Gabon

When traveling to Gabon, your nationality and the types of activities you will conduct during your trip will determine whether you may travel lawfully as a business visitor or if you must obtain work authorization. Please seek advice from your immigration counsel if you are uncertain about the specific types of activities that constitute business or work.

What types of activities may I engage in as a business visitor?

As a business visitor to Gabon, you may engage in the activities below. While this list is not exhaustive and other activities could qualify as business, you may:

• » Attend business meetings
• » Buy goods for sale outside the country
• » Attend and participate in a trade show
• » Attend a seminar or conference

If I qualify as a business visitor, do I need a visa for Gabon?

Most foreign nationals are required to obtain a visa to travel to Gabon for business purposes. Business visitors may be eligible to obtain an E-Visa online or a Business Visa from a Gabonese Embassy or Consulate prior to travel.

Only select nationalities are eligible for a visa waiver and may enter Gabon for business purposes without obtaining a visa, including nationals of the Economic and Monetary Community of Central Africa (CEMAC), such as Cameroon, the Central African Republic, Chad, Equatorial Guinea, and the Republic of the Congo.

In some cases, the inviting company may obtain a Visa on Arrival on behalf of the business visitor directly from the Ministry of Immigration (DGDI). However, Visas on Arrival are generally not advisable other than rare circumstances where the foreign national is not able to obtain an E-Visa or a Business Visa.

Please consult with your immigration counsel prior to travel to determine your eligibility for an E-Visa, Business Visa, Visa on Arrival, or visa waiver.

What types of activities require work authorization?

Business visitors may be permitted to engage in productive hands-on work activities under specific circumstances while on assignment, though certain preconditions must be met. Permissible activities may include:

• » Systems installation
• » Technical repairs and maintenance
• » Consulting
• » After-sales service

 
Business visitors working under a short-term exemption may only participate in activities that they have been approved for. Please consult with your immigration counsel for an individual assessment prior to travel to determine whether your intended activities are permissible under a short-term work authorization exemption.

If I am traveling to Gabon for work, what type of work authorization do I need?

The requirements for work authorization depend on your qualifications, the industry in which you work, and your job description. The most common type of work authorization for Gabon is a Work Permit and a Residence Permit. Work Permits must be sponsored by a local entity and are limited to qualified and highly-skilled foreign nationals.

Is it possible to be exempted from work authorization requirements?

There are no exemptions from long-term work authorization requirements in Gabon.

Inevitably, the legal and strategic considerations impacting visa selection, as well as visa waiver and work authorization eligibility, entail the careful consideration of many factors. We recommend that you consult with your immigration counsel before taking any course of action.

Copyright © 2021 Berry Appleman & Leiden LLP. Government immigration agencies often change their policies and practices without notice; please consult an immigration professional for up-to-date information. This document does not constitute legal advice or create an attorney-client relationship. BAL maintains comprehensive immigration information and processing specifics for our clients.