Burundi entry requirements for British passport holders (2026): visa and passport validity
Passport validity (FCDO rule): At least 6 months after the day you arrive
Visa (FCDO): You need a visa to visit Burundi. Official visa text
Official source: GOV.UK – Burundi travel advice, Entry requirements (FCDO) · page last updated 21 May 2026 · checked on 17 October 2026
Whether you need a visa and how long your British passport must be valid to enter Burundi, as published by the UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO), quoted word for word, with a checker for your dates.
Other passports: Canadian passport · Australian passport
Do I need a visa for Burundi with a British passport?
In short: You need a visa to visit Burundi.
Our one-line summary of the first FCDO sentence below, which matches a wording we recognise. It applies to British citizen passport holders; read the full official text, which may add conditions.
You must have a visa to visit Burundi.
Applying for a visa
You should apply for a visa online ahead of travelling. Visas are issued on arrival in Burundi. A one-month visa costs $90 which can be paid online or in cash on arrival and is valid for single and multiple entries.
All travellers without a valid settlement visa or permanent residence must complete the Airport entry visa or Transit visa application before arriving in Burundi. Once the application is submitted, you will receive a validation certificate. This certificate will be needed to get your visa upon arrival.
Official source: GOV.UK – Burundi travel advice, Entry requirements (FCDO), section “Visa requirements” · page last updated 21 May 2026 · checked on 17 October 2026
Passport validity: official text “Passport validity requirements”
To enter Burundi, your passport must have an ‘expiry date’ at least 6 months after the date you arrive and have one blank page. Check with your travel provider that your passport and other travel documents meet requirements. Renew your passport if you need to.
Official source: GOV.UK – Burundi travel advice, Entry requirements (FCDO) · page last updated 21 May 2026 · checked on 17 October 2026
Check your passport for Burundi
Schengen rules count your whole trip in the Schengen area: if you visit several Schengen countries, enter the day you first enter the area and the day you leave the last Schengen country.
The check runs in your browser: your dates are not sent anywhere. It applies the FCDO sentence literally (for example “6 months” is counted as the same day of the month 6 months later).
For British passport holders only. These are the rules published by the UK government (FCDO) for British citizens. If you hold another passport, check your own government's advice. The airline and the border officials of the destination decide whether you can travel or enter: this site is information, not legal advice.
Blank pages: the official text says “…have one blank page…”. The checker does not count pages.
Recent FCDO updates to the entry requirements
- 10 December 2025: “FCDO now advises against all but essential travel to the former Bujumbura Mairie Province, including the city of Bujumbura, and to the area of the former Bujumbura Rural Province east of the Rusizi river. FCDO continues to advise against all travel to parts of Burundi ('Warnings and insurance' page). New information also added about dual nationals returning to the UK ('Entry requirements' page).”
- 13 May 2025: “New information on the updated visa application process for travel to Burundi ('Entry requirements' page).”
- 13 December 2024: “Updated information on visa requirements and flooding (‘Entry requirements’ and ‘Safety and security’ pages).”
- 12 January 2024: “Information about the border between Burundi and Rwanda being closed ('Entry requirements' page).”
- 17 August 2023: “All passengers entering or leaving Burundi via Bujumbura Airport must register online before travelling. See ‘Registration’ section for more details ('Entry requirements' page).”
Read the full FCDO travel advice for Burundi (safety, visas, health) before you travel.
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Same FCDO rule (6 months after arrival)
and 79 more destinations with the same rule: see all
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