Burkina Faso: travel laws for tourists, topic by topic

Extreme

Overall verdict for Burkina Faso: Extreme. Below, the risk level of each of the 23 topics that get travellers fined or arrested. The exact rule, thresholds and penalties are in the LawsTravels app.

Burkina Faso: read the 3 riskiest rules free →

🎁 Free, no account: Drugs, Medicines, Theft & scams

The 23 topics at a glance

Banned or serious riskAllowed, with limitsRelaxed

Get the exact rules for your trip

This page gives you the level. The app gives you the rule, the numbers and the penalties for Burkina Faso, offline, in 23 languages.

Burkina Faso: read the 3 riskiest rules free →

Also onApp Store Google Play

How Burkina Faso compares

With 10 of 23 topics flagged red, Burkina Faso is stricter than 32 of the 41 other countries in Sub-Saharan Africa (regional average: 7.3). Worldwide, Burkina Faso ranks #17 of 148 for strictness (tied with 6 other countries).

What sets it apart

Theft & scams: flagged red here, while only 12 of 148 countries are this strict.
Medicines: flagged red here, while only 13 of 148 countries are this strict.
Vaccines & health: flagged red here, while only 32 of 148 countries are this strict.

What to watch most in Burkina Faso

🛡️ Theft & scams · Guides by topic

The friendly stranger who takes you to "a great bar" — you leave with a bill of several hundred euros.
"Your hotel is closed / burned down" from a taxi driver: he is taking you to the one paying him a commission.
The distraction pair: one spills something or asks directions, the other takes your bag.

💉 Medicines · Guides by topic

ADHD medicine is the number one problem: banned outright in some countries, prescription or not.
Codeine and tramadol are ordinary painkillers in Europe and controlled narcotics in the Gulf and Egypt.
CBD is legal in much of Europe and completely banned in the Gulf and parts of Asia — including cosmetics.

Burkina Faso at a glance

CapitalOuagadougou

CurrencyWest African CFA Franc (XOF)

LanguageFrench

Emergency number17

Driving sideRight

Mains voltage220 V

Calling code+226

Time zoneUTC+00:00

Plug typesC · E

Land borders🇧🇯 Benin 🇨🇮 Ivory Coast 🇬🇭 Ghana 🇲🇱 Mali 🇳🇪 Niger 🇹🇬 Togo

Frequently asked questions

Is Burkina Faso strict with tourists?

Overall verdict: Extreme. 10 of 23 topics are flagged as banned or a serious risk (Drugs, Medicines, Theft & scams, Sex & dating, Driving, Photo & video, Weapons, Jail risk, Drones, Vaccines & health), 11 require caution.

What can get me fined or arrested in Burkina Faso?

The strictest topics for travellers in Burkina Faso are: Drugs, Medicines, Theft & scams, Sex & dating, Driving, Photo & video, Weapons, Jail risk, Drones, Vaccines & health. Each has specific thresholds and penalties, detailed in the app.

Where do I find the exact rules for Burkina Faso?

In LawsTravels: open Burkina Faso, each topic shows the level, the rule, the thresholds and what to do at customs, offline. 3 topics are free on every country; the other 20 unlock for the price of a coffee.

What is the emergency number in Burkina Faso?

In Burkina Faso, dial 17. Capital: Ouagadougou. Currency: West African CFA Franc (XOF). Main language: French.

Which side of the road do they drive on in Burkina Faso?

In Burkina Faso, traffic drives on the right. Mains voltage: 220 V. Calling code: +226. Time zone: UTC+00:00. Plug types: C · E.

Countries with the closest profile

🇲🇱 Mali 🇳🇬 Nigeria 🇺🇬 Uganda 🇨🇲 Cameroon 🇳🇪 Niger 🇨🇮 Ivory Coast

Levels summarise publicly available legal information for travellers and are not legal advice. Laws change and enforcement varies: confirm with the embassy or consulate of your destination.