For Indian travellers looking for exciting adventures in West Africa while discovering new cultures and scenery out of the reach of tourists have many exhilarating destinations in West Africa that are not well-known. One of the greatly unexplored destinations is Burkina Faso, which provides an exciting mix of culture, community, and scenery, and provides an escape from the throngs of mainstream tourism. Now that you are excited to visit Burkina Faso, the first step to planning your travel is learning how to obtain a Burkina Faso visa for Indian travellers. This article will provide you with all the information you need regarding visa type and eligibility information, everything you will need related to documentation, travel tips, and exciting sites to see.
Think about a trip to Burkina Faso
While Burkina Faso is not top of mind for most travelers, being a landlocked country, it has beautiful people and a distinct music culture. There are many places of beauty to visit, such as the Sindou Peak, Karfiguéla Waterfalls, and Lake Tengrela, to enjoy numerous beautiful views/quadrants and adventures. You may find that Burkina Faso is about originality for you as well. You will get a thoughtful and authentic West Africa experience that does not involve chain hotels and venues and that is quite original.
Do Indian Citizens Need a Visa?
In fact, Indian Nationals do need a visa to enter Burkina Faso. An Indian passport holder may obtain a Burkina Faso visa for Indian through the embassy/consulate, and sometimes through an online application for short visits.
It is also useful to know where/and how to apply for your visa, because Burkina Faso does not have embassies in every country, and there is a requirement for the applicant to have sufficient time to apply for the visa before it can be stamped into your passport, so the sooner the better!
Types of Burkina Faso Visa for Indian Travelers
- Tourist Visa
- Business Visa
- Transit Visa
- Long-Stay or Work Visa
Stepwise procedure for application of Burkina Faso visa for Indian
1. Where to apply:
- Indian passport holders must apply for Burkina Faso directly at their embassy in New Delhi or use a regulated visa facilitation agency (OneVasco).
2. Required documents:
Prior to travellers lodging their application, they should ensure they have the following documentation ready:
- A Valid Indian Passport (6 months’ Validity) .
- Visa application is completed.
- 2 recent passport size photographs.
- Travel itinerary confirmation: flights.
- Accommodation – hotel booking or letter of invitation in Burkina Faso, its verry important.
- Yellow fever vaccination Certificate (yellow fever vaccination is required).
- Proof of funds (bank statement).
- Evidence relating to visa fee payment.
3. Submission and form of application
You can either submit your application directly at the embassy or through an authorized agency. If you apply online (if allowed), you must apply through government portals / offices only.
The turnaround time is typically 5 – 10 business days for processing; however you should note that it is best to submit 2 – 3 weeks prior to departure.
4. Picking-up the visa
Once your application has been processed and approved, the visa will be attached to your passport. It is also best practice to check entry type (single-entry vs. multiple-entry) and dates of validity before leaving the embassy.
Visa Fees and Validity for Visa Applications
Visa application fees can range quite a bit with some application types (for example, tourist, multiple entry, transit etc.) and the visa validity. For example:
- Tourist visa (single entry): USD 70-100
- Multiple entry visa: USD 130-150
- Transit visa: USD 30-50
Also note that visa fees will change from time to time so make sure you check in with your embassy or visa facilitation service provider for the correct fees.
Burkina Faso Travel Guide for Indian Travellers
- Language: French is the official language of Burkina Faso. Learning some basic words or phrases will be good.
- Currency: The currency is the West African CFA franc (XOF). Currency exchanges are best done at banks or authorized money changers.
- Health: Yellow fever vaccination is mandatory. Malaria prophylactics and general travel health supplies are also recommended.
- Dress: The dress styles are generally understated; modest dress is respected, ostensibly in rural communities and religious shopping experiences.
- Safety: There are travel advisories, but most places considered to be regular spots for tourists are largely safe and are regarded as disqualified travel destinations. Kindly confirm with the Indian Ministry of External Affairs’ Safety Update before planning any travel to these destinations.
What you must see!
- Ouaga: For the artistic community, craft industries, and music, this is what this place is now famous for.
- Bobo- Dioulasso: This is such a nice city for traditional architecture, markets, and established music.
- The Sindou Peaks: a mountainous area perfect for doing some hiking and for some great photography excursions.
- Karfiguéla Waterfalls: a very good site for a natural experience.
- Lake Tengrela: This is such a good place for chilling and seeing hippos.
- The Bazoulé Sacred Crocodile Pond is: cultural and spiritual site, just outside of the capital.
Recommended Actions
While it is not necessary, it is best to take out travel insurance and make sure that any policy you take out covers health emergencies, theft, and delays in getting to your final destination. Any time it is always possible to keep hard and soft copy records of your travel documents, visa, and contact information.
Conclusion
If you’ve been to Africa before and prefer a new experience rather than re-visiting one you liked, then Burkina Faso is likely to give you a memorable trip for the Indian traveler willing to go off the beaten track and experience the alternative that is Africa. As an underappreciated destination, it is worth much more than the potential benefits for the Indian traveler – there is a little more work in obtaining a Burkina Faso visa for Indian travelers, however, the application process is quite easy and simple as long as you plan!
If you don’t know what the application steps are or need general document advice, you could go to an organization like OneVasco, which can assist and help you, and find it to be barrier-free, and test your traveling possibilities.
Going to Burkina Faso does not just mean a trip, but a journey into the heart of West Africa! Now that you have your glorious visa in your hand, you are now on the edge of experiencing a prize destination rich in rhythm, colour, and culture.
