Burkina Faso

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.

Emergency services in Ouagadougou

Ambulance: 18

Fire: 18

Police: 17

Outside Ouagadougou, the emergency services are unlikely to respond.

Take local advice instead.

Contact your travel provider and insurer

Contact your travel provider and your insurer if you are involved in a serious incident or emergency abroad. They will tell you if they can help and what you need to do.

Refunds and changes to travel

For refunds or changes to travel, contact your travel provider. You may also be able to make a claim through insurance. However, insurers usually require you to talk to your travel provider first.

Find out more about changing or cancelling travel plans, including:

• where to get advice if you are in a dispute with a provider
• how to access previous versions of travel advice to support a claim

Support from FCDO

FCDO has guidance on staying safe and what to do if you need help or support abroad, including:

• finding English-speaking lawyers and funeral directors in Burkina Faso
• dealing with a death in Burkina Faso
• being arrested or imprisoned in Burkina Faso
• getting help if you’re a victim of crime
• what to do if you’re in hospital
• if you’re affected by a crisis, such as a terrorist attack

Contacting FCDO 

Help abroad  

See how to get help from the UK government abroad including in an emergency. 

Help in the UK  

You can call FCDO in London if you need urgent help because something has happened to a friend or relative abroad.  

Telephone: 020 7008 5000 (24 hours)  

Find out about call charges

Get travel advice updates  

Sign up to get email notifications when this travel advice is updated.  

Follow FCDO: 

• travel advice on X

• travel advice on Facebook

Areas where FCDO advises against travel

FCDO advises against all travel to Burkina Faso.

This is due to the threat of terrorist attacks and terrorist kidnap, and the unstable political situation in the country.

Find out more about why FCDO advises against travel.

Limited consular support 

There is no British Embassy in Burkina Faso and all consular support is provided from the British Embassy in Accra, Ghana. They cannot provide in-person assistance.

If there is serious violence, unrest or a deterioration in the security situation, it could be difficult to leave safely. Do not rely on the British government to evacuate you as they may not be able to do so. Have your own plans on how you would leave the country, make sure you keep all travel documentation up to date and monitor the local situation.

Before you travel

No travel can be guaranteed safe. Read all the advice in this guide. You may also find it helpful to: 

• see general advice for women travellers
• read our guide on disability and travel abroad
• see general advice for LGBT+ travellers
• read about safety for solo and independent travel
• see advice on volunteering and adventure travel abroad

Travel insurance

If you choose to travel despite FCDO advice, research your destinations and get appropriate travel insurance. Insurance should cover your itinerary, planned activities and expenses in an emergency.

About FCDO travel advice

FCDO provides advice about risks of travel to help you make informed decisions. Find out more about FCDO travel advice.

Get travel advice updates

Sign up to get email notifications when this travel advice is updated. 

Follow FCDO:   

• travel advice on X

• travel advice on Facebook

• Travel Aware on Instagram

Laws and cultural differences

Personal ID

Always carry your passport or residence permit.

Ramadan

Ramadan is a holy month for Muslims. The dates vary by year and country. During this time, do not:

• eat, drink, smoke or chew gum in public in the daytime, including in your car
• play loud music or dance
• swear in public

Get more advice when you arrive from your tour guide, hotel or business contacts.

Illegal drugs and prison sentences

Do not get involved in drugs of any kind. If you’re convicted of possessing or distributing any illegal drug, you can expect heavy fines and long jail sentences. Local prison conditions are harsh.

Using cameras and filmmaking

Do not take pictures of military or other government installations.  

LGBT+ travellers

Same sex sexual activity and the ‘promotion’ of same-sex relationships is a criminal offence in Burkina Faso. If convicted, such charges could lead to prison sentences of up to 5 years.

There is little to no public acceptance of LGBT+ people or identities in Burkina Faso. There is an increased risk of harassment or violence against anyone thought to be part of the LGBT+ community, or perceived to be supporting their rights.

Read more advice for LGBT+ travellers.

Souvenirs

There are strict customs regulations about taking cultural objects like masks, religious materials and antiquities out of Burkina Faso. If you’re unsure about buying any souvenirs you find for sale, contact the Ministry of Culture.

Money

A few of the larger hotels and restaurants in Ouagadougou accept credit cards. You’re unlikely to be able to use them anywhere outside the capital. There are a few ATMs in Ouagadougou, but they only accept Visa cards.

The best option is to bring US dollars in cash to exchange.