African countries have something special that touches the deepest sides of human hearts. Their unique architecture, cuisine, traditions always was a mystery for foreigners. Today, there are 54 countries in Africa, and all of them are worth attention. Today, our topic is about short and long-term visas for Burkina Faso. In this blog, you will find all details about both Burkina Faso visa types, and at the end, you will choose which one fits you.
What countries require a visa to visit Burkina Faso?
What is the Burkina Faso visa policy?
How much do the visas cost?
How long can I stay in the country?
How to apply for a visa to Burkina Faso?
What are the Burkina Faso visa requirements?
Burkina Faso visa policy
Except for 16 Burkina Faso visa free countries, all other nationalities must obtain a visa to visit the country. Depending on the purpose of the visit and stay duration, you can choose one of these visas:
• Short-stay. Short stay visa allow foreigners to visit country for short term purposes.
• Transit. Transit Visa is for foreigners who need a stop-over in the territory of Burkina Faso. If applicants' stay is not more than 24 hours, they don't need a transit visa. It is valid for three days. Regardless of duration, citizens of South Africa always need a visa. The charge for a Burkina Faso Transit Visa is 21 USD.
• Long-stay. This visa alllows foreigners to visit this country for long term purposes.
• Group/Cooperation. It is for people who travel to Burkina Faso for development projects in the country (two or more people). It has various types depending on the visa validity and the number of entries. The offer is directed to the submission of an invitation letter from the Burkinabè partner. The visa differs depending on its validity and the number of entries.
• Visa on Arrival. The 51 nationalities can get their visas at the airport. The main advantage of Visa on Arrival is eliminating long processing time. Citizens of Peru who have Schengen visas, diplomatic, official, service, special passports, and Interpol passports are eligible for the visa. Applicants will pay 175 USD (single-entry) or 225 USD (multiple entries) for a visa.
Visa Waiver Countries
What countries require a visa to visit Burkina Faso? As we mentioned above, some countries are free from the visa application process. Visa-waiver is a special agreement that allows citizens of these countries to travel without undergoing the visa application process. Which countries are they? There are 18 countries on the list of Burkina Faso visa free countries.
• Benin
• Cape Verde
• The central African Republic
• Cote d’Ivoire (Ivory Coast)
• The Gambia
• Ghana
• Guinea
• Guinea-Bissau
• Liberia
• Mali
• Mauritania
• Niger
• Nigeria
• Senegal
• Sierra Leone
• Singapore
• Togo
• United Arab Emirates
Also, diplomatic and service category passport holders of the following countries don't need a visa: Brazil, China, Congo, Cuba, Russia, Taiwan, and Turkey.
Steps of Visa Application
How to apply for a visa to Burkina Faso? Firstly, the applicant must choose one of the visa categories. If it is not a Transit or Visa on Arrival, the visa application for Burkina Faso will be almost the same. You will need to undergo five steps:
• Arranging an appointment for a visa
• Prepare for documentation process (you need to have required documents)
• Paying the Burkina Faso visa cost
• Attending interview
• Waiting for processing time of visa
Where to apply for a visa? E-visa is not available for Burkina Faso. So, the only way is standard paper-based application. You can realize your application in visa application centers, embassies, or consulates. You should find whichever accepts visa applications in your country of residence. If you can't find any of them in your home country, then you should go to the nearest embassy or consulate to your location.
Short-stay Visa
People who are not eligible for Visa on Arrival can realize their travel to Burkina Faso via Short-stay Visa. It allows you to stay in the country for a maximum of 90 days. There is a chance to extend a visa. During that period, you have a right to travel to various parts of the country, take part in various tourist activities, and so on. Some of the locations that you need to add to your list are Bobo-Dioulasso, Banfora, Gorom Gorom, Arli National Park, The Ruins of Loropeni, W National Park, Nazinga Reserve, etc. Also, do not forget to try local cuisine. The most exciting side of visiting new destinations and cultures is tasting new flavors. Some of the favorite meals from Burkina Faso cuisine are Saghbo, Ragout d'igname, Babenda, and Riz gras.
Requirements for Short-term Visa
During the visa application for Burkina Faso, you will need to provide some details, documents and pay the visa fee. The documentation process is a crucial part. So, pay additional attention to this step. Main problems occurred because of false or missing documents. To avoid such difficulties, create a checklist for yourself and write down all required documents, and put a mark after getting each paper.
• Burkina Faso visa application form. You will fill, sign and date the form
• Photos. You will present two passport photos that answer these terms: the size of 3.5 x 4.5 colored, on the white background, with neutral facial expression. Your face must take 70-80% of the photograph, and avoid dresses matching the background.
• Passport and a copy; The applicant's passport should be valid for at least six months beyond the return date, and it must have two blank pages. Furthermore, you should provide a copy of the main page.
• Copy of ID Card, residence permit, or visa copy
• Accommodation evidence. It can be hotel, hostel, or rental apartment booking. Regardless of the type of accommodation, you need to present details of accommodation (name, street, city, zip code, contact information, booking reference). Also, if you have a host in Burkina Faso, you need to give his contact and address details.
• Yellow fever vaccination certificate
• If you travel with a child: birth certificate, evidence of adoption, custody order if parents are divorced, death document of the parent, etc.
After presenting all of these documents (you may need some other supportive papers), you will pay the Burkina Faso visa cost for the short term. How much does the short-stay visa cost? It has two types; single and multiple entry visas. The single entry visa charge is 40-105 USD. On the other hand, a multiple-entry visa fee is 50-135 USD. Keep in mind prices may change related to the country. How long will I wait? The processing time of a short-term visa is not so long. You will wait 1-3 working days.
Long-term Visa
People who want to stay for more than 90 days in Burkina Faso can apply for a long-term visa. There can be various reasons to get a long-stay visa. Some of them are work, study, and family meetings. If you want to work in Burkina Faso, you must expect to earn something around 150-2700 USD. Of course, it is rare to find people who earn 2700 USD. However, if you have superior skills in any field, you can make that money. It is not a secret that Burkina Faso doesn't offer high education standards (as you can guess). However, it can be an exciting experience, and you can collect a lot of stories to tell in the future. Some of the well-known universities of the country are Universite Ouaga I Joseph Ki-Zerbo, Université Saint Thomas d'Aquin, Université Catholique de l'Afrique de l'Ouest, Burkina Faso, Institut prive des hautes Etudes Cheick Modibo Diarra, Centre Universitaire Polytechnique de Kaya, Universite Privee de Ouagadougou, and so on.
Regardless of your nationality, if you want to stay for a long time in Burkina Faso, you need a visa (even if you are from one of the visa-fee countries). Such as in short-term visas, you must fit the requirements. The documentation process is the same, but the visa fees are different.
• Burkina Faso visa application form
• Two Photos
• Passport and the copy of the main page
• Copy of Identity Card
• Residence permit/visa copy
• Proof of accommodation
• Vaccination certificate
• Documents for children
• Other supportive papers can be required
What about the fee? The charge for a long-term visa varies depending on the stay duration and nationality. It has six kinds:
• Maximum of 180 days, single entry– 55-145 USD
• Maximum of six months, multiple entries – 145-175 USD
• Maximum of 12 months, single entry – 155-190 USD
• Maximum of 12 months, multiple entries – 180-220 USD
• More than 12 months, single entry – 215 USD
• More than 12 months, multiple entries – 240 USD
How long does the processing time take? The processing time for a long-term Burkina Faso visa is the same as a short stay.
In conclusion, stay duration, fee, and application purposes are the main differences between short and long-term visas. Regardless of the visa that you applied for, you will have a wonderful time in Burkina Faso.
