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Guinea-Bissau and Russia dual citizenship: can you keep both passports in 2026

9 min read ·

Guinea-Bissau has allowed dual citizenship without reservations since 2010, so the Russian passport stays. But you cannot lawfully buy its passport: the law has no citizenship by investment programme.

In short

Yes. Guinea-Bissau's Law No. 6/2010 allowed dual citizenship and removed the requirement to give up a previous passport, and Russia allows a second citizenship provided you notify the Interior Ministry.

Previous passport on naturalisationKept
Country ruleDual citizenship has been allowed since 2010
Legal basisGuinea-Bissau Law No. 6/2010
What Russia requiresnotify the Interior Ministry within 60 days
CheckedOctober 2026

The right to two passports is simple here: the 2010 law removed acquiring a foreign citizenship from the grounds for losing the local one. The hard part is getting the passport. Guinea-Bissau's laws contain no citizenship for investment, and offers to buy a passport within weeks are a red flag.

What Guinea-Bissau requires on naturalisation

Nationality Law No. 2/92, as amended by Law No. 6/2010, allows naturalisation for a foreigner who has lived lawfully in the country for at least 6 years, has basic Portuguese or Guinean Creole and knowledge of the culture, and no serious convictions. The application goes to the Justice Minister through the Central Registration Office, and the government decides. The procedure is set out in the regulations approved by Decree-Law No. 6/2011.

A foreign spouse of a citizen can obtain citizenship after 3 years of marriage and a year of living in the country. Article 9 allows the government to grant citizenship without the 6 years to someone who has rendered significant services to the country. Every offer to buy a passport rests on this article, but it is government discretion, not an open programme. Since the military coup of 26 November 2025, the country has been run by a transitional military authority until the elections on 6 December 2026.

What Russia requires

Russia allows a second citizenship and does not end its own, but inside the country treats you only as a Russian citizen (Article 10 of Federal Law No. 138-FZ on Citizenship).

  • Within 60 days of receiving the second passport, file a notification with the Interior Ministry (MVD). If you are abroad at that moment, the period runs from the day you enter Russia.
  • Attach a copy of the foreign passport or another document proving the citizenship.
  • Failure to notify falls under Article 330.2 of the Russian Criminal Code: a fine of up to $2,400 or up to one year of income, or up to 400 hours of compulsory work.
  • Late or incomplete notification: a fine of $10-15 under Article 19.8.3 of the Code of Administrative Offences.
  • A residence permit abroad must be reported under the same rules (Article 11 of Law No. 138-FZ).

A Russian citizen with a second passport may not hold state or municipal office, serve in government bodies or stand for election. The duties of a Russian citizen, including military service, remain, and inside Russia the second passport is not taken into account.

How to keep both passports: step by step

  1. Obtain the right to reside and live in Guinea-Bissau lawfully for 6 years, or marry a citizen.
  2. Prove language and knowledge of the culture: a certificate from any Portuguese-speaking educational institution or a statement from the culture authority.
  3. Collect criminal record certificates from Guinea-Bissau, your country of citizenship and countries of previous residence.
  4. Apply to the Justice Minister through the Central Registration Office.
  5. Collect the Guinea-Bissau passport; the Russian one stays valid.
  6. Notify the Russian Interior Ministry within 60 days of receiving the passport, or within 60 days of entering Russia if you are abroad.

Under the regulations, the completeness check and the registration office's opinion take 30 days each, after which the case goes to the government for a decision. In recent years the country has identified and seized passports issued in breach of the law.

What happens to children

A child gets citizenship at birth if one parent is a citizen of Guinea-Bissau. Birth in the country to foreign parents does not give citizenship, except in special cases. Minor children of a new citizen receive citizenship on the parent's application, and after 18 the child may choose another citizenship.

Taxes and military service

A passport by itself does not change your taxes: tax residence is determined by days spent in the country. For reference, corporate income tax is 25% and payroll tax is 6% to 10%. Russia has no double tax treaty with Guinea-Bissau.

A Russian citizen with a second passport keeps their military duty. At the Guinea-Bissau border a yellow fever vaccination certificate is always requested.

Common mistakes

  • Buying a passport under the significant services article. It is not a programme but government discretion, and the country has seized such passports.
  • Failing to prove 6 years of lawful residence in the country.
  • Expecting a quick answer during the transitional authority.
  • Missing the notice to the Russian Interior Ministry about Guinea-Bissau citizenship: the deadline is 60 days.

How to get Guinea-Bissau citizenship

For Russian citizens the lawful routes are naturalisation after 6 years of living in the country or marriage to a citizen. There is no fast route for money. The passport opens 51 visa-free destinations; the US requires a visa, and a bond of up to $20,000 may be required for a tourist visa.

Requirements, timelines and costs are on the page Guinea-Bissau citizenship.

You can check any pair of countries with the dual citizenship checker and compare all countries in the overview dual citizenship in 2026.

The main risk is a passport bought around the law

The law does not stop you from acting on your own. But mistakes cost more than any fees: money paid to an intermediary for a passport under the significant services article that is later seized, years of residence without documents, criminal record certificates missing from some countries, a missed notice to the Russian Interior Ministry. Murblz support removes these risks: Murblz specialists check which lawful route is available, suggest alternatives with a fast passport and handle the documents. We guarantee professional work and a transparent process, and in most cases a result on the first filing.

The support fee depends on the chosen route and family size; a manager will calculate it in chat.

Find out the support fee

This topic in other countries

Dual citizenship rules with Russia in other countries:

More on this country:

You can check any pair of countries with the dual citizenship checker and compare all countries in the overview dual citizenship in 2026.

FAQ

Can you hold Guinea-Bissau and Russian citizenship at the same time?
Yes. Guinea-Bissau's Law No. 6/2010 allowed dual citizenship and removed the requirement to give up a previous passport, and Russia allows a second citizenship provided you notify the Interior Ministry.
Do I need to notify the Russian Interior Ministry about Guinea-Bissau citizenship?
Yes. A Russian citizen notifies the Interior Ministry of a second citizenship within 60 days under Article 10 of Law No. 138-FZ; failing to notify carries criminal liability under Article 330.2 of the Russian Criminal Code.
Does Guinea-Bissau allow dual citizenship?
Yes, without reservations since 2010. Law No. 6/2010 removed loss of citizenship on acquiring a foreign one and the requirement for spouses to give up their previous passport.
Does Guinea-Bissau offer citizenship by investment?
No, the law does not provide for it. Article 9 on significant services is government discretion, not a programme.
How many years do you need to live in Guinea-Bissau for citizenship?
At least 6 years of lawful residence. You need basic Portuguese or Guinean Creole and knowledge of the country's culture.
Can you get Guinea-Bissau citizenship through marriage?
Yes, a foreign spouse of a citizen after 3 years of marriage and a year of living in the country.
Will a child get Guinea-Bissau citizenship?
Yes, if one parent is a citizen. Minor children of a new citizen receive it on the parent's application.

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