Local Laws

CRIMINAL PENALTIES: While you are traveling in Burkina Faso, you are subject to its laws even if you are a U.S. citizen. It is very important to know what is legal and what is not in every place that you visit; foreign laws and legal systems can be vastly different than our own. 

Persons violating Burkina Faso’s laws, even unknowingly, may be expelled, arrested, or imprisoned. Penalties for possessing, using, or trafficking in illegal drugs in Burkina Faso can be severe, and convicted offenders can expect long jail sentences and heavy fines. In Burkina Faso, you may be taken in for questioning if you don’t have your passport with you. In Burkina Faso, it is illegal to take pictures of certain buildings, including government buildings, and it is also illegal to photograph individuals without their permission. If you break local laws in Burkina Faso, your U.S. passport won’t help you avoid arrest or prosecution. 

There are also some things that might be legal in the country you visit, but still illegal in the United States. You can be prosecuted in the United States for engaging in sexual conduct with children or for using or disseminating child pornography in a foreign country regardless of the legality of these activities under that country’s laws. Counterfeit and pirated goods are illegal in the United States and if you purchase them in a foreign country, you may be breaking local law as well. 

Arrest notifications in host country: While some countries will automatically notify the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate if a U.S. citizen is detained or arrested in that country, others may not. To ensure that the United States is aware of your circumstances, request that the police and prison officials notify the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate as soon as you are arrested or detained overseas.

SPECIAL CIRCUMSTANCES: Burkina Faso’s customs authorities may enforce strict regulations concerning export from Burkina Faso of items such as masks, religious materials, and antiquities. The Director of the National Museum has stated that the export of objects of art (old or traditional artists’ works, and all old material of the national cultural patrimony) is subject to the prior approval of the Ministry of Culture. Contact the Embassy of Burkina Faso in Washington for specific information regarding customs requirements. 

Foreigners should carry photocopies of the biographic page of their passport and their visa with them at all times. If a passport is lost and a valid visa cannot be presented by the traveler upon departure, a police report documenting the loss of the visa may be required.

Credit cards are accepted at only a few high-end establishments in Ouagadougou. Travelers' checks may be cashed at local banks, but euro-denominated traveler’s checks are much more widely accepted. There are a few ATMs in Ouagadougou and Bobo-Dioulasso, but they do not always accept cards from foreign banks. ATMs generally accept Visa and MasterCard credit cards with a personal identification number.

Burkina Faso’s laws concerning photography have changed. Photo permits from the Tourist Office are no longer required for tourists. Film crews, however, still do require permits. Note that the Tourist Office publishes a list of buildings, installations, and areas that may not be photographed at all.

Local telephone service is adequate but expensive. Cell phone networks are available in most urban areas, although service can be unreliable. Telephone coverage in rural areas is limited, though increasing. International calls cannot always be made from hotels; it may be necessary to make international calls from a Post and Telecommunications Office, where only local currency is accepted. Collect calls are not possible. Cyber-cafes for Internet access are common in both Ouagadougou and Bobo-Dioulasso.

WOMEN TRAVELER INFORMATION: If you are a woman traveling abroad, please review our travel tips for Women Travelers.

LGBT RIGHTS: The law does not criminalize same-sex sexual activity between consenting adults, but LGBT persons face societal discrimination exacerbated by religious and traditional beliefs against LGBT status. Same-sex civil unions or marriages are not recognized by the government. Local LGBT organizations have no legal status, and repeated attempts by gay rights groups to register with the government were not approved, despite following correct procedures. In early 2013, there were public anti-LGBT demonstrations and inflammatory comments made by government officials. There have been instances of physical abuse of LGBT people that have not been pursued or prosecuted by law enforcement. For more detailed information about LGBT rights in Burkina Faso, you may review the State Department’s Country Reports on Human Rights Practices for 2014. For further information on Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) travel, please read our LGBT Travel Information page.

ACCESSIBILITY: While in Burkina Faso, individuals with disabilities may find accessibility and accommodation very different from in the United States. The law prohibits discrimination against persons with physical or mental disabilities in employment, education, access to health care, the provision of other state services, or other areas; however, the government does not effectively enforce these provisions. Accommodation and accessibility for individuals with disabilities is limited in Burkina Faso. Access to buildings, pedestrian paths and transportation is extremely difficult for persons with disabilities. Sidewalks (if they exist) are very uneven and rarely have ramps at intersections. Pedestrian crossings are also very infrequent and traffic almost never gives pedestrians (disabled or otherwise) the right of way. Most, but not all, cafés, restaurants, hotels and residential buildings have stairs at the entrance without wheelchair ramps. Buses and taxis do not have special accommodations for disabled persons.