Country driving guide · 2026
Everything UK and EU drivers need before crossing the border into Burkina Faso: 10 legal requirements + 6 other things worth knowing.
Required
Recommended
Good to know
Tick before you go
10 legal must-haves. Print it, tick them off, throw it in the glovebox.
1949 IDP required alongside national licence
Burkina Faso recognises the 1949 Geneva Convention International Driving Permit; UK/EU drivers must carry both the IDP and their domestic licence. Issued by the Post Office for GBP 5.50.
Passport with 6 months validity and visa
A visa is required for UK and most EU nationals in advance via the e-visa portal or embassy; passport must be valid 6 months beyond entry.
Carte Brune (CEDEAO Brown Card) insurance
Green Card is not valid; you must buy ECOWAS Brown Card third-party motor insurance at the border or in a neighbouring country, typically XOF 25,000-50,000 (EUR 38-76) depending on duration.
Yellow fever vaccination certificate
Proof of yellow fever vaccination is mandatory for entry and is routinely checked at land borders alongside vehicle papers.
Carnet de Passage for own vehicle
Bringing your own car requires a Carnet de Passage en Douane (issued by RAC/AA in the UK against a bond) plus the V5C/registration document in the driver's name.
Drive on the right
Traffic drives on the right; overtake on the left. Right-hand-drive UK vehicles are legal but discouraged due to poor visibility on rural roads.
Speed limits 90/60/50 km/h
Open road 90 km/h, built-up areas 50 km/h, and 60 km/h on approaches to towns. There are no motorways.
Blood alcohol limit 0.5 g/L
BAC limit is 0.8 g/L by statute but police enforce zero tolerance at checkpoints; do not drink and drive.
Warning triangle and hi-vis vest
Carry a reflective warning triangle and high-visibility vest in the vehicle; spare tyre, jack and basic tool kit are also expected at checkpoints.
Cash declaration above XOF 5,000,000
Amounts above XOF 5,000,000 (about EUR 7,600) must be declared at the border; undeclared foreign currency can be seized.
The UK FCDO advises against all travel to most of Burkina Faso due to terrorism and kidnap risk; self-driving across the country is not realistic and your travel insurance will likely be void.
Burkina Faso recognises the 1949 Geneva Convention International Driving Permit; UK/EU drivers must carry both the IDP and their domestic licence. Issued by the Post Office for GBP 5.50.
A visa is required for UK and most EU nationals in advance via the e-visa portal or embassy; passport must be valid 6 months beyond entry.
Green Card is not valid; you must buy ECOWAS Brown Card third-party motor insurance at the border or in a neighbouring country, typically XOF 25,000-50,000 (EUR 38-76) depending on duration.
Proof of yellow fever vaccination is mandatory for entry and is routinely checked at land borders alongside vehicle papers.
Bringing your own car requires a Carnet de Passage en Douane (issued by RAC/AA in the UK against a bond) plus the V5C/registration document in the driver's name.
Traffic drives on the right; overtake on the left. Right-hand-drive UK vehicles are legal but discouraged due to poor visibility on rural roads.
Open road 90 km/h, built-up areas 50 km/h, and 60 km/h on approaches to towns. There are no motorways.
BAC limit is 0.8 g/L by statute but police enforce zero tolerance at checkpoints; do not drink and drive.
Roadblocks are constant, especially outside Ouagadougou and Bobo-Dioulasso; have licence, IDP, passport, insurance and vehicle papers ready and never travel after dark.
Dial 17 for police, 18 for fire/ambulance, or the European 112 from mobiles. Response outside the capital is very limited.
Carry a reflective warning triangle and high-visibility vest in the vehicle; spare tyre, jack and basic tool kit are also expected at checkpoints.
No vignette system; péage barriers on routes such as Ouagadougou-Bobo-Dioulasso charge approximately XOF 500 (EUR 0.75) per car, paid in cash to the attendant.
Rainy season (June-September) washes out unpaved roads and the harmattan dust haze (December-February) drops visibility sharply; a 4x4 is essential off main paved axes.
West African CFA franc (XOF), pegged to the euro at 655.957. Petrol roughly XOF 850/L (EUR 1.30); diesel similar. Cash is king outside major hotels; tip pump attendants XOF 100-200.
Amounts above XOF 5,000,000 (about EUR 7,600) must be declared at the border; undeclared foreign currency can be seized.
We'll build the itinerary, estimate fuel + tolls, and show EV chargers along the route, and this checklist appears automatically on every trip that crosses into Burkina Faso.
Start planning →Places to add to your Burkina Faso road trip.
Don't get caught out
Traffic drives on the right; overtake on the left. Right-hand-drive UK vehicles are legal but discouraged due to poor visibility on rural roads.
Open road 90 km/h, built-up areas 50 km/h, and 60 km/h on approaches to towns. There are no motorways.
BAC limit is 0.8 g/L by statute but police enforce zero tolerance at checkpoints; do not drink and drive.