Burundi
BDIBurundi is a small, landlocked nation in the Great Lakes region of East Africa, bordered by Rwanda, Tanzania, and the Democratic Republic of Congo. It is one of the world's poorest countries, with an economy heavily reliant on subsistence agriculture and coffee exports. Gitega is the political capital, while Bujumbura remains the economic hub on the shores of Lake Tanganyika.
The Burundian passport provides access to around 46 destinations visa-free or on arrival. The country does not permit dual citizenship and has no citizenship-by-investment programme. Naturalisation requires ten years of lawful residence. Political instability and limited infrastructure make Burundi an uncommon expat or investor destination.
- Naturalisation
- 10 years
- Tax system
- Residence Based
- Currency
- Burundian Franc (BIF)
- Dual citizenship
- Not allowed
- Capital
- Gitega
- Region
- africa
- Population
- 13,238,559
- Cost-of-living
- 28 /100
Passport Rank
#97
Visa-Free
46
destinations
Visa-free travel
A Burundi passport has visa-free access to 46 destinations. See the full Burundi passport breakdown →
Passports that enter Burundi without a prior visa (194)
Visa-free, visa on arrival, or on an eTA.
Community-sourced (passport-index, synced 2026-08-18) — verify with the embassy before travel.
Immigrating to Canada from Burundi
Current IRCC processing times for Burundi nationals, by application type.
| Visitor visa (outside Canada) | 73 days |
| Super visa | 66 days |
| Study permit | 6 weeks |
| Work permit | No processing time available |
| Sponsor a dependent child | No processing time available |
| Adopted child (citizenship) | Not enough data |
| Government-assisted refugees | Not enough data |
| Privately sponsored refugees | sponsor: Not enough data / refugee: Not enough data |
Your application may take longer than the times shown here. They’re not a maximum or a guarantee.
As of 2026-09-22 (IRCC). See all Canada processing times →
Source: Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada — “Check processing times”. This is a copy of the version available at https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/application/check-processing-times.html. Reproduced under the Government of Canada’s non-commercial reproduction terms; not endorsed by or affiliated with IRCC.
Sources & last verified
Government of Canada — non-commercial reproduction (canada.ca Terms and conditions)
Country Details
- Capital
- Gitega
- Currency
- Burundian Franc (BIF)
- Languages
- Kirundi, French, English
- Population
- 13,238,559
- Tax System
- Residence Based
- Dual Citizenship
- Not allowed
- Naturalisation
- 10 years
- Schengen / EU
- No
- Climate
- Tropical highland; two rainy seasons (Feb–May, Sep–Nov)
- GDP per capita
- $234
- Life expectancy
- 63.82 yrs
- Population growth
- 2.41%/yr
GDP per capita, life expectancy, and population growth: World Bank (2025).
Indices
Cost of Living
28
Safety
34
Healthcare
26
Quality of Life
22
Tax Summary
- Tax System
- Residence Based
- Territorial Taxation
- No — worldwide income taxed for residents
- Naturalisation
- 10 years of legal residency
- Dual Citizenship
- Not allowed
Cost of Living by City
← scroll the table →
| City | Rent 1BR centre | Rent outside | Groceries | Utilities | Transit pass |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bujumbura | — | — | — | — | $20 |
| Gitega | — | — | — | — | $12 |
| Ngozi | — | — | — | — | $8 |
Monthly USD figures. Typical central 1-bedroom rent, grocery basket for one, household utilities, monthly transit pass.
Climate
Bujumbura
Rainfall range: 5–130 mm/month · Daylight 11.8h (winter) to 12.5h (summer)
Gitega
Rainfall range: 8–140 mm/month · Daylight 11.8h (winter) to 12.5h (summer)
Ngozi
Rainfall range: 10–150 mm/month · Daylight 11.8h (winter) to 12.5h (summer)
Visa Categories & Immigration Authority
Major Visa Categories
- Tourist
- Business
- Work
- Family
- Student
- Diplomatic
- Authority
- Office National d'Identification (PNI)
- Official Portal
- www.pnibu.bi
Naturalisation Details
- Residence Years
- Language Test
- Yes (level n/a)
- Civic Test
- No
- Oath Required
- No
- Dual Allowed
- No
- Fee
- $200
- Processing
- ~24 months
Safety
GPI Rank
#140
Global Peace Index ranking (lower is safer)
Common Risks
- ⚠Fake currency exchange offering above-market BIF rates
- ⚠Moto-taxi overcharging and detour scams targeting newcomers
- ⚠Charity/NGO impersonation soliciting cash donations
Regulators & official sources
Bodies that regulate immigration advice in Burundi, and the official sources indexed for it by Visa Atlas. Descriptions are verbatim; each links to its source.
Commissariat General des Migrations
CGMOfficial Burundi migration authority for visa, travel-document and foreigner movement services.
Related Guides
Related on The Citizenship Desk
Visa routes
Official visa and residence routes for Burundi, indexed from Visa Atlas. Each links to its government source. This is a licensed external index, distinct from our own curated visa guides.
Residence
EAC Visitor and Student Visa
ResidenceCGM treatment for eligible East African Community nationals visiting or studying in Burundi.
Establishment Visa
ResidenceTwo-year Burundi long-stay establishment visa for foreign residents and dependants.
Permanent Resident Visa
ResidenceBurundi permanent-resident visa for qualifying long-term residents, investors and family cases.
Stay Visa Extension
ResidenceCGM stay visa route for extending a stay in Burundi after entry.
Short-term / business
Airport Entry Visa
Short-term / businessOfficial CGM airport-entry visa application route for arrival by air.
Multiple Entry Visa
Short-term / businessOfficial CGM multiple-entry visa route for travellers who need repeated entry to Burundi.
Transit Visa
Short-term / businessCGM transit visa for foreign travellers passing through Burundi to another country.
Study
Study Visa
StudyCGM study visa route for pupils and students enrolled in Burundi.
Sources & last verified
Route index from Visa Atlas (CC BY 4.0), as of 2026-09-12. Each route links to its official government source.
Sources & last verified
- Last verified