Burundi is a small landlocked country located on the shores of Lake Tanganyika in East Africa. Burundi has a breath-taking mix of soaring mountains, beautiful lakeside beaches and vibrant culture.
Located just outside of Bujumbura (the largest city and main port of Burundi) is the fascinating Rusizi River National Park. The plains surrounding the river are flooded periodically, bringing hundreds of animals to the area for its vital life source.
Hippos are just one of the many wild animals to frequent the area and are one of the most sought after by travellers. The park, with its clear skies, is a true bird-watchers paradise. The migratory birds that visit the park include rare and beautiful species from both Asia and Europe such as sand pipers and plovers.
The Burundians are best known for their outstanding hospitality, a visitor, or “Umushitsi”, in Kirundi, is respected and protected. In Burundian culture a local should attempt to speak the visitor’s language and offer help rather than expect the foreigner to attempt to speak the local Burundian language.
Most travellers who wish to experience the warm welcome of Burundi will have to apply for a Burundi visa, this information piece tells you everything you will need to know about visa requirements for visiting Burundi.
It is important that you familiarise yourself with these legal requirements of entry before your visit, since in most cases, you will have to obtain a Burundi visa prior to your travels.
Visa requirements are governed by the Burundi embassy or Diplomatic mission, located in the area you reside and can be found through visiting the website of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Burundi and may be subject to change without prior notice.
WHAT IS A VISA?
A visa is issued to international travellers visiting Burundi for a short stay on a temporary basis for tourism, business, study or medical reasons.
Visas are normally issued for a maximum 30 or 90 days, depending on your country of residence. A valid visa allows you to enter the country through a port of entry and stay in the country for the period specified in your visa.
Note that you are restricted to the activity or reason stated in your application, for example, if you applied for a visa for a holiday or family visit, you are not allowed to work in the country during your stay.
VISA REQUIREMENTS FOR VISITING BURUNDI
The Burundi tourist visa is issued for short-term purposes – up to 90 days maximum and you will need a passport that is still valid for at least six more months from the date of entry. It should also have at least two blank pages for stamps.
Visitors holding passports from countries that are classified as ‘exempt’ do not need to apply for a visa prior to arriving in Burundi. Instead, they are issued with a short-stay visa at the point of entry for a period of 90 days.
Burundi unfortunately does not issue e-visas yet and as of April 2015, the government of Burundi stopped issuing visas on arrival at the airport or other ports of entry. Therefore, it is necessary to obtain your visa for Burundi via the nearest Embassy of Burundi or at the nearest Diplomatic Mission.
The time it takes to process a Burundi visa is 15 – 30 days with no rush processing available so it is important for you to apply for your visa well in advance.
The duration of a Burundi visa can depend on the number of entries it allows and also on which country you are applying from, usually the tourist visa will allow a stay of up to 90 days and is valid for one month.
A transit visa is not required for Burundi if you are in possession of a valid passport, an onward ticket and you do not leave the airports transit area.
COUNTRIES EXEMPTED AND COUNTRIES THAT NEED VISAS
All visitors to Burundi except those from the countries listed below, must have a visa to enter Burundi.
Nationals of the following countries may enter Burundi without a visa for stays of up to 90 day: The Democratic Republic of Congo, Kenya, Rwanda, South Sudan, Tanzania and Uganda.
Also, Holders of diplomatic passports of Turkey and diplomatic and service category passports of Brazil, China and Russia do not require a visa to enter Burundi.
Lastly holders of passports for public affairs of China do not require a visa to enter Burundi.
DIFFERENT KINDS OF VISAS
When applying for a Burundi visa, you need to know which one to apply for according to your reason for traveling to Burundi.
There are two types of visas available, the tourist visa which is reserved for tourist/vacation reasons and the business visa which is reserved for conducting business in Burundi.
Both of these visas are issued for single entry or multiple entry which means you can enter Burundi once or unlimited times within the validity of your visa, depending on which one was issued.
There is also a transit visa available which needs to be obtained if you are travelling through Burundi but wish to spend a night or two before moving onto your next destination. The price and validity will depend on how long you wish to stay and from which consulate/diplomatic mission or country you are applying from.
HOW AND WHERE TO APPLY FOR VISAS WHEN VISITING BURUNDI
There is only one way to apply for a Burundi visa; you will have to make an appointment at your nearest Burundi Embassy or Diplomatic Mission.
From there, depending on which country’s embassy or diplomatic mission you use, you might be required to give biometric scans of your fingerprints or facial features. This is a quick, discreet and non-intrusive process that captures a facial image with a digital camera and a 10-digit fingerprint scan with a digital finger scanner and is done at the embassy or diplomatic mission.
You will need to complete a Burundi visa application form, obtainable from the embassy/diplomatic mission offices.
Gather all the required documents, pay the visa fee and then submit the documents and application at the embassy/diplomatic mission. Some offices require you to submit the documents in person, whereas others also allow submissions through the mail.
DOCUMENTS NEEDED FOR APPLICATION FOR VISA
When you apply for a Burundi visa, you need the following documents to support your application: (Note that the exact required documents depend on the purpose of your travel as well as the embassy or consulate in which you apply).
COST OF A BURUNDI VISA
Fees for a Burundi visa may vary depending on the consulate/diplomatic mission and country in which you are applying from. You will have to check the exact cost with them first. However, the below is an example of the last known fees charged:
The above visas have a validity period of one month from date issued.
VACCINES NEEDED WHEN VISITING BURUNDI
An international yellow fever vaccination certificate is a compulsory requirement for all travellers to Burundi, a yellow fever certificate is valid 10 days after the vaccination is administered, making it important to get the vaccination in time before leaving for Burundi. You may be refused entry if you leave it too late and arrive in Burundi within the 10-day waiting period.
Other vaccines recommended or required for Burundi, as recommend by the CDC and WHO include hepatitis A, hepatitis B, typhoid, meningitis, polio, measles, mumps and rubella (MMR), Tdap (tetanus, diphtheria and pertussis), chickenpox, shingles, pneumonia and influenza.
Unfortunately, Zika virus is a risk in Burundi, so pregnant women are highly advised not to travel to this country. This virus can cause severe birth defects and is transmitted through mosquito bites.
Burundi is a high-risk country for rabies, so a vaccine recommended for long-term travellers and those who may come in contact with animals during their stay.
Burundi is also known to have outbreaks of Malaria, so it is recommended that you take prescription medicine before, during, and after your trip to prevent malaria. Your doctor can help you decide which medicine is right for you, and also talk to you about other steps you can take to prevent malaria. Malaria can start out with normal flue like symptoms but then progress to a high fever, shaking chills that can range from moderate to severe, profuse sweating, headache, nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, diarrhoea, muscle pain and convulsions. Like the Zika Virus, Malaria is transmitted through mosquito bites.
Ways to avoid getting mosquito bites during your visit:
Insect repellent is your best friend when it comes to avoiding mosquito bites, you can buy insect repellents from the local supermarkets and/or pharmacies and apply to any exposed areas of the skin. Those products, which include DEET, claim to be the most effective, but there are alternatives if you are allergic.
It is a good idea to apply insect repellent before leaving your hotel room/ lodge or chalet for the day.
It is recommended to apply frequently throughout the day and before bed in the evening to avoid being bitten by mosquitoes.
Keep air circulating in your room, mosquitoes aren’t strong flyers (that’s why they are more active during the evening and in the mornings when there is little wind). Using fans is a good way to avoid getting bitten by a mosquito, as it makes it difficult for them to fly near you.
A little-known fact is that wearing light coloured clothing can prevent mosquito bites, they are more attracted to darker colours because of the contrasting that dark-coloured clothes provide against the horizon during dusk when mosquitoes are most active.
OTHER SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS WHEN VISITING BURUNDI
VISITING BURUNDI WITH MINORS
If you are travelling to Burundi with a minor, please take note of the additional documents you will need per child:
WHAT HAPPENS IF ONE OVERSTAYS ON A VISA IN BURUNDI
Foreign visitors who overstay on a visa are normally declared ‘undesirable persons’ and may incur a ban from Burundi for a period, which prevents them from applying for a visa and re-entering Burundi for a prescribed period of time.
You may also be charged a fine for each day that you overstay on your visa. There may even be legal action taken against you, it is highly recommended that you extend your visa well in advance.
Individuals who have been affected by the overstay visa regulations of a country can usually lodge a visa overstay appeal.
ENJOY A SAFE HOLIDAY IN BURUNDI WITH A REPUTABLE TOUR OPERATOR
MoAfrika Tours is a leading tour operator in South Africa that offers an outstanding selection of tours to Burundi. We have a close association with the most reputable tour operators in Burundi who make safety a priority.