Country driving guide · 2026
Everything UK and EU drivers need before crossing the border into Burundi: 9 legal requirements + 6 other things worth knowing.
Required
Recommended
Good to know
Tick before you go
9 legal must-haves. Print it, tick them off, throw it in the glovebox.
1949 IDP required alongside UK/EU licence
Burundi recognises the 1949 Geneva Convention International Driving Permit; carry it with your photocard licence and passport at all times.
COMESA Yellow Card or local third-party insurance
UK/EU motor insurance and Green Cards are not valid; buy a COMESA Yellow Card or Burundian third-party policy at the border (around 50-100 EUR).
Visa and yellow fever certificate
An e-visa or visa on arrival is required for most UK/EU nationals, plus a yellow fever vaccination certificate which is checked at land borders.
Carnet de Passage for own vehicle
Bringing your own car requires a Carnet de Passage en Douane plus the V5C/registration document; without a carnet the vehicle will be refused entry or heavily taxed.
Drive on the right
Traffic drives on the right; UK drivers should be alert at junctions and roundabouts, particularly in Bujumbura.
Speed limits 60/80/120 km/h
Urban 60 km/h, rural 80 km/h, and 120 km/h on the limited dual-carriageway sections; limits are often unsigned and aggressively enforced by police checkpoints.
BAC limit 0.8 g/L
The blood alcohol limit is 0.8 g/L but enforcement is unpredictable; a zero-tolerance approach is strongly advised.
Warning triangle and reflective vest
Carry a warning triangle, hi-vis vest, spare wheel, and basic first aid kit; police at checkpoints commonly inspect these items.
Declare cash over 10,000 USD
Amounts equivalent to 10,000 USD or more must be declared at the border; exchange Euros or US Dollars in Bujumbura as ATMs outside the capital are unreliable.
The Foreign Office advises against all but essential travel to most of Burundi due to political instability and crime; self-drive tourism is rare and overland border crossings can close at short notice.
Burundi recognises the 1949 Geneva Convention International Driving Permit; carry it with your photocard licence and passport at all times.
UK/EU motor insurance and Green Cards are not valid; buy a COMESA Yellow Card or Burundian third-party policy at the border (around 50-100 EUR).
An e-visa or visa on arrival is required for most UK/EU nationals, plus a yellow fever vaccination certificate which is checked at land borders.
Bringing your own car requires a Carnet de Passage en Douane plus the V5C/registration document; without a carnet the vehicle will be refused entry or heavily taxed.
Dial 117 for police and 112 for general emergencies; response outside Bujumbura is limited, so carry the contact for your embassy in Kigali (Rwanda) as the UK has no embassy in Bujumbura.
Traffic drives on the right; UK drivers should be alert at junctions and roundabouts, particularly in Bujumbura.
Urban 60 km/h, rural 80 km/h, and 120 km/h on the limited dual-carriageway sections; limits are often unsigned and aggressively enforced by police checkpoints.
The blood alcohol limit is 0.8 g/L but enforcement is unpredictable; a zero-tolerance approach is strongly advised.
Unlit roads, livestock, pedestrians, and a higher banditry risk make night driving genuinely dangerous; complete journeys before dusk (around 18:00 year-round).
Carry a warning triangle, hi-vis vest, spare wheel, and basic first aid kit; police at checkpoints commonly inspect these items.
Burundi has no motorway network and no tolls or vignettes; main RN routes are paved but potholed, and rural roads often require a 4x4, especially in the rainy season.
Heavy rains from February to May and October to December cause landslides and washouts on mountain roads; check route conditions locally before setting off.
Currency is the Burundian Franc (BIF); petrol is roughly 3,500-4,500 BIF per litre (about 1.10-1.40 EUR) and fuel stations are cash-only with frequent shortages.
Amounts equivalent to 10,000 USD or more must be declared at the border; exchange Euros or US Dollars in Bujumbura as ATMs outside the capital are unreliable.
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Don't get caught out
Traffic drives on the right; UK drivers should be alert at junctions and roundabouts, particularly in Bujumbura.
Urban 60 km/h, rural 80 km/h, and 120 km/h on the limited dual-carriageway sections; limits are often unsigned and aggressively enforced by police checkpoints.
The blood alcohol limit is 0.8 g/L but enforcement is unpredictable; a zero-tolerance approach is strongly advised.