Burkina Faso
Last update 28 October 2025Travel advice
Risk index
Level 4: Avoid all travels (except in case of extreme necessity)
4
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Burkina Faso
IMPORTANT: Burkina Faso has seen a significant increase in the number and frequency of terrorist acts, with hotels, restaurants, schools, police stations, customs offices, and military centers often targeted. Part of the country's territory is effectively not controlled by the central government in the capital Ouagadougou, despite the military regime's efforts to counter terrorist groups. There is a high probability of sudden social unrest and mass demonstrations. Given the extremely high levels of risk, we recommend that no travel to Burkina Faso be undertaken until the security situation in the country improves significantly.
The Republic of Bulgaria does not have an embassy in Ouagadougou. Bulgarian citizens residing in Burkina Faso on a short or long-term basis may address consular matters to the Embassy of the Republic of Bulgaria in Abuja, Federal Republic of Nigeria.
Embassy of the Republic of Bulgaria in Abuja, Federal Republic of Nigeria
Address: 10 Euphrates Crescent, Maitama, Abuja
Telephone: +234 9038600017; +234 8033078578
Emergency only out-of-hours hotline: + 234 903 000 0275
Working hours: 09:00 – 17.30
Opening hours of the Consular Office: 09:00 – 12:00 preferably by a preliminary scheduled appointment.
E-mail of the Embassy: Embassy.Abuja@mfa.bg
E-mail of the Consular Office: Consular.Abuja@mfa.bg
Website: www.mfa.bg/embassies/nigeria
Embassy of the Republic of Burkina Faso in Rome (accredited to Bulgaria)
Address: 00187 Roma, Via XX, 86
Telephone: +39 06 4201 0611
Fax: +39 06 4201 6701
Working hours: 09:00 – 15:00 часа
E-mail: ambabf.roma@tin.it
Website: www.ambaburkinaitalie.it
General information
Security level:
ATTENTION! Burkina Faso has seen a significant increase in the number and frequency of terrorist acts, with hotels, restaurants, schools, police stations, customs offices, and military centers often targeted. Part of the country's territory is effectively not controlled by the central government in the capital Ouagadougou, despite the military regime's efforts to counter terrorist groups. There is a high probability of sudden social unrest and mass demonstrations. Criminal activity is relatively high. There have been cases of roadside attacks, including fatalities. Social unrest and mass demonstrations are possible.
Given the extremely high levels of risk, we recommend that no travel to Burkina Faso be undertaken until the security situation in the country improves significantly.
Healthcare:
From January to May, cases of meningitis are regularly recorded in some provinces of Burkina Faso. In May—June, cases of yellow fever diseases are often observed.
For up-to-date information on mandatory and/or recommended vaccines you may contact the Regional Health Inspectorates in the country. Yellow fever vaccine is administered at the following Regional Health Inspectorates: Sofia Regional Health Inspectorate; Varna RHI; Burgas RHI; Pleven RHI; Plovdiv RHI; Blagoevgrad RHI and Ruse RHI.
It is mandatory to have the yellow fever vaccine and to have the appropriate certificate, without which you may not be allowed into the country.
Specifics of the local legislation:
Drug trafficking shall be severely punished. Conditions in local prisons are harsh.
It is forbidden to photograph military sites and government buildings.
Customs requirements:
Import of local and foreign currency is allowed and must be declared upon entry into the country. It is recommended for you to carry either euro, checks or credit cards. There are no special customs requirements for the import of goods and items.
Export of local and foreign currency is allowed within the declared amount on entry into the country. There are no particular customs restrictions on the export of goods.
Road traffic:
No specifics. When entering the country by car, insurance is mandatory for the duration of your stay.
Practical advice:
Always carry your personal documents, especially when outside the capital Ouagadougou. Avoid carrying all your documents and cash or card in the same bag. Take steps to reduce your risk of becoming a victim of violence by choosing the places you visit carefully. Avoid moving on foot or on a motorbike, especially after sunset.
In case of attack, do not resist. You can then call 16 (gendarmerie), 17 (police assistance) or 1010 (police/gendarmerie)
Pay particular attention to personal hygiene. Use only bottled or boiled water. Carry repellents with you, especially during the rainy season. Particular care should be taken when consuming fresh fruit and vegetables. It is desirable after washing with clean water and a suitable soap or detergent to wait until they are dry.
Local currency:
The local currency in Burkina Faso is the CFA Franc.
Travel papers and visas
International passport, which must be valid for at least the period of your stay in the country.
For up-to-date information on mandatory and/or recommended vaccines you may contact the Regional Health Inspectorates in the country. Yellow fever vaccine is administered at the following regional health inspectorates: Sofia Regional Health Inspectorate; Varna RHI; Burgas RHI; Pleven RHI; Plovdiv RHI; Blagoevgrad RHI and Ruse RHI.
Attention!
Your passport must have at least one completely blank page so that the entry visa can be affixed to it. There should be no other visa stamps on the back of this page other than the border control stamps.
Consular service
Bulgarian citizens residing in Burkina Faso on a short or long-term basis may address consular matters to the Embassy of the Republic of Bulgaria in Abuja.
Bulgarian identity documents:
The Consular Office in Abuja is equipped with equipment for processing Bulgarian identity documents and accepts and processes applications for the issuance of passports, identity cards and temporary passports to Bulgarian citizens.
Certifications and legalizations:
Documents presented to the Consular Office for signature certification should be signed in person in front of the consular official and accompanied by a passport or identity card. Sample forms of authorisations and declarations can be obtained from the Embassy or downloaded from the MFA website at: https://www.mfa.bg/bg/uslugi-patuvania/konsulski-uslugi/formuliari. The fee for authentication of a signature is EUR 15 and for authentication of a signature and content of a non-registrable document — EUR 30 for the first page and EUR 15 for the second and each subsequent page.
For the legalisation of public documents, the holder should bring the original document certified by the Burkina Faso MFA and the Embassy of Burkina Faso in Abuja, a photocopy thereof and a photocopy of the personal page of the passport of the holder. The legalisation fee is EUR 20 per document.
Civil status:
For registration of birth, marriage or death, primary original documents issued by the relevant central authorities in Burkina Faso, certified by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Burkina Faso and by the Embassy of Burkina Faso in Abuja, must be presented. The Consular Office of the Embassy can legalise the relevant documents.
The Consular Office is able to collect the fees for the services provided in cash, by bank transfer (bank account information is provided by e-mail upon request) or by bank card (via an installed POS terminal).