The short-stay eVisa allows a maximum stay of up to 90 days.

🇬🇧UNITED KINGDOM

🏳BFGB-BF

Do United Kingdom passport holders need a visa to visit BF?

Q: Is the eVisa the official government visa?

Yes. The Burkina Faso government operates the eVisa portal at visaburkina.bf (applications via applicant.visaburkina.bf). Many third-party sites charge extra service fees.

Q: Do I really need a yellow fever vaccination?

Yes, it is mandatory. You must show a valid international yellow fever certificate at the border, and it is also needed for the visa application.

Q: Is Burkina Faso in the Schengen area?

No. It is in West Africa, so Schengen 90/180 rules and ETIAS do not apply. You need a Burkina Faso visa.

Q: How long does the eVisa take?

Decisions are typically returned within about 72 hours to five business days, but apply at least a few weeks ahead to be safe.

UK ordinary passport holders need a visa for Burkina Faso. The recommended route is the official eVisa (short-stay) at visaburkina.bf, valid for stays up to 90 days. A yellow fever vaccination certificate is mandatory on arrival. Burkina Faso is not visa-free for British citizens and is not part of the Schengen area, so no 90/180 or ETIAS rules apply. A visa must be obtained before travel. The fastest and recommended channel is the government eVisa portal (visaburkina.bf), which issues a short-stay (court sejour) visa permitting a maximum stay of 90 days. Applications can also be lodged at the Embassy of Burkina Faso in Brussels, which handles UK-based applicants. The official short-stay government fee is 33,000 CFA francs for single entry and 55,000 CFA francs for multiple entry. A yellow fever vaccination certificate is compulsory for entry, and the passport must be valid for the full stay with at least two blank pages. Important: as of 2026 the UK FCDO advises against all travel to Burkina Faso due to the security and terrorism situation, which affects travel insurance and consular support.

VISA REQUIREDTOURISMFLEXIBLE ENTRYLast verified 2026-05-30

For guidance only — visa rules change with little notice. Always confirm directly with the destination's embassy or foreign ministry before booking non-refundable travel. Information here applies to ordinary (non-diplomatic) passports unless noted.

United Kingdom (ILR)Living in United Kingdom as a permanent resident? See PR-specific guidance→

/01 — The numbers

Key facts

Last verified 2026-05-30

Visa type

eVisa (short-stay / court sejour) - obtained online before travel

Maximum stay

Up to 90 days

per entry

Entries

Single or multiple entry (choose at application)

from issue date

Visa fee

33,000 CFA (single) / 55,000 CFA (multiple) government fee

consular fee only

Processing time

Approx. 72 hours to 5 business days

standard track

Validity

Visa validity up to 90 days

from issue date

/02 — The process

How to apply

/01

Confirm you need a visa

UK ordinary passport holders require a visa for Burkina Faso. There is no visa-free or visa-on-arrival channel; arrange it before you fly.

· Required· Before travel

/02

Get your yellow fever vaccination

A yellow fever vaccination is mandatory. Get vaccinated at least 10 days before travel and keep the international certificate (carte jaune) for both the visa application and border control.

· Mandatory· 10+ days ahead

/03

Apply on the official eVisa portal

Create an account at applicant.visaburkina.bf and complete the short-stay visa form with your passport, travel and accommodation details.

· visaburkina.bf· Online

/04

Upload documents and pay

Upload passport bio page, photo, yellow fever certificate and hotel reservation, then pay the government fee online by card.

· Card payment

/05

Receive and print the eVisa

Decision is typically returned within about 72 hours to a few business days. Download and print the approved PDF eVisa.

· 72h-5 days

/06

Carry documents at entry

Present the printed eVisa, valid passport (2 blank pages), yellow fever certificate and proof of onward travel at the border.

· At border

/03 — The paperwork

Required materials

10 items

Personalized checklist

0 / 10 complete

Passport valid for the full stay with at least 2 blank pages

required

Approved Burkina Faso eVisa (printed PDF)

required

Yellow fever vaccination certificate (carte jaune)

required

Recent passport-size colour photo on white background

required

Confirmed hotel reservation / proof of accommodation

required

Proof of onward or return travel

required

Means to pay the government fee online (credit/debit card)

required

Sufficient funds for your stay

recommended

Travel insurance (note FCDO advises against all travel)

recommended

Copies of all documents stored separately

recommended

Track your progress · save & email a copy

/04 — The cost

Fee breakdown

All-in estimate

Line itemAmountSource

Short-stay eVisa - single entry (government fee)33,000 CFAApprox. 50 EUR / 43 GBP; up to 90 days

Short-stay eVisa - multiple entry (government fee)55,000 CFAApprox. 84 EUR / 72 GBP; up to 90 days

Yellow fever vaccinationVariesPaid to your travel clinic in the UK; mandatory

Optional service/agency feeVariesOnly if using a third-party agent instead of the official portal

Total estimate33,000 CFA (approx. 43 GBP) — 55,000 CFA (approx. 72 GBP)incl. all

/05 — The wait

Processing time

Official eVisa (visaburkina.bf)

Approx. 72 hours to 5 business days

Recommended channel: apply online, pay the government fee and receive a printable PDF eVisa.

Embassy of Burkina Faso, Brussels

Allow 1-2 weeks

Handles UK-based applicants; useful for longer-stay or multiple-entry visas requiring the physical passport.

/06 — The risks

Common refusal reasons

by frequency

/01

Not visa-exempt

British citizens are not on Burkina Faso's visa-waiver list and there is no visa-on-arrival for UK travellers, so a visa must be arranged in advance.

High

/02

Yellow fever requirement

Entry is refused without a valid yellow fever vaccination certificate.

High

/03

Not Schengen

Burkina Faso is in West Africa and not part of the Schengen area, so the 90/180 short-stay rule and ETIAS do not apply.

Medium

/04

FCDO travel advisory

The UK government advises against all travel to Burkina Faso due to terrorism and security risks, which voids most travel insurance.

Medium

/05

Passport condition

Passport must be valid for the stay with at least two blank pages, or entry can be refused.

Low

/07 — On arrival

After you land

/01

Immigration

Keep your passport, visa or exemption proof, return ticket, and accommodation details ready for border inspection.

/02

Customs

Review the destination's customs rules before travel and declare restricted goods or large cash amounts when required.

/03

Connectivity

Check whether airport SIMs, eSIMs, or roaming are the best option for your route before arrival.

/08 — The history

Policy changelog

since 2024

2026-05-30

United Kingdom to Burkina Faso route verified

Confirmed visa-required via official eVisa portal (visaburkina.bf) and UK FCDO entry-requirements guidance. Short-stay fees: 33,000 CFA single / 55,000 CFA multiple entry; yellow fever mandatory; FCDO advises against all travel.

/09 — The questions