Everything you need to come and negotiate in Equatorial Guinea
Registration, visas, flights, accommodation, transfers and protocol: the official host country guide.
© Equatorial Guinea Civil Aviation Authority
What a week of negotiations delivers
- 440agreements concluded or updated at ICAN 2025
- 87States took part in the previous edition
- 162+States have used ICAN since it began
- 18thedition, the first in Central Africa
How ICAN works
Every State is sovereign over its airspace: the right to serve a country is negotiated through bilateral treaties. ICAN brings civil aviation authorities together in one place so that these negotiations can be held back to back, rather than through a succession of separate trips. A delegation can meet some twenty partners in five days.
ICAO provides the framework, the bilateral meeting booking system and registration. The Equatorial Guinea Civil Aviation Authority hosts the event: venue, visas, transport, protocol and hospitality. This guide covers the host country side.
Five days of negotiation, a country to discover
ICAN 2026 is held in Equatorial Guinea, the only sovereign Spanish-speaking State in Africa: a volcanic island, a mainland coast on the Atlantic and forests covering more than four fifths of the territory. Sessions take place in Malabo; everything else is a short drive or a domestic flight away.
Discover the host country
- Everything happens in Malabo
- International airport, hotels and negotiation rooms all within thirty minutes of each other.
- Three official languages
- Spanish, French and Portuguese: delegations work in a familiar language.
- December is the right season
- Dry season, 25 to 30 °C, and a UTC+1 time zone with no daylight saving.
- Extending your stay
- Pico Basilé, the Arena Blanca beaches and the island of Corisco are all reachable from Malabo.
Key dates to remember
| Date | Milestone | Who |
|---|---|---|
| Open | Registration with ICAO | State focal point |
| 15 September | Invitation letters issued | Organizing committee |
| 1 October | Protocol form opens | Heads of delegation |
| 20 November | Shuttle timetables published | All delegations |
| 6 December | Accreditation and badge collection | All delegations |
| 7 December | Negotiations open | — |
Open
- Milestone
- Registration with ICAO
- Who
- State focal point
15 September
- Milestone
- Invitation letters issued
- Who
- Organizing committee
1 October
- Milestone
- Protocol form opens
- Who
- Heads of delegation
20 November
- Milestone
- Shuttle timetables published
- Who
- All delegations
6 December
- Milestone
- Accreditation and badge collection
- Who
- All delegations
7 December
- Milestone
- Negotiations open
- Who
- —
What delegations ask
What language will ICAN 2026 be held in?
The working language is English. Each delegation arranges interpretation for its own bilateral meetings where required.
How do I register?
Registration is handled through the official ICAO system, via the focal point designated by your State. The host country organizing committee does not process registrations.
Do I need a visa?
That depends on your nationality. The electronic visa is applied for online; holders of diplomatic or service passports are covered by separate arrangements. See the “Before you travel” step.
Which vaccination is mandatory?
The International Certificate of Vaccination against yellow fever must be valid on arrival.
Are bank cards accepted?
In the main hotels and some businesses. Even so, carry cash in CFA francs (XAF).
How will I get around?
Official shuttles link the airports, designated hotels and the conference venue. Timetables are published on 20 November. Hotel transfers, travel agencies and authorized taxis are also available.
Can I arrange an excursion?
Yes, through authorized agencies. Plan ahead, especially for travel beyond the island of Bioko.