Burkina Faso scraps visa fees for African travellers

Burkina Faso says it has removed visa fees for all African travellers, in an effort to facilitate the movement of people and goods into the country.

“From now on, any citizen from an African country wishing to go to Burkina Faso will not pay any amount to cover visa fees,” said Mahamadou Sana, the country’s security minister, following a cabinet meeting chaired by military leader Capt Ibrahim Traoré on Thursday.

African visitors will however be required to submit an online visa application, which will be reviewed for approval, the minister clarified.

The West African nation joins countries such as Ghana, Rwanda and Kenya, which have eased travel requirements for African visitors.

Citizens of West African countries can already travel to Burkina Faso without the need for visas, however this may change in the future because the country has pulled out of the regional bloc, ECOWAS , along with its neighbours, Mali and Niger which are also under military rule.

Capt Traoré, a young soldier who seized power in a 2022 coup is admired in the continent for his charismatic leadership. .

The scrapping of visa fees for the continent’s nationals reflects Burkina Faso’s attachment to Pan-Africanist ideals and promotes regional integration, a statement from the country’s information service said late on Thursday.

“This free visa system for African nationals will also help promote tourism and Burkinabe culture, and improve Burkina Faso’s visibility abroad,” it added.

Earlier this year, Ghana said all African passport holders would now be able to visit without needing a visa.