Destinations / Burundi
Driving in Burundi as a visitor
Often required, depending on where your licence was issued. Burundi drives on the right; an IDP is recommended with your home licence for its hilly roads and busy capital.
Reviewed July 2026 · A translation of your own licence, carried with it. Not a government permit.
What Burundi 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 | 117 (police) |
| 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 BIF. |
Rules that catch visitors out
| Roads | Hilly, winding rural roads. |
|---|---|
| Alcohol | 0.08% alcohol limit. |
| Documents | Carry passport, IDP and home licence. |
On the road in Burundi
At the pump
Fuel supply is unreliable and periodic shortages with long queues occur, especially outside Bujumbura, so fill up whenever possible and carry spare fuel for remote travel. Pay in Burundian francs cash; card acceptance at pumps is minimal.
After a crash
Drive on the right; after a crash stop, do not move the vehicles, and report to the police (emergency lines around 117/112) and obtain a report for insurance, which is compulsory third-party. Stay alert at the scene, as crowds can form and tensions rise quickly.
Sources: internationaldriversassociation.com · adcidl.com · curiousexpeditions.org · internationaltravelpermits.com
Common questions
Do you need an International Driving Permit in Burundi?
Often required, depending on where your licence was issued. Burundi drives on the right; an IDP is recommended with your home licence for its hilly roads and busy capital.
Which translation format is used for Burundi?
Burundi 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 Burundi ask for a translation?
Bujumbura desks request an IDP for non-French licences.
How fast can Vialy prepare one for Burundi?
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.