Burundi - Getting In

Though all of Burundi's entry and exit points are sealed off on any given day, theoretically one can get into Burundi by air, road or lake ferry. Keep in mind the airport in Bujumbura opens and closes like an L.A. rave club. By land from Rwanda, you can get in from Butare as well as Bujumbura. Expect to have your belongings searched on both sides of the border. From the DRC, you can get into Burundi from Bakavu via Uvira. You can also get to Bujumbura from Bakavu via Cyangugu in Rwanda. On Lake Tanganyika, you can get in from Tanzania. (Few travelers stay long in Burundi. Most are in transit between Tanzania and Rwanda.) However, at press time, all land crossings were closed to foreigners.

A passport and a visa are required. Only those travelers who reside in countries where there is no Burundian embassy are eligible for entry stamps, without a visa, at the airport upon arrival. These entry stamps are not a substitute for a visa, which must subsequently be obtained from the immigration service within 24 hours of arrival. Visas cost from US$30 to US$60, depending on the anticipated length of stay. Travelers who have failed to obtain a visa will not be permitted to leave the country. Multiple entry visas valid for three months are available in Burundian embassies abroad for US$11. Evidence of yellow fever immunization must be presented. Also, visitors are required to show proof of vaccination against meningococcal meningitis. Additional information may be obtained from the following:

Embassy of the Republic of Burundi

2233 Wisconsin Avenue, NW, Suite 212

Washington, DC 20007

Tel: (202) 342-2574

Permanent Mission of Burundi to the United Nations in New York

Tel: (212) 687-1180