Burundi
Warnings and insurance
The Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) provides advice about risks of travel to help British nationals make informed decisions. Find out more about FCDO travel advice.
Areas where FCDO advises against travel
Your travel insurance could be invalidated if you travel against FCDO advice.
Cibitoke and Bubanza provinces
FCDO advises against all travel to Cibitoke and Bubanza provinces, due to the presence of a rebel group in the Kibira National Park and possible armed incursions from the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC).
Kayanza Province
FCDO advises against all travel on the main road running west from Kayanza through the Kibira National Park towards Cibitoke Province, due the presence of a rebel group and possible armed incursions from DRC.
Melchior Ndadaye International Airport to Cibitoke
FCDO advises against all travel on the RN5 road north of Melchior Ndadaye International Airport in Bujumbura towards Cibitoke.
Bujumbura Rural Province
FCDO advises against all travel to areas of Bujumbura Rural Province west of the Rusizi river towards the border with DRC, except for the Rusizi National Park. This is due to possible armed incursions from DRC.
FCDO advises against all but essential travel to the area of Bujumbura Rural above the Isale road.
Rusizi National Park
FCDO advises against all but essential travel to the Rusizi National Park.
Find out more about why FCDO advises against travel.
Flooding near Lake Taganyika
Burundi is experiencing severe flooding and heavy rainfall, especially near Lake Tanganyika. Consular assistance is limited in Burundi.
If you are a British national and need urgent help call +250 252 556 000.
If you’re in the UK and worried about a British person in Burundi, call 020 7008 5000.
Before you travel
No travel can be guaranteed safe. Read all the advice in this guide and any specific travel advice that applies to you:
Follow and contact FCDO travel on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram. You can also sign up to get email notifications when this advice is updated.
Travel insurance
If you choose to travel, research your destinations and get appropriate travel insurance. Insurance should cover your itinerary, planned activities and expenses in an emergency.
Update history
2025-04-04 23:44
Information relating to Rusizi National Park (Warnings and insurance page).
2025-04-04 23:03
Latest update on the Rusizi National Park (Warnings and insurance page)
2025-02-19 16:39
New information on risks associated with the ongoing conflict in eastern DRC (‘Warnings and insurance’ page).
2024-12-13 16:10
Updated information on visa requirements and flooding (‘Entry requirements’ and ‘Safety and security’ pages).
2024-08-14 15:28
New information on health risks (‘Health’ page).
2024-06-07 14:44
Updated assessment that terrorists are likely to try to carry out attacks in Burundi (‘Safety and security’ page).
2024-05-24 12:51
New information on the risk of violence in public spaces in Bujumbura (‘Regional Risks’ page).
2024-05-13 16:49
Information about the risks of violence in public spaces in Burundi (‘Safety and security’ page).
2024-04-19 13:36
Burundi is experiencing severe flooding and heavy rainfall, especially near Lake Tanganyika (‘Warnings and insurance’ page).
2024-01-26 14:32
This travel advice has been rewritten to make it easier to read and understand.
2024-01-12 16:57
Information about the border between Burundi and Rwanda being closed (‘Entry requirements’ page).
2023-09-04 13:52
Information about an attack on Bujumbura International airport (‘Summary’ page).
2023-08-17 09:27
All passengers entering or leaving Burundi via Bujumbura Airport must register online before travelling. See ‘Registration’ section for more details (‘Entry requirements’ page).
2023-07-20 17:02
The FCDO no longer advises against all but essential travel to Ruvubu National Park, the BN2 road from Bujumbura Gitega and large parts of Bujumbura rural. Check current advice for areas where the FCDO still advises against all travel (‘Summary’ page).
2023-06-22 11:35
Information about the global terrorism risks to British nationals abroad on all FCDO travel advice pages.
2023-01-11 12:11
Updated information on COVID-19 entry requirements for Burundi (‘Entry requirements’ page).
2022-08-24 09:55
Updated information on no longer requiring proof of a negative COVID-19 test for arriving passengers, arriving passengers will be tested at Bujumbura airport and are required to show the code from their COVID-19 arrival test booking (‘Entry requirements’ page).
2022-08-09 15:27
Updated information on fuel shortages and Rift Valley Fever (‘Summary’,’Safety and security’ and ‘Health’ pages)
2022-07-25 12:19
The FCDO now advises against all but essential travel to Ruvubu National Park, Rusizi Delta Nature Reserve, Bujumbura rural and the RN2 road from Bujumbura to rural Gitega
2022-02-17 09:55
The FCDO no longer advises against all but essential travel to Burundi based on the current assessment of COVID-19 risks