Government advisories for Burkina Faso
US State Department
US L4 · Do not travelDo Not Travel
was updated. Do Not Travel to Burkina Faso for any reason due to crime, kidnapping, terrorism, and health. Advisory summary Do not travel to Burkina Faso for any reason. U.S. government employee travel restrictions U.S. government employees working in Burkina Faso are not allowed to travel outside of Ouagadougou due to safety…
Official notice Source: U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Consular Affairs (travel.state.gov) · updated May 4, 2026
UK Foreign Office (FCDO)
UK · all travelAdvises against all travel
Latest change: New information about dual nationals returning to the UK (‘Entry requirements’ page).
Official notice Source: gov.uk · updated Dec 10, 2025
Local scams and street crime
- Terrorist kidnap: There’s a very high threat of kidnapping by Al-Qaeda and regional Islamic State-affiliated groups in Burkina Faso. These include Jamaat Nusrat al-Islam wal Muslimeen (JNIM) and Islamic State Greater Sahara (ISGS ), who operate throughout Mali, Niger and Burkina Faso. A number of foreign nationals have been kidnapped…
- Vehicle crime: There is an increasing number of vehicle hold-ups on roads outside Ouagadougou. Drivers that refuse to stop when flagged down have been shot at. Armed groups have also stopped drivers to rob passengers and their vehicles. Criminals have stopped public buses to assault and rob passengers, particularly at night.
- Street crime: Street crime is a serious risk for foreign visitors. Most incidents are opportunist snatches of purses, wallets, jewellery and other valuables. Thieves are particularly active near the UN Circle and the former Central Market in Ouagadougou, and are often armed. Do not carry valuables in public places or walk alone at…
Official notice Source: UK FCDO travel advice (Open Government Licence v3.0) · updated Dec 10, 2025
Government of Canada
CA 4 · Avoid all travelAvoid all travel
Latest change: The Health section was updated - travel health information (Public Health Agency of Canada)
Official notice Source: travel.gc.ca · updated Sep 24, 2026
German Foreign Office
DE · partial travel warningPartial travel warning
Official notice Source: Auswärtiges Amt · updated Sep 14, 2026
Dutch Foreign Ministry
NL · orangeOrange: travel only if necessary (regions differ, up to red)
De kleurcode van het reisadvies voor Burkina Faso is voor het grootste deel rood. Wat uw situatie ook is: reis er niet heen. Het is er te gevaarlijk. Lees meer onder Regionale risico’s. Voor de steden Ouagadougou en Bobo-Dioulasso geldt kleurcode oranje. Reis alleen hierheen als het noodzakelijk is. Het is niet veilig
Official notice Source: Ministerie van Buitenlandse Zaken, Nederland Wereldwijd (open data, CC0) · updated Sep 24, 2026
New Zealand SafeTravel
NZ · level 4Do not travel
Official notice Source: New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade, SafeTravel (CC BY 4.0) · updated 24 July 2025
Japan Foreign Ministry
JP L4 · Evacuate and leaveHighest level: Evacuate and leave
Level 4 in 1 area, level 3 in 1 area. Areas can differ; the highest level applies only where the ministry says so.
ブルキナファソの危険情報【危険レベル継続】(内容の更新)
Official notice Source: Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan, Overseas Safety Homepage · updated Apr 19, 2026
Each government uses its own scale. Read the full advisory before you book or travel; regional differences inside a country can matter more than the headline level.
Entry requirements for Burkina Faso
🇬🇧 British passport holders
- Visa: You must have a visa to enter Burkina Faso.
- Passport: Your passport must be valid for the duration of your stay and have 2 blank pages for entry stamps.
Read the full UK entry requirements
This information is for people travelling on a full ‘British citizen’ passport from the UK who choose to travel despite FCDO advice. It is based on the UK government’s understanding of Burkina Faso’s current rules for the most common types of travel.
The authorities in Burkina Faso set and enforce entry rules. If you’re not sure how these requirements apply to you, contact the Embassy of Burkina Faso in Brussels.
Passport validity requirements
Your passport must be valid for the duration of your stay and have 2 blank pages for entry stamps.
Check with your travel provider that your passport and other travel documents meet requirements. Renew your passport if you need to.
You will be denied entry if you do not have a valid travel document or try to use a passport that has been reported lost or stolen.
Dual nationals
When returning to the UK, British citizens must carry a valid British passport or certificate of entitlement. See Dual Citizenship.
Visa requirements
You must have a visa to enter Burkina Faso.
Applying for a visa
If you live in the UK, apply for a visa online or through the Embassy of Burkina Faso in Brussels. You cannot get a visa for Burkina Faso in the UK.
There are Burkinabe embassies in the West Africa region, including in Accra and Abidjan.
Vaccine requirements
To pass border control in Burkina Faso, you must have a certificate to prove you’ve had a yellow fever vaccination, due to a risk of yellow fever transmission.
For more details about health entry requirements and recommended vaccinations see TravelHealthPro’s Burkina Faso guide.
Official notice Source: UK Foreign Office · updated Dec 10, 2025
🇨🇦 Canadian passport holders
- Tourist visa: required
Read the full Canadian entry requirements
Some countries have imposed measures in response to the Ebola disease outbreak. These can include restrictions on entry and health screening measures for travellers having recently visited an affected country. If you are suspected of having symptoms, you may be subject to isolation, quarantine and/or travel restrictions. Contact the authorities of the country you are travelling to for more details.
The authorities of a country or territory decide who can enter or exit through its borders. The Government of Canada cannot intervene on your behalf if you do not meet your destination’s entry or exit requirements.
We have obtained the information on this page from local authorities. It can, however, change at any time.
Verify this information with the Foreign Representatives in Canada.
Passport
Entry requirements vary depending on the type of passport you're travelling with.
Before you travel, check with your transportation company about passport requirements. Its rules on passport validity may be more stringent than the country's entry rules.
Regular Canadian passport
Your passport must be valid for the duration of your stay.
Passport for official travel
Different entry rules may apply.
Passport with “X” gender identifier
While the Government of Canada issues passports with an “X” gender identifier, it cannot guarantee your entry or transit through other countries. You might face entry restrictions in countries that do not recognize the “X” gender identifier. Before you leave, verify this information with the closest foreign representative for your destination.
You should also be aware that current systems used by some countries and travel companies may not recognize the “X” gender identifier. You may still be asked to provide your sex/gender information as either male or female when travelling.
Other travel documents
Different entry rules may apply when travelling with a temporary passport or an emergency travel document. Before you leave, verify this information with the closest foreign representative for your destination.
Useful links
- Travel and your sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression and sex characteristics
- Foreign Representatives in Canada
- Canadian passports and other travel documents
Visas
Tourist visa: required
Business visa: required
Student visa: required
Online visa application – Ministry of Security of Burkina Faso
Children and travel
Learn about travelling with children.
Yellow fever
Learn about potential entry requirements related to yellow fever (vaccines section).
Official notice Source: Government of Canada · updated Sep 24, 2026
Other passports
Rules depend on your nationality, so we do not guess. Before you book:
- Read your own government's travel advice first (US travellers: State Department page for Burkina Faso).
- Not sure what your passport needs? Check the visa rules for your nationality (eVisas visa checker) or compare with VisaHQ. These are affiliate links: if you use their application service we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Official government sites are usually cheaper and are linked above where we have them.
- Check your passport: many countries want it valid for 6 months after arrival and with blank pages.
- Check for an e-visa, travel authorisation or digital arrival card, and any vaccine rules (yellow fever is the common one).
- Ask your airline: they can refuse boarding if your documents do not match the rules.
Entry rules are set by each government and change without notice. This summary is for planning only and is not legal or immigration advice. Confirm on the official government website and with your airline before you book or travel. Voyaggora is not a government agency and does not process visas.
Essentials for travelers
Police 17 Ambulance 18 Fire 18 112 is listed by Wikipedia/FCDO for mobiles but not confirmed by Google data; SAMU 15 reported by aggregators
- Plugs: type C, E
- Power: 220 V, 50 Hz
- Traffic drives on the right
- Tap water: not recommended
- Calling code: +226
Compiled by Voyaggora from IEC World Plugs, government and consular sources. Confidence: medium. Check with your embassy or hotel before you rely on it in an emergency.
Local language
Burkina Faso French
Essential phrases in French
| Hello | Bonjour | |
|---|---|---|
| Thank you | Merci | |
| Help! | Au secours ! | |
| Where is the hospital? | Où est l'hôpital ? | |
| I need the police | J'ai besoin de la police | |
| I need a doctor | J'ai besoin d'un médecin | |
| How much is it? | C'est combien ? | |
| Where is the toilet? | Où sont les toilettes ? |
Country names come from the Unicode CLDR. Phrases are short standard translations; show them on your phone to ask for help.
Health and vaccines
Vaccines, malaria and yellow-fever certificate rules: TravelHealthPro country pages (UK Health Security Agency), CDC destination pages, UK Foreign Office health advice. Ask a travel clinic 6 to 8 weeks before you go.
Money
1 US dollar ≈ 575.43 XOF · 1 euro ≈ 655.96 XOF
Central-bank reference rate for Sep 28, 2026. Your card or exchange desk will differ.
Live feed Source: Frankfurter · checked
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Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Canada. Voyaggora summarises official sources and is not a government service; always confirm with the official advisory before you travel.