Burkina Faso requires visas for most nationalities. The Burkinabè e-visa system launched in 2017 allows travelers from eligible countries to apply online through the official portal at www.visa.gov.bf. Processing typically takes 72 hours and costs 55,000 CFA francs for a single-entry tourist visa valid 90 days. Citizens of ECOWAS member states enter visa-free for 90 days. Travelers arriving at Ouagadougou International Airport without an e-visa can obtain a visa on arrival, though this carries uncertainty due to staff discretion and occasional technical issues with payment systems. The passport validity requirement is six months beyond entry date with at least two blank pages.
Yellow fever vaccination is mandatory for entry into Burkina Faso. Border officials routinely check International Certificates of Vaccination. The country sits within the African meningitis belt, and the government requires proof of meningococcal vaccination during epidemic seasons, typically December through June. Malaria is endemic year-round across all regions of Burkina Faso. Chloroquine-resistant Plasmodium falciparum predominates. The CDC and WHO recommend atovaquone-proguanil, doxycycline, or mefloquine prophylaxis for all travelers. Ouagadougou has three main hospitals: Yalgado Ouédraogo University Hospital, Schiphra Clinic, and Polyclinique Internationale Afia. Medical evacuation insurance with coverage exceeding 100,000 USD is standard practice for expatriates and serious medical cases typically route to Dakar, Accra, or Europe.
Burkina Faso uses the West African CFA franc, currency code XOF. The exchange rate is fixed to the euro at 655.957 CFA francs per euro, a peg maintained since the 1999 euro introduction and previously pegged to the French franc since 1948. Eight West African nations use this currency. No coins below 5 francs circulate. Bills exist in denominations of 500, 1000, 2000, 5000, and 10,000 francs. As of 2024, 10,000 CFA francs equals approximately 15 euros or 16 USD.
ATMs exist in Ouagadougou and Bobo-Dioulasso but remain scarce elsewhere. Ecobank, Coris Bank International, and Bank of Africa operate the most reliable networks accepting Visa and Mastercard. Daily withdrawal limits range from 100,000 to 200,000 CFA francs depending on the institution and card type. ATM outages occur regularly due to power cuts and cash shortages, particularly outside the capital. Travelers should arrive with euros in cash. The euro-CFA peg means no exchange risk exists. Banks and official exchange bureaus offer identical rates since the rate is fixed by treaty. Hotels and some merchants accept euros directly, though change returns in CFA francs at the official rate. US dollars require conversion first to euros or CFA, typically at unfavorable rates. Credit cards see acceptance only in major hotels and a handful of restaurants in Ouagadougou and Bobo-Dioulasso. Surcharges of 3 to 5 percent apply routinely.
Ouagadougou Airport (IATA: OUA) handles virtually all international traffic. The passenger terminal underwent renovation in 2016. Air France operates four weekly flights from Paris Charles de Gaulle. Turkish Airlines connects through Istanbul daily. Royal Air Maroc and Ethiopian Airlines provide connections through Casablanca and Addis Ababa. Regional carriers include ASKY Airlines, Air Côte d'Ivoire, and Africa World Airlines. Brussels Airlines discontinued Ouagadougou service in 2018.
Bobo-Dioulasso Airport (IATA: BOY) receives occasional regional flights but no regular international service beyond connections to Abidjan and Lomé. The airport lies 15 kilometers from Bobo-Dioulasso city center. Infrastructure improvements began in 2019 but passenger traffic remains minimal.
Airport taxis operate on fixed-rate vouchers purchased inside the terminal. The official fare from Ouagadougou Airport to downtown hotels is 5,000 CFA francs during daytime and 7,000 at night. Freelance drivers cluster outside the terminal exit offering rides for 3,000 to 4,000 francs. Hotels in Ouagadougou with advance notice provide pickups ranging from free for luxury properties to 10,000 francs for mid-range establishments. No public bus serves the airport. Ride-hailing apps do not operate in Burkina Faso.