Last Updated:
September 21, 2007 15:14
EDT
Still Valid:
November 15, 2007 20:39
EST
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1. INTRODUCTION AND GEOGRAPHY
Sections 2 and 8 (Current Issue added) of this Travel Report have been updated.
Burkina Faso (capital: Ouagadougou) is located in western Africa, bordered by Mali, Niger, Benin, Togo, Ghana, and Côte d'Ivoire. The official language is French, but tribal languages are commonly spoken. Tourist facilities are not widely available.
Local telephone calls are expensive. You may have to place international calls from a Post and Telecommunications Office (PTT), which only accepts local currency. Collect calls cannot be made.
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2. WARNINGS AND RECOMMENDATIONS
There is no Official Warning for this country.
For more information on flooding in Burkina Faso, see our Current Issue.
OFFICIAL REGISTRATION RECOMMENDATION: Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada offers a registration service for Canadians travelling or residing abroad. Although Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada does not warn against travel to this country or region(s) of this country, Canadians are encouraged to register with the responsible Canadian government office due to the security situation and/or the absence of Canadian representation in this country. Registration can be done on-line or by calling the responsible Canadian government office abroad to request a registration form.
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3. SAFETY AND SECURITY
The decision to travel is the sole responsibility of the traveller. The traveller is also responsible for his or her own personal safety. The purpose of this Travel Report is to provide Canadians with up-to-date information to enable them to make well-informed decisions.
Armed banditry, especially at night occurs. Crime, scams, and theft from hotel rooms occasionally occur, particularly in Bobo Dioulasso and Ouagadougou. Purse snatching and sometimes muggings are reported in areas around the United Nations traffic circle and the central market. Carjackings have also been reported in the south (near the Togo, Niger and Benin borders) as well as the northern part of the country, but mostly after dark. Petty crime occurs to a lesser degree elsewhere in the country. Ensure your personal belongings, passport, and other travel documents are secure at all times. Do not show signs of affluence and avoid walking alone after dark.
You should generally exercise caution, monitor local news reports, and avoid large crowds and demonstrations. Travellers should always carry a legally certified photocopy of their passport's identification page.
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4. ENTRY/EXIT REQUIREMENTS
The following information on entry and exit requirements has been confirmed with the authorities of Burkina Faso and was valid on September 17, 2006. However, entry and exit requirements are subject to change.
It is the sole prerogative of each country to determine who is allowed to enter. All countries have special requirements for persons intending to reside for extended periods (usually more than 90 days) or who plan to work, study, or engage in non-tourist activities. To obtain information on specific entry requirements, contact the nearest diplomatic or consular office of the country or countries to be visited. Violations of entry and exit requirements may result in serious penalties.
Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada’s Office of Protocol provides contact details for the Embassy for Burkina Faso, where you can obtain further information on entry and exit requirements.
A valid Canadian passport is required for Canadians intending to visit Burkina Faso. Canadians must also be in possession of a visa.
Tourist Visa: Required
Business Visa: Required
Student Visa: Required
Travellers are required to carry evidence of a yellow fever vaccination.
A Certificate of Canadian Citizenship (CCC) is not a travel document. Airlines are known to refuse boarding to dual national Canadian passengers returning to Canada, travelling on a passport that requires a visa to enter Canada, regardless of whether the passenger presents a valid CCC as proof of Canadian citizenship. A Canadian passport is the only reliable and universally accepted travel and identification document for the purpose of international travel. It proves your admissibility to enter Canada.
Selling, altering, or allowing another person to use your passport is a criminal offence. It could lead to the laying of charges and imprisonment if convicted. It could also lead to the denial of future passport services.
Special and diplomatic passport holders should verify visa requirements for this and other countries, as they may differ from those that apply to regular passport holders.
Any adult travelling with children may be required to show evidence of parental/custodial and/or access rights. Foreign and Canadian authorities may also require evidence that the adult has the consent of the parents, legal guardian, and/or the court to travel with the children. Some countries may not permit children to enter or, in some cases, leave the country without proper documentation such as a letter of consent or a court order.
Although same-sex marriages are legal in Canada, many countries do not recognize them. Attempting to enter as a same-sex married couple may result in refusal by local officials. For more information, contact the foreign government office accredited to Canada.
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5. CANADIAN GOVERNMENT CONTACTS
You can obtain consular assistance and further consular information at the following address:
Burkina Faso - OUAGADOUGOU, Embassy of Canada
Address: 586 Agostino Néto Street, Ouagadougou
Postal Address: P.O. Box 548, Ouagadougou, 01, Kadiogo Province
Tel.: (226) 50 31 18 94
Fax: (226) 50 31 19 00
E-Mail: ouaga@international.gc.ca
Internet: http://www.dfait-maeci.gc.ca/burkina_faso/
For emergency assistance after hours, call the Embassy of Canada in Ouagadougou and follow the instructions. You may also call the Department in Ottawa at 613-996-8885 (collect calls accepted).
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6. LOCAL LAWS AND CUSTOMS
You are subject to local laws. A serious violation may lead to a jail or death sentence. The sentence will be served in local prisons. Although Burkina Faso retains the death penalty, the last known execution dates back to 1989.
Canadians arrested or detained have the right to contact the responsible Canadian government office (embassy, high commission, etc.) listed in Section 5 above. Arresting officials have a responsibility to assist you in doing so. Canadian consular officials can provide a list of local lawyers upon request.
The procedures required in legal proceedings or police investigations may be different from the procedures in force in the Canadian legal system. Canadians wishing to undertake such proceedings can expect to face long delays and additional efforts in order to resolve their case. The Government of Canada cannot intervene in ongoing legal proceedings in other countries, unless requested to do so by local authorities. Such requests are rare.
Common sense and discretion should be exercised in dress and behaviour. Religious and social traditions should be respected to avoid offending local sensitivities.
A valid permit is required for all photography. These permits and the accompanying list of restrictions (i.e. no military and government installations) are available from the Ministry of Transportation and Tourism in Ouagadougou.
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7. LOCAL TRAVEL AND CURRENCY
Roads are generally narrow, potholed, and unpaved. There are few streetlights. Pedestrians, bicycles, carts, and vehicles without headlights pose hazards. Many trucks transit the country at night. Travel after dark is not recommended.
You can travel outside most major towns by bus and car, and you can also take minibuses and bush taxis. The international airport (OUA) is 8 km from Ouagadougou. The only train line is between Ouagadougou and Bobo Dioulasso. Trains run daily and are very crowded.
An International Driving Permit (IDP) is recommended.
The currency is the African Financial Community franc, or CFA franc (XOF).
Canadian currency and traveller's cheques are not widely accepted worldwide. Check with your bank for information on Automated Banking Machine (ABM) services in other countries. You can also check the VISA ATM locator page or the MasterCard ATM locator page for the addresses of ABMs around the world. Your bank can advise if you need a new personal identification number (PIN) for overseas access to your account. Credit cards and debit cards should be used with caution due to the potential for fraud and other criminal activity. ABMs should be used during business hours inside a bank, supermarket, or large commercial building. Leave copies of your card numbers with a family member in case of emergency.
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8. NATURAL DISASTERS AND CLIMATE
The dry season extends from November to May, and the wet season extends from June through to October. Brief but violent rain and winds occur during the wet season. Unpaved roads can become impassable. Dusty harmattan winds blow incessantly between December and February. You should keep informed of regional weather forecasts and plan accordingly.
For more information on flooding in Burkina Faso, see our Current Issue.
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9. TRAVEL MEDICINE PROGRAM
The Public Health Agency of Canada and the World Health Organization (WHO) report on disease outbreaks that occur throughout the world. For the latest travel health advisories and related information, visit the Public Health Agency of Canada’s Travel Medicine Program Web site.
The Public Health Agency of Canada continues to closely monitor and report on occurrences of avian influenza A (H5N1), or "bird flu", in humans and in birds. Further information on avian influenza A (H5N1) and recommendations for travellers can be found on the Public Health Agency of Canada's Travel Medicine Web site as well as on the World Health Organization's Web site. For more information, see our Current Issues on Avian Influenza.
The Public Health Agency of Canada strongly recommends that your travel plans include contacting a travel medicine clinic or physician six to eight weeks before departure. Based on your individual risk assessment, a health care professional can determine your need for immunizations and/or preventive medication and advise you on precautions to avoid disease. Travellers are reminded to ensure that their routine (childhood) immunizations (e.g., tetanus, diphtheria, polio, and measles) are up to date.
Standards of medical care may differ from those in Canada. Treatment may be expensive, and payment in advance may be required. Travellers are advised to arrange for medical insurance prior to departure. Prescription medications should be kept in the original container and packed in carry-on luggage.
The Public Health Agency of Canada also recommends that travellers who become sick or feel unwell on their return to Canada seek a medical assessment with their personal physician. Travellers should inform their physician that they have been travelling or living outside of Canada.
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10. ADDITIONAL HEALTH INFORMATION
Medical facilities and supplies are very limited outside the capital. Do not drink tap water unless it has been boiled, filtered, or chemically disinfected. Do not drink unbottled beverages or any drinks with ice. Do not eat fruits or vegetables unless they have been peeled or cooked. You should avoid unpasteurized milk and any products that might have been made from unpasteurized milk, such as ice cream. Avoid food and beverages obtained from street vendors and do not eat raw or undercooked meat or fish.
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11. ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Returning to Canada
Traveller's Checklist
Health and Travel Insurance: Do not rely on your provincial health plan to cover all expenses if you get sick or are injured while abroad. It may cover nothing or only a portion of the costs. Understand the terms of your supplementary insurance policy. Some credit cards offer their holders health and travel insurance. Do not assume the card alone provides adequate coverage. Carry details of your insurance with you. Also, tell your travel agent, a friend or relative, and/or travelling companion how to contact your insurer. Get a detailed invoice from the doctor or hospital before you return to Canada. Always submit original receipts for any medical services or prescriptions received abroad. Most insurance companies will not accept copies or faxes. See Canada's Health Portal.
Cancelling a scheduled trip abroad could cost you money. Before cancelling a scheduled trip, you should discuss the matter with your travel agent, your travel insurer, or the airline. The decision to travel is the sole responsibility of the traveller.
Adoption: Provincial and territorial authorities in Canada are responsible for authorizing international adoptions. If you are thinking of adopting a child from another country, you must first obtain information about the adoption regulations of the province or territory in which the child will reside. While adoption is a provincial/territorial responsibility, Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) is responsible for allowing an adopted child entry into Canada. Entry can be refused if the child does not hold the appropriate immigrant visa. A visa may be denied, even if the adoption has already been completed. For more information contact CIC at 1 888 242-2100 (in Canada only), check the CIC Web site or contact your provincial or territorial government.
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12. ANNEX
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