Importing Personal Effects into Burkina Faso: Documents & Customs Rules

Source: FIDI Customs Guide · Updated 2026 · Download the Burkina Faso Import Guide (PDF)

Household Goods/PE

• Information form
• Copy of passport
• Detailed, dated, valued, and signed inventory.
• Signed copy of the Washington Convention form.
• Letter confirming employment in Burkina Faso
• Move certificate from origin country city hall.
• Limitation of liability
• BESC/ECTN
• BL or SWB with mention of the BESC/ECTN number
• Sea freight invoice
• Packing List

• Diplomats:
• Diplomats must apply for diplomatic exemption at the Department of Foreign Affairs in Burkina Faso as soon as the shipment arrives in the country and that customs provide the SOMMIER.
• The client must sign the application form with the details provided by the mover and transfer the application to the MFA or to the employer who will sign it and return it to back to the moving company in charge. This process might take 1 up to 30 days.

• All personal effects imported into Burkina Faso are subject to UEMOA tax: 1.3% of CIF
• value.
• The client must be present in Burkina Faso when the goods arrive in the country (Contact your moving agent for more information).
• Approximate timeframes (for all categories of shippers):
• Sea freight: 7-16 days from Terminal Ouagadougou to residence Ouagadougou
• Air freight: 7 days from Airport Ouagadougou to residence Ouagadougou
• Extra fees estimated:
• The first 10 days are free of charge for sea consignments and 7 days free for air consignment.
• For airfreight, the fees will then be calculated according to the weight.
• For containers, demurrage fees will be CFA 75 000 per day, calculated from the 10th day. Fees are for the client’s account (this also applies to diplomats).
• For containers terminal fees will apply from the 10th day. Fees for the client’s account (this also applies to diplomats).
• (value of inventory + freight + insurance)

Burkina Faso Moving Guide: Documents, Duties & Shipping Notes

Source: IAM Country Guide · Updated 2026-09-05 · Download the Burkina Faso Country Guide (PDF)

Documents

Documents required for importing used household goods, personal effects, and related shipments.

• Copy of passport
• Packing list
• Original bill of lading (OBL) — no express release accepted — or air waybill (AWB)
• Original detailed inventory in French, dated, valued, and signed by the owner
• Residence permit / work permit / letter of employment, or certificate of change of residence
• Electronic Cargo Tracking Note (BESC — Bordereau Electronique de Suivi des Cargaisons)
• For diplomats: diplomatic credentials / exemption documentation

Specific Information

Certificate for free entry: A certificate for free entry must be obtained from the Customs head office (Direction Generale des Douanes) to avoid duty payment. This is a critical administrative step that must be completed before or immediately upon clearance.

Pre-shipment inspection: COTECNA pre-inspection is required for commercial shipments. Personal effects shipments may also be subject to inspection — confirm with the destination agent whether pre-inspection via COTECNA or the Orbus system applies.

Express release not accepted: Only original bills of lading are accepted.

Document language: The inventory must be in French, dated, valued, and signed by the owner.

ECOWAS/WAEMU membership: Burkina Faso is a member of both ECOWAS and WAEMU. The WAEMU Common External Tariff (CET) applies to imports from outside the region. CET categories: 0% for social goods, 5% for raw materials/capital goods, 10% for intermediate goods, 20% for final consumer goods.

Pre-shipment inspection threshold: Per trade.gov, pre-shipment inspection is still required for imports over XOF 1,000,000 (approximately USD 1,565).

Import declaration: Must be obtained via the Orbus electronic system.

Duties & Taxes

UEMOA/WAEMU tax (not waived): An import tax is levied on all non-diplomatic personal effects shipments: 1.5% of declared value for household goods, and 2.5% of declared value for vehicles. This tax applies even to duty-free shipments. Diplomats are exempt.

Combined duty/tax structure for non-exempt imports: Customs duty (0-35%), statistical royalty (1%), VAT (18%), community solidarity tax (1%), CEDEAO community tax (0.5%). Additional excise duties apply to alcohol, tobacco, petroleum products, fragrances, and cosmetics.

Prohibited & Restricted Items

• Narcotics and illegal drugs — Strictly prohibited
• Firearms, explosives, and ammunition without authorisation — Prohibited
• Knives and deadly weapons — Prohibited
• Hazardous materials — Prohibited
• Counterfeit money and goods — Prohibited
• Pornographic material — Prohibited
• Ivory for export — Strictly forbidden

• 200 cigarettes, or 50 cigars, or 50g tobacco
• 1 bottle of wine and 1 bottle of spirits
• 250ml perfume

• Firearms and ammunition PERMIT REQUIRED — Authorisation from the territorial administration required; travellers may import up to 2 shotguns and 50 rounds of ammunition with express safety authority authorisation
• Sugar PERMIT REQUIRED — Special authorisation required
• Pharmaceuticals PERMIT REQUIRED — Special authorisation required
• Arms, ammunition, and uniforms PERMIT REQUIRED — Special authorisation required
• Toxic products PERMIT REQUIRED — Special authorisation required
• Plants and plant products PERMIT REQUIRED — Phytosanitary certificate required
• Meat and meat products PERMIT REQUIRED — Health certificate required
• Endangered species CITES — Protected species permits may be required
• Ivory — Export strictly forbidden

• Alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages: 10-30%
• Tobacco: 17-30%
• Coffee and tea: 10%
• Kola nuts: 10%
• Fragrance and cosmetic products: 10%

Consignment Instructions

Recommended: Contact the destination agent to ensure all requirements have been met prior to import, especially for differences regarding air / sea shipments.

Certificate for free entry: Must be obtained from the Customs head office. Without it, duties will be assessed.

BESC / Electronic Cargo Tracking Note: Required for all shipments. Must be obtained before shipping.

Express release: Not accepted. Original bills of lading required.

Pre-shipment inspection: May be required for shipments above XOF 1,000,000.

Import declaration: Via the Orbus electronic system.

Routing / port of entry: Burkina Faso is landlocked, bordered by Mali, Niger, Benin, Togo, Ghana, and Cote d'Ivoire. The country has no seaport. Sea freight is typically routed through the ports of Abidjan (Cote d'Ivoire), Lome (Togo), or Tema/Takoradi (Ghana) and transported overland. Thomas Sankara International Airport (Ouagadougou) is the main international airport. Bobo-Dioulasso Airport also handles international flights.

Security situation: Burkina Faso has experienced significant security challenges since 2022, including military coups (January and September 2022) and ongoing insurgent activity, particularly in the northern and eastern regions. Many Western governments advise against travel to large parts of the country. Movers should verify the current security situation and any impact on freight routes before accepting shipments.

Currency: West African CFA franc (XOF), pegged to the euro at XOF 655.957 = EUR 1. Burkina Faso is a member of WAEMU and uses the common CFA franc.

Regulatory Updates

• 2022: Military coups in January and September 2022. The military government assumed control of customs and trade administration.
• 2017: Customs Import and Excise Duty updates implemented under the WAEMU framework.
• Ongoing: WAEMU Common External Tariff continues to govern import tariff rates. DGD website provides customs procedures and forms.