Is your company planning to expand operations to Burkina Faso? This West African country offers many opportunities, but you’ll need to make sure that any employees who relocate to Burkina Faso or join your team abroad have the appropriate visas to live and work there.
Types of work visas in Burkina Faso
In Burkina Faso, individuals seeking entry typically fall into one of the following categories:
- Visitors from visa-exempt countries: Individuals can stay in Burkina Faso for up to 90 days without a visa.
- Nationals who are eligible for a visa on arrival: Valid for up to 90 days.
- Visitors who do not fall under either of these categories and must go to an embassy or consulate to find a solution.
However, international workers who plan to stay in Burkina Faso for an extended time to work for a local company will need a Worker Card and a long-stay visa. The duration will vary depending on the length of the employment contract, up to maximum of 3 years.
Burkina Faso is somewhat unique in that the country does not have a business visa. If any employees need to visit Burkina Faso for a short period of time for business purposes, such as a conference or training seminar, they can do so by obtaining a short-stay visa, which will allow them to stay for up to 90 days (provided that they do not execute a local employment contract).
Requirements to obtain Burkina Faso work visas
A long-stay visa is necessary for non-nationals who intend to work in Burkina Faso. To obtain the visa, applicants will need to provide:
- A valid passport
- An application form, provided by the competent administration, duly completed, dated, and signed
- 2 recent passport photos
- Proof of the reason for long stay in Burkina Faso
- A medical examination certificate attesting that the applicant is not suffering from a contagious disease
- A certificate of support in Burkina Faso or proof of sufficient income for the duration of stay
- A certificate of health insurance covering the period of stay
- Stamp duty payment receipt
- Proof of the field of activity
Application process
To obtain a long-stay visa to work in Burkina Faso, employees should visit the Burkina Faso embassy or consulate in their home country. They will need to submit the documents listed in the previous section. The application can be obtained at the embassy or online prior to the visit.
Visas for workers are issued by the Labor Administration. These visas can be granted for the duration of the employment contract, up to a maximum of 3 years.
The processing time for the visa application may vary, so companies and employees should plan accordingly and begin the process well in advance to ensure work can start when scheduled.
In Burkina Faso, work permits will need to be obtained by the sponsoring employer. The Burkina Faso work permit is also known as a Worker Card.
Other important considerations
Should employees need to stay in Burkina Faso beyond the initial duration of their visa, it is possible to obtain a visa extension. Extensions are issued by the Head Office of the National Police in the nation’s capital, Ouagadougou.
If an employee is contracted to work with another employer besides your company in Burkina Faso, they will need a work permit from each employer.
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