Destinations / Burkina Faso
Driving in Burkina Faso as a visitor
Often required, depending on where your licence was issued. Burkina Faso drives on the right; an IDP is recommended with your national licence, and mopeds fill the streets of Ouagadougou.
Reviewed July 2026 · A translation of your own licence, carried with it. Not a government permit.
What Burkina Faso expects
| Driving document | Depends on licence issuer, script and rental policy |
|---|---|
| Convention format | 1949 Geneva |
| Valid for | 1 year |
| Drives on the | Right |
| Emergency number | 17 (police), 112 from mobiles |
| Top speed limit | 90 km/h highways |
What the rental desk will ask you for
| Your own licence | The original card. A photo of it, or a photocopy, gets turned away. |
|---|---|
| Licence translation | Check the desk policy for your issuing country and licence script. A translation accompanies the licence and never replaces an official permit. |
| Booklet format they know | 1949 Geneva |
| Minimum age | 18. Under 25 usually pays a young-driver surcharge. |
| Deposit | A credit card in the driver's name. The hold is taken in XOF. |
Rules that catch visitors out
| Local practice | Dense moped traffic in cities. |
|---|---|
| Alcohol | 0.08% alcohol limit. |
| Documents | Carry passport, IDP and home licence. |
On the road in Burkina Faso
At the pump
Petrol (essence) and diesel (gasoil) are available at branded stations in Ouagadougou and Bobo-Dioulasso, where major cards are often accepted, but in rural areas stations are sparse and fuel may be sold informally in bottles. Keep the tank above half and carry CFA-franc cash.
After a crash
Stop, do not move the vehicles, and contact the police/gendarmerie (police 17, fire/rescue 18) and obtain an official report for any claim. In injury cases wait for authorities; given the wider security situation, avoid lingering at remote crash scenes after dark.
Sources: internationaltravelpermits.com · idaservice.org · tyremap.com · internationaldriversassociation.com
Common questions
Do you need an International Driving Permit in Burkina Faso?
Often required, depending on where your licence was issued. Burkina Faso drives on the right; an IDP is recommended with your national licence, and mopeds fill the streets of Ouagadougou.
Which translation format is used for Burkina Faso?
Burkina Faso uses the 1949 Geneva convention format. A Vialy translation is prepared in that format but is not a government-issued permit.
Will a rental desk in Burkina Faso ask for a translation?
Desks request an IDP for non-French licences.
How fast can Vialy prepare one for Burkina Faso?
The exact delivery moment is quoted before you pay, 30 minutes as standard and 5 with Express.
Also in Africa
Driving on to another country on the same trip? Each page states what that destination expects.