The Confederation of Sahel States declared in December 2024 that its territory is visa-free for all ECOWAS nationals. For other foreigners, the government's visa portal lists an entry visa or a permit, unless exempt, among the documents to present at the border; the UK and Canadian governments say their citizens need a visa. On 30 December 2025 the government announced it would apply equivalent visa measures to US nationals, in reciprocity for the US decision to place Burkina Faso under full visa restrictions. The UK and Canadian governments advise against all travel to Burkina Faso because of the threat of terrorism and kidnapping and the unstable political situation.
Every fact on this page verified on or after: Aug 26, 2026· How this site works
Check requirements for your passport
Requirements differ by nationality. Select your passport above, or scan the full table below.
Visas & entry authorisations
Tourist short-stay visa (Visa Tourisme), applied for at an embassy
Fee
66,000 XOF
Processing
—
Stay per entry
90 days
Tourist visa, single or multiple entry at the same fee, for people coming for tourism or a festival; a booking of at least three nights at a Burkinabè hotel is required. After the Council of Ministers of 11 September 2025 adopted free visas for nationals of African countries, the Minister of Security said they will pay nothing for visa fees, and that this does not mean exemption from the visa. The portal says the short-stay visa's validity cannot exceed 90 days.
Tourist short-stay visa (Visa Tourisme), applied for online
Fee
66,000 XOF
Processing
—
Stay per entry
90 days
Tourist visa, single or multiple entry at the same fee, for people coming for tourism or a festival; a booking of at least three nights at a Burkinabè hotel is required. After the Council of Ministers of 11 September 2025 adopted free visas for nationals of African countries, the Minister of Security said they will pay nothing for visa fees, and that this does not mean exemption from the visa. The portal says the short-stay visa's validity cannot exceed 90 days.
Entry requirements
Passport validity
The entry conditions require a passport or travel document "en cours de validité" (valid), and the UK FCDO says your passport must be valid for the duration of your stay and have 2 blank pages for entry stamps.
Yellow fever (International Certificate of Vaccination or Prophylaxis (yellow card)) — WHO's country list says proof of vaccination against yellow fever is required for all travellers aged 9 months or over.
Short-stay visa applicants must provide a health insurance certificate covering the whole stay, together with a medical certificate showing they have no contagious disease.
The entry conditions list what every foreigner must present to border officers, and proof of funds is not among them: a passport or travel document, an entry visa or permit unless exempt, a health card, and a return ticket or a repatriation deposit or exemption from it.
The BCEAO lists Burkina among its member states. A BCEAO instruction sets at XOF 5,000,000 the threshold from which anyone entering a UMOA member state from a third state, or leaving one for a third state, must declare the cash and bearer negotiable instruments they carry to customs at the point of entry or exit.
International Health Regulations (2005), Article 36 and Annex 7; WHO International Travel and Health, Annex 1, 18 November 2022 (revised 3 January 2023)
Country in a nutshell
Currency
CFA franc (XOF, FCFA)
Cards & payments
Canada's travel advice says most transactions in Burkina Faso are made in cash and to bring small bills, as it can be difficult to get change. It says ATMs are available in major cities, that euros and US dollars are also accepted in some establishments, and that credit cards are accepted in some businesses in Ouagadougou, but outside the capital their use is very limited.
Safety — High risk
The UK and Canadian governments advise against all travel to Burkina Faso. Canada says further attacks are highly likely, particularly in areas controlled by terrorist groups, that kidnappings by criminal and terrorist groups occur regularly, and that a state of emergency is in effect in eight regions; the UK says attacks on major roads and transport routes by terrorists are increasing.Verified Oct 3, 2026 · Source: gov.uk (opens in a new tab) · archived copy Aug 3, 2026 (opens in a new tab) Aug 3, 2026
Power plugs
C, E · 220V 50Hz
Emergency numbers
Police: 17 · Fire and ambulance: 18
Time zone
UTC+0
International Driving Permit
Burkina Faso is a party to the 1949 Geneva Convention on Road Traffic (UN Treaty Collection).
Canada's travel advice says the rainy season extends from June to October, that seasonal flooding can hamper overland travel, and that mudslides and landslides may damage roads and bridges, which may quickly become impassable.
Tips & warnings
The UK and Canadian governments both advise against all travel to Burkina Faso because of the threat of terrorism and kidnapping and the unstable political situation.
The UK Foreign Office says attacks on major roads and transport routes by terrorists are increasing, including through the use of landmines and other explosive devices, particularly where terrorist groups operate and near border areas. Canada's travel advice adds that improvised explosive devices pose a real threat on the roads outside Ouagadougou.
The UK FCDO says that to pass border control in Burkina Faso you must have a certificate to prove you've had a yellow fever vaccination.
The government's visa portal lists FCFA 66,000 for a tourist visa and requires a booking of at least three nights at a Burkinabè hotel; short-stay visa applicants must also provide a health insurance certificate covering the stay and a medical certificate. The Minister of Security said in September 2025 that nationals of African countries will pay nothing for visa fees, and that this does not mean exemption from the visa.
Canada's travel advice says most transactions in Burkina Faso are made in cash and to bring small bills, as it can be difficult to get change; credit cards are accepted in some businesses in Ouagadougou, but outside the capital their use is very limited.
Visa requirements by nationality
Visa requirements by nationality. Stay lengths are for ordinary tourist visits. Click a nationality for its full guide.
Stay lengths are for ordinary tourist visits. Click a nationality for its full guide.
No official page we read states the rule for 10 nationalities, so the table leaves them out: Central African Republic, Chad, Hong Kong, Mali, Mauritania, Morocco, Niger, Singapore, South Africa, and United Arab Emirates.
The Confederation of Sahel States declared on 14 December 2024 that its territory is visa-free for all ECOWAS nationals. For other foreigners, the government's visa portal lists an entry visa or a permit, unless exempt, among the documents to present at the border; the UK and Canadian governments say their citizens need a visa, and the UK tells UK residents to apply online or through the Embassy of Burkina Faso in Brussels. On 30 December 2025 the government announced that it would apply equivalent visa measures to US nationals, in reciprocity for the US decision to place Burkina Faso under full visa restrictions.
Is Burkina Faso safe to visit?
The UK and Canadian governments both advise against all travel to Burkina Faso because of the threat of terrorism and kidnapping and the unstable political situation.
Does Burkina Faso have an eVisa?
Yes. The Ministry of Security's portal visaburkina.bf links to an eVisa application form, and the UK FCDO tells UK residents to apply online or through the Embassy of Burkina Faso in Brussels.
Is the yellow fever vaccine mandatory for Burkina Faso?
Yes. WHO's country list says proof of vaccination against yellow fever is required for all travellers aged 9 months or over, and the UK government says you must have a yellow fever vaccination certificate to pass border control.
Can ECOWAS citizens enter Burkina Faso without a visa?
Yes. The Confederation of Sahel States declared on 14 December 2024 that its territory is visa-free for all ECOWAS nationals, who have the right to enter, move about, reside, settle and leave in compliance with the national texts in force. No official source we could read states a stay limit.
Sources & verification
Every fact on this page is compiled from and periodically re-checked against these official sources:
Burkina Faso visa and entry requirements
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