Burundi travel advice
A summary of the UK government’s (FCDO) travel advice for Burundi, last updated by the FCDO on 21 May 2026. The full advice on GOV.UK is the authoritative version.
FCDO status
FCDO advises against all travel to parts of the country
Latest FCDO update (21 May 2026): Addition of information about a declaration of an Ebola outbreak in DRC on 15 May (‘Health page’).
FCDO notice
Burundi-DRC border
Armed group activity and conflict along the border between Burundi and DRC has increased. Be cautious and keep up to date with developments through local media, given heightened insecurity.
Armed group activity and the movement of military and refugees in Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) could affect people on the Burundian side of the border, in Bujumbura Province. The security situation in DRC near to Burundi’s border is unstable (see Democratic Republic of the Congo’s travel advice for more information).
The only international airport in Burundi is the Melchior Ndadaye International Airport. In the event that flights were not available at the airport, there are currently limited land border options to exit Burundi. The DRC border area is unstable and the Rwandan border is closed. The Tanzania-Burundi border continues to operate normally, although transport options may be limited by the ongoing fuel shortages.
Warnings (from the FCDO, word for word)
Your travel insurance could be invalidated if you travel against advice from the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO).
Areas where FCDO advises against travel
Parts of Bujumbura Province
FCDO advises against all travel to Mugina, Cibitoke, Bukinyayana, Bubanza and Mpanda communes due to the risk of the presence of a rebel group in the Kibira National Park and possible armed incursions from the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC).
FCDO advises against all travel to parts of Ntahangwa commune, specifically the RN5 road north of Melchior Ndadaye International Airport in Bujumbura towards Cibitoke and west of the Rusizi river towards the border with DRC, including Rusizi National Park (also known as Rusizi Delta Nature Reserve). This is due to possible armed incursions from DRC.
Parts of Butanyerera Province
FCDO advises against all travel on the main RN6 and RN10 roads running west from Kayanza through the Kibira National Park towards Cibitoke, due to the risk of the presence of a rebel group and possible armed incursions from DRC.
Find out more about why FCDO advises against travel.
Passport validity
To enter Burundi, your passport must have an ‘expiry date’ at least 6 months after the date you arrive and have one blank page.
Check with your travel provider that your passport and other travel documents meet requirements. Renew your passport if you need to.
You will be denied entry if you do not have a valid travel document or try to use a passport that has been reported lost or stolen.
From FCDO: entry requirements. Written for British passport holders.
Recent FCDO updates
- 21 May 2026: Addition of information about a declaration of an Ebola outbreak in DRC on 15 May (‘Health page’).
- 28 April 2026: Updated information that the only international airport in Burundi is the Melchior Ndadaye International Airport ('Warnings and insurance' page).
- 30 March 2026: FCDO no longer advises against all but essential travel to the city of Bujumbura and parts of Bujumbura province. FCDO continues to advise against all travel to other parts of Burundi (‘Warnings and insurance’ page). Changes to Burundi’s provincial structure added.
Plan your trip
This page shows the FCDO’s headline status and quotes its text word for word; we don’t reword safety advice. It refreshes automatically, so it can lag GOV.UK by up to a day. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Source: FCDO foreign travel advice on GOV.UK. FCDO advice is written for British nationals; other nationalities should also check their own government’s advice.