Burkina Faso Travel Advisory 2026

Current U.S. State Department advisory

Level 4: Do Not Travel

The highest advisory level: do not travel due to life-threatening risks. The U.S. government may have very limited ability to help. Advisory as of May 3, 2026.

Official source: travel.state.gov

US vs UK: how the advice compares

🇺🇸 United States — travel.state.gov

Level 4· Do Not Travel

Level 4 of 4 · as of May 3, 2026

🇬🇧 United Kingdom — FCDO (GOV.UK)

Advises against all travel

Last updated December 10, 2025 · gov.uk advice

Latest UK update note: “New information about dual nationals returning to the UK (‘Entry requirements’ page).”

See all countries where the two governments disagree on the US vs UK comparison page.

Advisory level timeline

May 3, 2026 — current
Level 4: Do Not Travel
Latest official advisory as captured in our snapshot.
No advisory level changes recorded for Burkina Faso since we began tracking in July 2026. We log every future change here, with dates and official change notes.

Is Burkina Faso safe? What the official advisory says

to Burkina Faso for any reason due to crime , kidnapping , terrorism , and health .

Do not travel to Burkina Faso for any reason.

U.S. government employee travel restrictions

U.S. government employees working in Burkina Faso are not allowed to travel outside of Ouagadougou due to safety risks. Personnel are discouraged from nighttime travel to the Balkiui and Rayongo (also known as Dayongo) neighborhoods of Ouagadougou’s Arrondissement 11.

Americans in Burkina Faso are strongly advised to take the same precautions.

Crime

State of Emergency

Violent crime is common throughout Burkina Faso. Crimes include kidnapping, assault, armed robbery, home invasion, and carjacking especially during local holidays and seasonal events.

Roadblocks, including those set up by armed groups, occur throughout the country. In urban areas, police checkpoints may also be present, particularly at night. In addition, highways across the country are frequently the scene of attacks on government, civilian, and commercial targets.

Local authorities may not recognize travelers with dual nationality. Your U.S. nationality may not be recognized if you are also a national of Burkina Faso. Review our information on Dual Nationality .

The Government of Burkina Faso has declared a state of emergency in the following territories:

The entire Sahel and East regions
The provinces of Kossi and Sourou (Boucle de Mouhoun region)
The province of Kenedougou (Hauts Bassins region)

Condensed from the official State Department advisory of May 3, 2026 — read the full advisory before you travel.

Burkina Faso travel advisory FAQ

What is the current travel advisory level for Burkina Faso?

As of May 3, 2026, the U.S. State Department rates Burkina Faso at Level 4: Do Not Travel. The highest advisory level: do not travel due to life-threatening risks. The U.S. government may have very limited ability to help.

What does Level 4 mean?

Level 4 (Do Not Travel) — The highest advisory level: do not travel due to life-threatening risks. The U.S. government may have very limited ability to help.

When did the Burkina Faso travel advisory last change?

The current advisory was published on May 3, 2026. No level changes have been recorded since we began tracking in July 2026 — this page will log every future change.

Does the UK government agree with the US advisory for Burkina Faso?

The UK Foreign Office (FCDO) position: Advises against all travel (last updated December 10, 2025). The US and UK use different systems — the US assigns a 1–4 level, while the UK either advises against travel (entirely or in part) or issues no overall warning.