Driving Permit for Burkina Faso

Burkina Faso recognises the International Driving Permit under the 1949 Geneva Convention — the UK government's official country-by-country IDP list names the 1949 permit as the version to carry there. In practice, most visitors should pack both documents: the Canadian government advises that drivers need a valid home licence plus an international driving permit, while the UK's FCDO notes a UK photocard licence is accepted on its own, with the 1949 IDP needed by holders of older paper licences. French is the language of administration, so an IDP's multilingual pages make roadside document checks considerably smoother.

Traffic drives on the right-hand side, as it does across continental West Africa. Self-drive hire is limited — the big international rental brands have little presence, and agencies in Ouagadougou commonly rent vehicles with a driver, an arrangement government advisories tend to favour given local conditions. Wherever you drive, expect document checks: police and military checkpoints are routine, particularly when a state of emergency is in force, so keep your passport, licence, IDP and vehicle papers with you at all times.

Road conditions demand real caution. Even paved roads are often in poor repair, and unpaved routes can become impassable during the June-to-October rainy season. Livestock, pedestrians and streams of mopeds share the roads, street lighting is minimal, and every major advisory repeats the same guidance: avoid driving after dark, stick to main roads, and drive defensively. Security is a serious factor too — several foreign ministries warn against travel to large parts of the country, so check current government advisories before planning any road journey.