The history and the stories I tell you are a guide only for what you may expect in the future. Rules change, interpretations change and there are always a few surprises.
A copy of your home license. There is no reciprocal licensing, so it does not seem to matter which country you're from.
A copy of the technical specs of the rig that you will be using.
An affidavit in Spanish saying that you will be responsible and abide by regulations
A copy of your passport
2 photos
a fee of FCFA100,000 for 2 weeks or 220,000 for the year (about $US140 and 300 respectively). The last time or two, the 220,000 fee has applied even if you are there for a 2 week period.
License must be picked up in person, and signed
Information must be sent to the Malabo office for processing
When I first got my license, it took 8 trips to compete all the paperwork satisfactorily. Extra certified copies were needed; perhaps I had to 'take a CW exam or theory exam in Spanish'. Extra processing fees were expected.
Visas. If you have a US passport, no visa is necessary to enter the country. All others must have a visa, which means you will need a letter of invitation from someone within the country. People from some countries find it very hard to obtain a visa (eg Spain)
Forget about applying for the license by fax or mail. There will be no response. The only effective way is in person with cash in hand.
in the past, the licensing branch has made it very difficult even once you get a license. "Radio inspectors" inspect the shack before commissioning, or during the year. They expect you to keep them happy. I have not experienced any of this first hand as the anti-corruption drive seems to be working.
You have to speak Spanish or have an interpreter to do business with the Telecommunications branch.
The conditions on my license are 100W max, up to 148MHz only, no more than 12 hours/day operation!!
If you are applying for a license for 3C0, then other factors may be involved. Here are some of them, but I have gathered them by word of mouth, not by actual experience. Everything is subject to negotiation, and also the phase of the moon or whatever….. It definitely pays to have a good negotiator.
you may be required to take a military and telecommunications representative with you to the island (that means that you are responsible for their transport and food etc!)
I was told that fees for 3c0 are higher because of the DX potential!!!!
6 meters is definitely out of the question during TV hours. As of April 2001, this was from 15:40 to 01:00 local time.
Transport to 3C0 is by ship every 2 or 3 weeks. Forget about the schedule for the ship, it is usually delayed. There is a small airstrip for small planes.
3C0 is a very small place. You should consider taking everything, even food.
Updated: April 22, 2001