For a non-ECOWAS foreign national entering or remaining for salaried employment and requiring long-stay residence formalities.
Western Africa · Immigration
Burkina Faso
Burkina Faso sits in Western Africa. Its immigration system runs 9 distinct routes — led by free movement, short stay & visit and work, each set out in official law. 6 of them cite an official government source, shown on the route with the date we last read it. Who actually qualifies depends on your full profile.
- Immigration routes
- 9across 6 route categories, each set out in official law
- Source-cited routes
- 6 of 9cite an official government source, with the date we last read it
- Largest category
- Free movement3 of the 9 routes — see them under Free movement below
- Region
- Western Africa
- Capital
- Ouagadougou
- Population
- 24,074,580
- Official language
- French
- Currency
- XOF
- Time zone
- UTC
Source-cited pathways
Immigration routes
All 9 routes, grouped by purpose — 6 of 9 cite an official government source directly. Any route below without one says so on the route.
Work
1 route
Business & self-employment
1 route
For a non-ECOWAS foreign individual or company intending to carry on commerce in Burkina Faso and reside beyond the short-stay period.
Free movement
3 routes
For an ECOWAS citizen establishing or managing an economic activity in Burkina Faso, subject to national business and immigration formalities.
For an ECOWAS citizen seeking or carrying out income-earning employment in Burkina Faso, subject to national registration and labour formalities.
ECOWAS Visa-Free EntryUnknown
For an ECOWAS citizen visiting Burkina Faso with a valid travel document for up to ninety days.
Short stay & visit
2 routes
For a visa-required traveller obtaining an initial short visa at a designated land border or Ouagadougou airport.
For a visa-required traveller making a temporary visit to Burkina Faso.
Humanitarian protection
1 route
For a person outside their country who cannot return because of Convention persecution or the wider OAU refugee grounds.
Other & special
1 route
For a non-ECOWAS foreign national intending to stay beyond ninety days or settle in Burkina Faso for a lawful purpose.
Official sources
- eVisaBurkinaGovernment
- MAE CooperationGovernment
See which Burkina Faso routes you actually qualify for.
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