CONTENT|CONTENU

TRAVEL REPORT
Burkina Faso

1. RECENT UPDATES

Section 8 (Ramadan) has been updated.

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2. WARNINGS AND RECOMMENDATIONS

The level of Travel Warning in this report has not changed.

Burkina Faso

Exercise normal security precautions

Exercise high degree of caution

Avoid non-essential travel

Avoid all travel

Most Canadians who travel to Burkina Faso do not experience problems. However, Canadians are advised to exercise caution due to the threat of crime and armed banditry.
 
Demonstrations sometimes occur in Burkina Faso, and some have led to violence, looting and clashes between police and demonstrators in the past. Travellers should exercise caution and avoid all demonstrations and public gatherings as they may turn violent without warning. Canadians should monitor local news, follow the advice of local authorities and contact the Canadian Embassy for additional information and assistance.

Regional Warning

Exercise normal security precautions

Exercise high degree of caution

Avoid non-essential travel

Avoid all travel

OFFICIAL WARNING: Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada advises against all travel to the border regions with Niger and Mali due to the presence of armed groups and the threat of banditry and kidnapping. Caution should be exercised at all times.

There is a high risk of kidnapping in these regions, and Westerners are a favourite target. If Canadians plan to visit these areas despite the high risk, it is recommended that they use varied and unpredictable routes and schedules when moving from one place to another.

OFFICIAL REGISTRATION RECOMMENDATION: We offer a registration service for all Canadians travelling or living abroad. This service is provided so that we can contact and assist you in an emergency abroad, such as a natural disaster or civil unrest, or inform you of a family emergency at home. Registration can be done on-line or by contacting a Canadian government office abroad. For more information, see our FAQs on Registration of Canadians Abroad.

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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.

Crime

Purse snatching, muggings and theft from hotel rooms occur in major cities. In Ougadougou, the areas around the United Nations circle and the Central Market are often targeted by thieves. Canadians should ensure that their personal belongings, passport, and other travel documents are secure at all times. Travellers should always carry a legally certified photocopy of their passport's identification page. Avoid showing signs of affluence and walking alone after dark. Petty crime occurs to a lesser degree elsewhere in the country.

Banditry

Carjackings have 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.

Illegal roadblocks are regularly set up by armed bandits (“les coupeurs de routes”) and they have been known to shoot in order to stop and rob vehicles. Roadblocks may be set up in all regions, during daylight hours and after dark, and have been reported on both main and on secondary roads. Canadians should remain vigilant at all times, undertake travel in groups and avoid going out after dark.

Fraud

Cases of attempted fraud are frequently reported in this country. For more information on overseas scams and their impact on the security of Canadians, see our Global Issues page.

Telephone Calls
 
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. Dial 17 to contact the local police.

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4. ENTRY/EXIT REQUIREMENTS

It is the sole prerogative of each country or region to determine who is allowed to enter. All countries or regions 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 destination(s) to be visited. Violations of entry and exit requirements may result in serious penalties.

The following information on entry and exit requirements has been confirmed with the Burkinan authorities. However, these requirements are subject to change at any time. It is the traveller's responsibility to check with the Embassy for Burkina Faso for up-to-date information.

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.

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A Certificate of Canadian Citizenship is not a travel document. A Canadian passport is the only reliable and universally accepted travel and identification document available to Canadians for the purpose of international travel. Canadian citizens returning to Canada who present other documents, such as a Certificate of Canadian Citizenship, birth certificate, provincial driver’s licence, or foreign passport, instead of a Canadian passport, may face delays or be denied boarding by transport companies.

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 all visa requirements for this and other destinations, 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 or regions may not permit children to enter or, in some cases, leave the country or region without proper documentation such as a letter of consent or a court order.

Although same-sex marriages are legal in Canada, many countries or regions 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: 316 Professeur Ki-Zerbo Street, Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso
Postal Address: P.O. Box 548, Ouagadougou, 01, Kadiogo Province, Burkina Faso
Tel.: 226 50 31 18 94
Fax: 226 50 31 19 00
E-Mail: ouaga@international.gc.ca
Internet: http://www.burkinafaso.gc.ca

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. TRAVEL HEALTH

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 Health Web site.

This country is in the area referred to as the African meningitis belt (which extends from Senegal in the west to Ethiopia in the east). Since the mid-1990s, meningitis has occurred on an unprecedented scale in this region. Outbreaks most often occur during the dry season (December to June). To obtain information and health recommendations concerning meningitis, please refer to the Public Health Agency of Canada's Travel Health Web site.

The Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) recommends that travellers use personal protective measures against mosquito bites to prevent getting dengue disease while travelling to countries where dengue disease may occur. There is no vaccine or medication that protects against dengue.

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 Web site as well as on the World Health Organization's Web site. For more information, see our Global Issues page 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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7. ADDITIONAL HEALTH INFORMATION

Medical facilities and supplies are very limited outside the capital. Clinics and doctors often request cash payment.

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.

Travellers should ensure they have a sufficient supply of prescription medicine.

Travellers should also cover up and use mosquito repellent to avoid the potential risks of mosquito-borne diseases.

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8. 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 or regions, unless requested to do so by local authorities. Such requests are rare.

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.

Common sense and discretion should be exercised in dress and behaviour. Religious and social traditions should be respected to avoid offending local sensitivities.

During the lunar month of Ramadan (the ninth month of the Muslim calendar), visitors should use discretion when drinking, eating, and smoking in public between sunrise and sunset. In 2010, Ramadan is expected to begin on or about August 11.

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9. TRAVEL AND CURRENCY

Driving in Burkina Faso can be hazardous. Roads are generally narrow, potholed, and unpaved. There are few streetlights. Pedestrians, bicycles, carts, and vehicles without headlights pose serious hazards. Many trucks transit the country at night. Travel after dark is not recommended.

The only train line is between Ouagadougou and Bobo Dioulasso. Trains run daily and are very crowded.

Public transportation is not safe.

An International Driving Permit (IDP) is recommended.

See our FAQ on transportation in order to verify if national airlines meet safety standards.

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The currency is the African Financial Community franc, or CFA franc (XOF).

Burkina Faso is a cash based economy. Euros are more widely accepted than currency in US dollars. Credit cards are accepted at only a few establishments in the capital. Traveller’s cheques in euros are accepted and can be exchanged in banks.

Canadian currency and traveller's cheques are not widely accepted worldwide. Check with your bank for information on automated banking machine (ABM) services outside Canada. You can also check the VISA ATM locator page or the MasterCard ATM locator page for the addresses of ABMs around the world. Verify with your financial institution whether your bank card can be used with ABMs abroad. Some countries use chip and/or personal identification number (PIN) technology for credit cards. Check with your bank to find out if your credit card will be accepted abroad. 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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10. 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. Canadians should keep informed of regional weather forecasts and plan accordingly.

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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.

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 abroad, 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

N/A

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