
Max stay
30 days
Validity
90 days
Document checklist (7)
Visa application formCompleted and signed Gabon consular visa application.
PassportValid at least 6 months beyond arrival, with blank pages.
Passport photographsRecent passport-size photos with clear background.
Yellow fever vaccination certificateMandatory international yellow-fever certificate.
Return or onward ticketConfirmed round-trip or onward air ticket.
Proof of accommodationHotel booking or invitation from a host in Gabon.
Proof of fundsOptionalBank statement or evidence of means for the stay.
Transit Visa
Gabon Transit Visa
A short transit visa for travellers passing through Gabon en route to a third country who need to leave the airport transit zone or stay briefly. Nationals of certain countries connecting through Leon Mba International Airport within 24 hours without leaving the airport may transit without a visa, but travellers not on that list must obtain a transit visa. The fee is not separately published (often aligned with the consular short-stay rate) and a confirmed onward ticket and visa for the destination country are required. It does not authorise work or lead to residence.
Processing time
7 days
Max stay
3 days
Validity
30 days
Document checklist (6)
Visa application formCompleted transit visa application at a Gabonese mission.
PassportValid at least 6 months beyond travel, with blank pages.
Passport photographRecent passport-size photo.
Onward ticketConfirmed ticket to the final destination.
Destination visaValid entry visa for the onward destination country, where applicable.
Yellow fever vaccination certificateMandatory international yellow-fever certificate.
Business Visitor Visa
Gabon Consular Business Visa
Single-entry consular visa for business purposes such as meetings, negotiations and conferences, issued by Gabonese diplomatic missions. The standard official fee is about EUR 110 (around EUR 165 for express) with roughly 7 working days' processing and a typical maximum stay of 30 days. An invitation from a Gabonese company is normally required. The visa permits business activity but not local employment, and does not lead to residence; the e-Visa is also available for air arrivals via Libreville.
Government fee
€110
Processing time
7 days
Max stay
30 days
Validity
90 days
Document checklist (7)
Visa application formCompleted and signed Gabon consular visa application.
PassportValid at least 6 months beyond arrival, with blank pages.
Passport photographsRecent passport-size photos.
Business invitation letterInvitation from a Gabonese company stating the purpose and duration.
Yellow fever vaccination certificateMandatory international yellow-fever certificate.
Return or onward ticketConfirmed round-trip air ticket.
Proof of accommodationHotel booking or host company arrangement.
Not yet researched
Medical Treatment Visa
Pilgrimage Visa
1 route
Study & Training
Universities, language courses, internships and exchanges.
Student Visa
Gabon Student Visa / Residence Card
Foreign students admitted to a recognised Gabonese school, college or university enter on an entry visa supported by proof of enrolment for the academic year, then register at the DGDI for a student temporary residence card (carte de séjour temporaire) within 3 months of arrival. Visas can be issued for 30, 60, 90 or up to 180 working days and are extended through the DGDI Visa Department in Libreville for longer programmes. Required documents include the admission letter, passport valid 6+ months, photos, yellow-fever certificate and proof of means. Government fees for the student card broadly follow the temporary-card scale (about XAF 50,000-200,000).
Study: Full enrolment at the admitting Gabonese institution.
Residency after 3 years
Processing time
30 days
Validity
365 days
Document checklist (7)
Visa / residence applicationEntry-visa application and, after arrival, the DGDI student carte de séjour application.
Certificate of enrolmentProof of admission/enrolment for the full academic year from a recognised Gabonese institution.
PassportValid at least 6 months beyond arrival.
Identity photographsRecent photographs with clear background (four 4x4 cm for the card).
Yellow fever vaccination certificateMandatory international yellow-fever certificate.
Proof of financial meansEvidence of funds or a scholarship covering studies and living costs.
Medical certificateMedical fitness certificate for the residence card.
Not yet researched
Language Course Visa
Internship / Trainee Visa
Exchange Program Visa
2 routes
Work & Self-Employment
Digital nomad, freelance, skilled employment and company transfers.
Skilled Work Visa
Gabon Work Permit (Autorisation de Travail)
The work authorisation is the employer-driven permit required for any foreign national to work legally in Gabon. The Gabonese employer initiates the request with the Ministry of Labour, demonstrating that the role requires skills not readily available locally (a labour-market test), and the file is then completed at the DGDI alongside the employee residence card. Processing is typically 1-3 months, and applicants are advised to start about 3 months before arrival. The permit is tied to a specific employer; changing employer requires a new authorisation. Government fees are not publicly fixed.
Work: Authorises employment with the specific sponsoring employer only.
Residency after 3 years
Processing time
60 days
Validity
365 days
Document checklist (8)
Employer application to Ministry of LabourWork-authorisation request lodged by the Gabonese employer.
Employment contractContract compliant with Gabonese labour law (term, salary, leave), in French.
PassportValid at least 6 months, copy plus original.
Educational and professional credentialsDiplomas and certificates evidencing the required qualifications.
Labour-market justificationEmployer evidence of efforts to recruit locally / scarcity of the skill.
Employer registration and tax complianceProof of the company's legal registration and tax/social-security standing.
Medical and police clearance certificatesMedical fitness and criminal-record certificates.
The first-issue temporary residence card (carte de séjour temporaire) is the standard status for foreign employees, traders and students in their first year in Gabon. It is valid 1 year and renewable, and must be applied for at the DGDI within 3 months of arrival; its establishment is conditioned on payment of personal income tax (IRPP). For employees it follows the work permit (autorisation de travail) issued via the Ministry of Labour. State fees are roughly XAF 50,000-100,000 for CEMAC nationals and XAF 100,000-200,000 for others; processing is about 3-6 weeks. After roughly three years of continuous residence the holder can move to longer cards and ultimately permanent residence.
Work: Authorises employment with the sponsoring employer, paired with the autorisation de travail.
Study: Lawful residence permits study.
Residency after 3 years
Processing time
35 days
Validity
365 days
Document checklist (8)
Residence card applicationDGDI carte de séjour application form (NDCS).
Passport with long-stay entry visaValid passport bearing the Gabonese entry-visa stamp.
Identity photographsFour 4x4 cm identity photographs.
Work permit / employment contractAutorisation de travail and employment contract compliant with Gabonese labour law (for employees).
Medical certificateMedical fitness certificate.
Proof of residenceEvidence of accommodation/address in Gabon.
Police clearance certificateCriminal-record certificate less than 3 months old.
Proof of IRPP / tax paymentEvidence of personal income-tax (IRPP) registration/payment.
Not yet researched
Digital Nomad Visa
Freelancer Visa
Self-Employment Visa
Startup / Entrepreneur Visa
Seasonal Work Visa
Intra-Company Transfer Visa
2 routes
Invest & Capital
Golden visas, real estate, citizenship by investment, passive income.
Golden Visa (Residence by Investment)
Gabon Permanent Residence for Investors (10 Billion FCFA)
Adopted by the Council of Ministers on 23 October 2025 and announced by the Presidency on 28 October 2025, this measure grants a permanent resident card to investors who commit at least 10 billion FCFA in Gabon, targeting agro-industry, tourism, green energy and logistics infrastructure. The permanent resident card is valid 10 years. It is positioned to anchor large foreign direct investors long-term; it is a residence (not citizenship-by-investment) programme. Implementing decrees, exact procedures and any family provisions were not yet published in detail as of mid-2026; ANPI-Gabon is the investment one-stop shop. The 10 billion FCFA threshold equals roughly 15 million EUR / 16-17 million USD.
Work: Permanent residence allows the investor to live and conduct business in Gabon.
Study: Lawful permanent residence permits study.
Residency: Grants permanent resident status (10-year card) directly upon qualifying investment.
Validity
3,650 days
Min. investment
FCFA 10,000,000,000
Document checklist (7)
Investment agreement / ANPI-Gabon fileInvestment project file and agreement evidencing at least 10 billion FCFA committed in Gabon, processed via ANPI-Gabon.
Proof of funds / capitalBank and financial evidence of the investment capital.
Company registrationGabonese company incorporation and registration documents for the investment vehicle.
PassportValid passport of the investor.
Identity photographsRecent identity photographs for the permanent resident card.
Below the 10 billion FCFA permanent-residence threshold, foreign investors and entrepreneurs set up and run a company in Gabon with support from ANPI-Gabon, the national investment one-stop shop attached to the Presidency, which handles business creation and formalisation. The investor then obtains a long-stay visa and a carte de séjour (typically the temporary then ordinary card) on the basis of the registered business and tax compliance. There is no fixed minimum-investment figure published for this route; the carte de séjour follows the standard state-fee scale and IRPP-payment condition. Time on these cards builds toward permanent residence after about 3 years.
Work: Authorises operating the declared business in Gabon.
Study: Lawful residence permits study.
Residency after 3 years
Validity
730 days
Document checklist (8)
ANPI-Gabon business creation fileCompany formation and formalisation file processed through the ANPI-Gabon single window.
Company registration documentsRCCM registration and statutes of the Gabonese company.
Proof of investment / capitalEvidence of capital invested and business activity.
Passport with long-stay visaValid passport bearing the entry visa.
Identity photographsFour 4x4 cm identity photographs.
Tax / IRPP documentationEvidence of tax registration and IRPP compliance.
Police clearance certificateCriminal-record certificate less than 3 months old.
Medical certificateOptionalMedical fitness certificate.
Not yet researched
Residence by Real Estate
Citizenship by Investment
Non-Lucrative / Passive Income Visa
No verified routes yet
Retire & Lifestyle
Retirement visas and working holiday schemes.
Not yet researched
Retirement Visa
Working Holiday Visa
2 routes
Family & Origin
Reunification, spouse routes and ancestry-based repatriation.
Family Reunification Visa
Gabon Family Reunification (Dependents of a Resident)
Family members (spouse and minor children) of a foreign national legally residing and working in Gabon can join the resident and obtain their own residence cards through the DGDI. Each dependant enters on a long-stay visa, registers within 3 months of arrival, and receives a temporary or ordinary carte de séjour matched to the sponsor's status. The sponsor must show stable employment/residence and accommodation. Dependants are generally not automatically authorised to work and would need their own work permit. Government fees follow the carte de séjour scale.
Study: Dependent children may attend school; lawful residence permits study.
Residency after 3 years
Family: Designed for the spouse and minor children of the resident.
Processing time
35 days
Validity
365 days
Document checklist (7)
Residence card applicationDGDI carte de séjour application for each dependant.
Proof of family relationshipMarriage certificate and children's birth certificates, legalised/translated as required.
Sponsor's residence and work documentsCopy of the sponsor's valid carte de séjour, work permit and employment contract.
Passport with long-stay visaValid passport of each dependant bearing the entry visa.
Identity photographsFour 4x4 cm identity photographs per person.
Proof of accommodationEvidence of family housing in Gabon.
Medical and police clearance certificatesMedical fitness and criminal-record certificates (adults).
Spouse / Partner Visa
Gabon Residence Card for Spouse of a Gabonese Citizen
The foreign spouse of a Gabonese citizen can obtain a resident card directly, without first accumulating the years of residence required of other applicants. The card is issued by the DGDI on proof of a recognised marriage to a Gabonese national, is valid up to 5 years and renewable, and gives stable residence and the right to work. State fees broadly follow the resident-card scale; processing is about 3-6 weeks. Long-term, marriage to a Gabonese national is also a basis for naturalisation under Gabonese nationality law.
Work: Spouse of a Gabonese national may reside and work.
Study: Lawful residence permits study.
Residency: Direct resident card; basis for later naturalisation under nationality law.
Family: Covers the foreign spouse; children of the marriage are documented accordingly.
Processing time
35 days
Validity
1,825 days
Document checklist (8)
Residence card applicationDGDI carte de séjour application as spouse of a Gabonese citizen.
Marriage certificateRecognised marriage certificate with the Gabonese spouse, legalised/translated where required.
Spouse's Gabonese nationality proofGabonese national ID, passport or nationality certificate of the spouse.
PassportValid passport of the applicant with the entry visa.
Identity photographsFour 4x4 cm identity photographs.
Proof of joint residenceEvidence of the couple's address in Gabon.
Police clearance certificateCriminal-record certificate less than 3 months old.
Medical certificateMedical fitness certificate.
Not yet researched
Dependent Relative Visa
Ancestry / Repatriation
4 routes
Special Categories
Talent, religious, humanitarian, media, official and permanent residence.
Official / Diplomatic Visa
Gabon Special Residence Card (Diplomats / NGOs / Officials)
The special residence card is issued by the DGDI to diplomats, staff of accredited international organisations and NGOs, and international civil servants posted in Gabon. Its validity tracks the mission or assignment rather than a fixed civilian schedule, and it is granted on the basis of accreditation by the relevant ministry or organisation. State fees and detailed conditions are not published as a standard civilian scale. The status does not follow the ordinary path to permanent residence.
Work: Work limited to the accredited mission or organisation.
Study: Lawful residence permits study for the holder and family.
Family: Accompanying family of accredited staff are documented under the mission.
Verbal note / sponsoring letterNote verbale or official letter from the mission or organisation.
Passport (service/diplomatic where applicable)Valid passport of the posted official or staff member.
Identity photographsIdentity photographs for the special card.
Proof of residenceOptionalEvidence of address in Gabon.
Long-Term Residence Permit
Gabon Long-Stay Entry Visa (Visa de Long Séjour)
The long-stay entry visa is required for any stay exceeding 90 days and is the mandatory first step before applying, on arrival in Gabon, for a work permit and/or a residence card (carte de séjour) at the DGDI. It is issued by a Gabonese diplomatic mission on the basis of the underlying purpose (employment contract, study admission, family, investment) and the holder must register with the DGDI within 3 months of arrival to obtain the residence card. The visa itself does not confer the right to work; that derives from the work permit and residence card obtained locally. The entry-visa fee is not separately published.
Residency after 3 years
Processing time
30 days
Validity
180 days
Document checklist (7)
Long-stay visa applicationCompleted application at a Gabonese embassy/consulate stating the long-stay purpose.
PassportValid at least 6 months beyond arrival, with blank pages.
Passport photographsRecent passport-size photos.
Purpose documentationEmployment contract, university admission, marriage/family proof or investment agreement, as applicable.
Yellow fever vaccination certificateMandatory international yellow-fever certificate.
Police clearance certificateCriminal-record certificate less than 3 months old.
Medical certificateMedical fitness certificate.
Permanent Residence
Gabon Resident Card (Carte de Résident)
The resident card is the long-duration residence permit issued by the DGDI to foreigners after extended settled residence in Gabon or to spouses of Gabonese nationals. It is valid 5 years and renewable. Eligibility generally requires more than 5 years of continuous residence (built up through renewals of the temporary and ordinary cards) or marriage to a Gabonese citizen, together with demonstrated social integration. State fees are roughly XAF 150,000-200,000 for CEMAC nationals and XAF 300,000-500,000 for others, with processing of about 3-6 weeks. It gives stable residence and work rights and is a step toward the permanent resident card.
Work: Stable residence with work rights.
Study: Lawful residence permits study.
Residency: This is long-duration residence; a permanent resident card follows after sustained residence and integration.
Family: Family members hold their own cards; spouses of Gabonese nationals qualify directly.
Processing time
35 days
Validity
1,825 days
Document checklist (8)
Residence card applicationDGDI carte de séjour (résident) application form.
Passport with valid statusValid passport showing prior lawful residence in Gabon.
Proof of prior residencePrevious residence cards evidencing 5+ years of continuous residence, or marriage certificate with a Gabonese national.
Identity photographsFour 4x4 cm identity photographs.
Proof of residenceEvidence of accommodation/address in Gabon.
Tax / IRPP documentationEvidence of personal income-tax compliance.
Police clearance certificateCriminal-record certificate less than 3 months old.
Medical certificateMedical fitness certificate.
Permanent Residence
Gabon Permanent Resident Card
The permanent resident card is the most stable status for foreigners settling long-term in Gabon and does not require frequent renewal. It is generally available after about three years of continuous lawful residence (built through renewals of the temporary, ordinary and resident cards) together with demonstrated social and economic integration; spouses of Gabonese nationals and major investors (10 billion FCFA route) reach it on a faster basis. The DGDI handles the file, which typically requires proof of residence, work contracts and tax notices, with processing of about 8-12 weeks. The card is valid up to 10 years and gives full residence and work rights.
Work: Full residence and work rights without renewing a work permit.
Study: Education on settled-resident terms.
Residency: This is permanent residence; naturalisation may follow under Gabonese nationality law.
Family: Individual card; spouse and children hold their own status.
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