Burkina Faso Visa: Requirements, Types, Fees & How to Apply
Start your applicationIt depends on your passport. Most visitors need a visa for Burkina Faso. The source lists Tourist E-visa, Business E-visa, and Transit E-visa. ECOWAS citizens may enter visa-free for up to 90 days. A visa-on-arrival program is also extended to more than 50 nationalities for stays up to 1 month. A visa does not guarantee entry — border officials make the final determination at the port of entry.
Burkina Faso visa at a glance
- Government fee
- At cost — confirm current fee with the Burkina Faso consulate or eVisa portal
- Official processing
- Up to two weeks — plan ahead; do not book non-refundable travel before approval
- Validity / stay
- Up to 90 days
- Visa types
- 3
Do you need a visa for Burkina Faso?
Check the latest Burkina Faso visa policy and your nationality’s status with the Embassy of Burkina Faso before traveling.
Burkina Faso visa types
- Tourist E-visa
- Tourism, family visits — Up to 90 days
- Business E-visa
- Business visits — Up to 90 days
- Transit E-visa
- Transit to a third country — Per the transit rules
Who is eligible
Whether you need a visa for Burkina Faso depends on your nationality:
Your legal residence also matters. Apply through the embassy or visa authority responsible for your country of residence.
ECOWAS citizens may enter Burkina Faso visa-free for up to 90 days.
Visa-on-arrival nationalities may obtain a visa on arrival for up to 1 month — more than 50 nationalities are listed in the source.
Visa-required nationalities need a tourist, business, or transit e-visa before arrival.
Holders of valid Schengen visas may also be eligible for visa on arrival under the source policy.
Documents required for a Burkina Faso visa
What the consulate expects in your file. The controlling checklist is always the one published for your country of residence.
- Valid passportTourist E-visa · 6+ months validity from date of travel.
- Completed online application formTourist E-visa · Completed online application form.
- Recent passport photoTourist E-visa · Recent passport photo.
- Proof of accommodationTourist E-visa · Proof of accommodation.
- Proof of financial meansTourist E-visa · Proof of financial means.
- Return or onward ticketTourist E-visa · Return or onward ticket.
- Vaccination cardTourist E-visa · Vaccination card.
- Valid passportBusiness E-visa · 6+ months validity.
- Completed online application formBusiness E-visa · Completed online application form.
- Recent passport photoBusiness E-visa · Recent passport photo.
- Proof of accommodationBusiness E-visa · Proof of accommodation.
- Proof of employmentBusiness E-visa · Proof of employment.
- Vaccination cardBusiness E-visa · Vaccination card.
- Business invitation or supporting letterBusiness E-visa · Business invitation or supporting letter.
- Valid passportTransit E-visa · 6+ months validity.
- Confirmed onward ticket to a third countryTransit E-visa · Confirmed onward ticket to a third country.
- Proof of sufficient funds for the transit periodTransit E-visa · Proof of sufficient funds for the transit period.
- Visa for final destination if requiredTransit E-visa · Visa for final destination if required.
Burkina Faso visa fees and processing time
- Government fee
- At cost — confirm current fee with the Burkina Faso consulate or eVisa portal
- Expedify processing fee
- Shown before you start
- Validity / stay
- Up to 90 days
- Official processing
- Up to two weeks — plan ahead; do not book non-refundable travel before approval
Government fees are passed through at cost. Processing times are the authority's official estimate, stated as a fact — not a delivery promise.
How to apply for a Burkina Faso visa
The official route, step by step.
Confirm you need a visa
Check the Burkina Faso visa-exemption list for your nationality. If you're exempt or eligible for visa on arrival, you may not need this process.
Get the current form and checklist from the Embassy of Burkina Faso or eVisa portal for your country. Requirements differ by country
use their list, not a generic one.
Gather your documents
see the checklist in Required documents for a Burkina Faso visa above.
Submit your application
online through the eVisa portal where available, or in person at the embassy. Pay the government visa fee.
Wait for processing
official processing times may take up to two weeks. Apply well before travel. Don't book non-refundable flights until approved.
Collect your passport when a decision is made and a visa is issued
Collect your passport when a decision is made and a visa is issued.
Applying yourself vs. with Expedify
The authority decides your visa either way. The difference is how much of the process you carry.
Research
- Apply yourself
- Check Burkina Faso's requirements yourself
- With Expedify
- We confirm what you need for your route
Document check
- Apply yourself
- Common errors cause refusals
- With Expedify
- Pre-reviewed before submission
Appointments
- Apply yourself
- You book and attend yourself
- With Expedify
- We prepare your application and guide you
Status tracking
- Apply yourself
- You check the embassy portal
- With Expedify
- We track and notify you at every step
Government fee
- Apply yourself
- Same
- With Expedify
- Same — passed through at cost, no markup
At the border: what to expect
A visa lets you present yourself for entry — it does not guarantee admission. Entry into Burkina Faso is decided by immigration officials at the port of entry.
Entry requirements
- Valid passport with your visa or visa-exemption evidence.
- Return or onward travel ticket.
- Proof of accommodation and itinerary.
- Evidence of sufficient funds for your stay.
- Vaccination documentation as required.
Conditions of stay
- Stay length is set by the officer at entry — it can be less than your visa's maximum.
- A tourist visa is not a work permit — no employment.
- No full-time study on a tourist visa.
- Depart before your permitted stay ends; overstaying is an immigration violation.
Common reasons a Burkina Faso visa is refused
Knowing these before you apply reduces your risk.
Incomplete or inconsistent documentation
documents that don't match your application form.
Insufficient financial means
evidence that doesn't clearly cover your trip.
Unclear travel purpose
an itinerary that doesn't explain where you're going and why.
Weak ties to your home country
limited evidence you'll return after your stay.
Frequently asked questions
Burkina Faso visa questions, answered.
More for your Burkina Faso trip
How we reviewed this page
Last verified Reviewed by Expedify Compliance Review
About this service
Expedify is a private application-assistance service, not a government agency, embassy, or consulate. Visas are granted solely by the destination country's authorities, and no third party can influence or guarantee a decision. Our agency fee covers preparation, review, and tracking of your application, and is separate from any consular fee. The information on this page is general guidance, not legal or immigration advice — requirements change and vary by nationality. Always confirm with the official embassy or consulate of the country you're visiting.