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Burkina Faso

Nationality · visas, permits and migration

Moved to OECD countries, 2023
6,184
Top destination, 2023
Italy
U.S. non-immigrant visas, FY2025
2,328
UK visas issued, 2025
326
Schengen visa refusal rate, 2024
21.7%
NationalityBFISO 3166
Year by year
Data as at 2025
NA<BFBURKINA<FASO<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<
BF2<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<4

Visa requirements for a short visit

Whether citizens of Burkina Faso need a visa for a short tourist or business visit, according to the legal lists. Rules change; check the official source before travelling.

DestinationShort visitLegal basis
Schengen areaVisa requiredRegulation (EU) 2018/1806 (consolidated 30.12.2025)
United KingdomVisa requiredImmigration Rules, Appendix Visitor / ETA National List
CanadaTemporary resident visa requiredIRPR s. 190, Schedule 1.1
Hong KongNo visa for visits of up to 14 daysImmigration Department (HKSAR), visit visa requirements, 31.12.2025
Source: Regulation (EU) 2018/1806 (consolidated 30 Dec 2025); UK Immigration Rules, Appendix Visitor and ETA National List; Canada IRPR s. 190 and Schedule 1.1; Immigration Department (HKSAR), visit visa requirements as at 31 Dec 2025Data as at Oct 2026

Where people from Burkina Faso move

Inflows of foreign nationals by country of nationality, as recorded by each destination (OECD).

Inflows to OECD countries, 2023
  1. Italy3,383
  2. United States840
  3. France590
  4. Germany485
  5. Canada435
  6. Belgium285
  7. Japan62
  8. Switzerland33
  9. Netherlands21
  10. South Korea14
  11. Austria13
  12. Luxembourg13
  13. Sweden4
  14. Denmark2
  15. Hungary1

Inflows to all OECD countries by year

3,0926,184200020032006200920122015201820212023
3,0926,1842000200420082012201620202023
Data table
2000755
2001398
20021,300
20032,079
20042,377
20051,789
20061,683
20071,675
20082,691
20092,679
20102,988
20112,636
20123,075
20133,051
20142,732
20152,883
20163,076
20173,332
20183,386
20193,172
20202,259
20212,972
20223,680
20236,184
Share going to the top destination
54.7%
Destinations recording arrivals
15
Source: OECD, International Migration Database (OECD.ELS.IMD), accessed 24 Oct 2026Data as at 2023

Living abroad

People born in Burkina Faso who live in another country: mid-year estimates of the international migrant stock (UN DESA). Where a destination records citizenship rather than country of birth, its foreign citizens are counted.

Largest destinations, 2024
  1. Côte d’Ivoire1,820,882
  2. Ghana75,339
  3. Mali69,919
  4. Niger31,858
  5. Italy15,279
  6. Togo13,866
  7. Benin13,704
  8. Gabon7,582
  9. Guinea545
  10. Brazil396
  11. Liberia161
  12. Denmark140

Living abroad by year

1.03M2.05M19901995200020052010201520202024
1.03M2.05M19902000201020202024
Data table
19901,015,890
19951,152,082
20001,297,567
20051,443,306
20101,601,296
20151,759,971
20201,919,400
20242,050,050
Living abroad, 2024
2,050,050
Change since 2000
+58.0%
Share living in the largest destination, 2024
88.8%
Source: United Nations, DESA Population Division, International Migrant Stock 2024 (CC BY 3.0 IGO)Data as at 2024

United States

Visas issued to citizens of Burkina Faso by U.S. consulates (fiscal years, October–September) and certified PERM labor certifications.

Non-immigrant visas by class, FY2025
  1. B1/B21,830
  2. F196
  3. A271
  4. G266
  5. J160
  6. G456
  7. G130
  8. K128
  9. A124
  10. B211

Non-immigrant visas by fiscal year

1,5333,066201720182019202020212022202320242025
1,5333,06620172019202120232025
Data table
20171,883
20182,262
20192,509
20201,055
2021449
20223,006
20232,711
20243,066
20252,328
Immigrant visas by class, FY2025
  1. IR2143
  2. DV125
  3. IR5125
  4. IR188
  5. GV320
  6. F2A10
  7. FX8
  8. CR17
Immigrant visas, FY2025
560
Certified PERM labor certifications, FY2024 (latest year with citizenship)
14
Source: U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Consular Affairs, monthly visa issuances (public domain); U.S. Department of Labor, OFLC PERM disclosure data (public domain)Data as at FY2025

Green cards and U.S. citizenship

People born in Burkina Faso who became U.S. lawful permanent residents (green cards) or U.S. citizens, and admissions of citizens of Burkina Faso with an I-94 record (DHS, fiscal years).

Green cards by fiscal year

4058102015201620172018201920202021202220232024
405810201520172019202120232024
Data table
2015580
2016640
2017540
2018530
2019650
2020470
2021550
2022810
2023810
2024720
Green cards by class of admission, FY2024
  1. Immediate relatives of U.S. citizens420
  2. Refugees and asylees150
  3. Diversity visa lottery80
  4. Employment-based preferences50
  5. Family-sponsored preferences30
Green cards, FY2024 (born in Burkina Faso)
720
Naturalizations, FY2024 (born in Burkina Faso)
490
I-94 admissions, FY2024 (citizenship)
3,870
Source: U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Office of Homeland Security Statistics, Yearbook of Immigration Statistics 2024 (public domain)Data as at FY2024

United Kingdom

Entry clearance visas issued to nationals of Burkina Faso (Home Office) and students with a permanent address in Burkina Faso (HESA).

Visas issued by group, 2025
  1. Visitor275
  2. Work20
  3. Other16
  4. Study12
  5. Family3

Visas issued by year

195389201020122014201620182020202220242025
195389201020132016201920222025
Data table
2010280
2011257
2012232
2013265
2014256
2015272
2016280
2017300
2018316
2019352
2020103
2021183
2022254
2023311
2024389
2025326
Students at UK universities, 2024/25
0
Source: Home Office, Immigration system statistics (year ending June 2026), Open Government Licence v3.0Data as at 2025

Canada

Permits and invitations for citizens of Burkina Faso, by year the permit took effect (IRCC).

YearTFWP workIMP workStudyPermanent residentsExpress Entry invitations
20251554151,005700230
20242454701,135515140
20231854001,08543040
2022252507705000
2021028069033010
20201025547017515
201901655902305
2018015042029510
201701253852600
201601553702800
20150953702400
Source: IRCC, monthly open data (rounded to the nearest 5). Open Government Licence – CanadaData as at 2025

Australia

Temporary skilled visas (subclass 457 to 2018, then 482) granted to primary applicants who are citizens of Burkina Faso, by financial year ending 30 June (Home Affairs).

Primary visas granted by financial year

232006–072008–092022–23
232006–072008–092022–23
Data table
2006–073
2007–083
2008–091
2020–211
2022–231
Granted, 2025–26
0
Share of all Australian grants, 2025–26
0.0%
Source: Department of Home Affairs (Australia), BP0014 Temporary Resident (skilled) visas granted, data locked at 30 Sep 2026 (data.gov.au, CC BY)Data as at 2025–26

Japan

Citizens of Burkina Faso living in Japan at the end of each December, by status of residence (Immigration Services Agency of Japan). 2020 and 2021 were published only as database tables.

Foreign residents in Japan

1112222012201420162018202220242025
1112222012201420162018202220242025
Data table
201230
201331
201442
201548
201668
201794
2018105
2019114
2022126
2023143
2024165
2025222
By status of residence, December 2025
  1. Designated Activities78
  2. Student43
  3. Dependent26
  4. Permanent Resident26
  5. Spouse or Child of Japanese National20
  6. Engineer/Specialist in Humanities/International Services10
  7. Long-Term Resident8
  8. Spouse or Child of Permanent Resident3
  9. Professor3
  10. Entertainer1
Residents, December 2025
222
In work-related statuses
17
Share in work-related statuses
7.7%
Students
43
Source: Immigration Services Agency of Japan, Statistics on Foreign Residents (在留外国人統計), Table 1, end of December (e-Stat; Government of Japan Standard Terms of Use 2.0)Data as at Dec 2025

Schengen visas in Burkina Faso

Short-stay (C) visa applications at Schengen consulates located in Burkina Faso, 2024. Applicants are mostly, but not only, its citizens.

Schengen stateApplicationsIssuedNot issuedRefusal rate
Belgium4,6453,1751,27127.4%
France1,9091,7141437.5%
Germany1,4261,13527719.4%
Denmark36220811832.6%

Applications by year

8,21916k2009201020112012201320142015201620172018201920202021202220232024
8,21916k200920122015201820212024
Data table
20093,440
201010,958
201111,441
201211,297
201312,888
201413,800
201513,782
201614,485
201715,533
201816,073
201916,438
20202,773
20215,357
202213,784
202311,656
20248,342
Refusal rate, 2024
21.7%
Refusal rate, 2019
18.4%
Source: European Commission, DG Migration and Home Affairs, visa statistics for consulates (CC BY 4.0)Data as at 2024

Residence permits in Europe

First residence permits issued to citizens of Burkina Faso in EU and EFTA countries, 2025 (Eurostat).

First permits by reason
  1. Other reasons3,608
  2. Family1,408
  3. Education1,103
  4. Work222
First permits by country
  1. Italy3,577
  2. France1,612
  3. Germany425
  4. Spain423
  5. Belgium148
  6. Switzerland40
  7. Greece35
  8. Netherlands21
  9. Portugal10
  10. Austria8
  11. Luxembourg8
  12. Denmark6
Work permits by type, 2025
  1. EU Blue Card4
  2. Highly skilled workers (national schemes)17
  3. Researchers13
  4. Other paid activities188
EU Blue Cards granted, 2024
9
Citizenships acquired in the EU, 2024
1,600
Students in EU/EFTA tertiary education, 2024
2,523
Refused entry at EU external borders, 2025
40
Valid residence permits, 31 Dec 2025
41,509
Long-term residence permits issued, 2025
1,162
Changed status into work, 2025
629
Intra-corporate transferee permits, 2025
2
Seasonal work authorisations, 2024
66
Source: Eurostat (migr_resfirst, migr_resbc11, migr_acq, educ_uoe_mobs02, migr_eirfs, migr_pop1ctz), CC BY 4.0Data as at 2024–2025

National statistics in Europe

Citizens of Burkina Faso in the figures of national statistics offices: residence permits granted in Denmark, immigrations by grounds for settlement in Sweden and immigrants with a non-EU/EFTA nationality by migration motive in the Netherlands; Finland and Austria publish immigration and emigration by citizenship only.

CountryYearAllWorkStudyFamilyProtectionOther or unknown
Denmark2025623001
CountryYearImmigrationEmigrationNet migration
Finland2025101
Austria202521813
Source: Danmarks Statistik, Statistikbanken VAN66 and VAN77M (CC BY 4.0); SCB (Statistics Sweden), Statistikdatabasen TAB1614 and TAB6670 (CC0); CBS (Statistics Netherlands), StatLine 84809NED (CC BY 4.0); Statistics Finland (Tilastokeskus), StatFin 11a8 (CC BY 4.0); Statistik Austria, OGD_bevwan020_AUSSENWAND_100 (CC BY 4.0)Data as at 2025

Italy

New residence permits issued in Italy to citizens of Burkina Faso, by year and reason, and permits valid on 1 January 2026 (Istat).

New permits by year

1,8903,7802016201720182019202020212022202320242025
1,8903,780201620182020202220242025
Data table
2016895
20171,048
2018744
2019434
2020298
2021773
2022970
20233,107
20243,780
20252,852
New permits by reason, 2025
  1. Asylum and protection1,883
  2. Family845
  3. Other reasons83
  4. Work28
  5. Study13
New permits, 2025
2,852
Valid permits, 1 Jan 2026
21,807
EU long-term residents, 1 Jan 2026
7,270
Source: Istat, residence permits of non-EU citizens: permits issued in the year and valid permits on 1 January (CC BY 4.0)Data as at 2025

Foreign embassies and consulates in Burkina Faso

Countries with an embassy or consulate in Burkina Faso, as recorded in Wikidata.

CountryEmbassiesConsulates-generalConsulates
Algeria1——
Belgium1——
Brazil1——
Canada1——
Chad1——
China1——
Côte d’Ivoire1——
France11—
Germany1——
Ghana1——
India1——
Italy1——
Japan1——
Morocco1——
Netherlands1——
Saudi Arabia1——
South Africa1——
Sweden1——
Tunisia1——
Türkiye1——
Countries
20
Missions
21
Source: Wikidata (CC0)Data as at Oct 2026

Remittances

Money that migrants send home: personal remittances received by Burkina Faso, in current US dollars (World Bank).

Remittances received by year, US$ million

298595200020032006200920122015201820212024
298595200020052010201520202024
Data table
200067
200150
200259
200354
200444
200557
200668
200784
2008100
200996
2010120
2011221
2012210
2013308
2014396
2015385
2016397
2017417
2018456
2019467
2020525
2021571
2022524
2023584
2024595
Remittances received, 2024
US$595 million
Share of GDP, 2024
2.6%
Source: World Bank, World Development Indicators (CC BY 4.0)Data as at 2024

All corridors from Burkina Faso

Destinations with a dedicated page for citizens of this country.

  • Burkina Faso → Italy
  • Burkina Faso → France
  • Burkina Faso → Canada
Source: OECD, International Migration Database (OECD.ELS.IMD), accessed 24 Oct 2026Data as at 2023

Official data, not advice. Visa Atlas publishes figures from government registers and statistics. It does not assess eligibility or give immigration advice; for advice, consult a regulated adviser. Read more