Visa for France from Burkina Faso: price, documents and processing time 2026

Yes. Burkinabè passport holders must obtain a Schengen Type C visa before travelling to France. It allows a tourist stay of up to 90 days within any 180-day window. This visa cannot be obtained on arrival and must be approved while you are still in Burkina Faso.

The published fee is the government charge alone. Two or three other lines are added before the visa is in the passport, and they are what makes the final bill.

• Government fee90 EUR

  Schengen scale: €90 for an adult, €45 for a child aged 6 to 11, free below 6. Some facilitation agreements set a lower rate, the consulate confirms which applies to you.

• Application centre feeCapped at €45

  The Visa Code caps an external provider’s service fee at half the visa fee. It is charged on top, and it is not refunded either.

• Agency or online serviceOptional, added on top

  Never compulsory. An intermediary fills the form for you, it does not change the decision or the processing time.

• ExtrasVariable

  Courier return, SMS tracking, compliant photo, insurance, sworn translation or legalisation, depending on what the post requires.

We only display amounts published by an official source. Confirm the total before paying anything.

Prepare a valid passport, two recent photos, hotel and return-flight bookings, bank statements proving sufficient funds, and travel medical insurance covering at least €30,000 in the Schengen area. The visa fee is usually €90 for an adult, plus VFS service charges. Keep copies of the whole file.

Start by creating your file on the France-Visas portal (france-visas.gouv.fr), which generates your application form. You then book an appointment at the VFS Global centre in Ouagadougou to submit documents and give biometrics. If your trip covers several Schengen countries, apply for the French visa only when France is your main destination (the most nights) or your first port of entry.

• Your application goes to the state that is your main destination. If France is where you spend the longest, it handles the file, whatever the entry point.
• With no main destination, the competent state is the one you enter first.
• If France has no consulate in Burkina Faso, another Schengen state may act on its behalf under a representation arrangement, or the file goes to the post accredited for your country.

Then the application goes to the post accredited for Burkina Faso, often in a neighbouring capital, or to a state acting on its behalf. Confirm which post is competent with the official source before travelling to a third country to apply, a rejected file at the wrong counter costs the trip and the fee.

The regime follows your nationality, not where you live. If you reside in Burkina Faso but travel on another country's passport, the rule on this page is not yours. Filing usually still happens from your country of residence, at the post competent for it, but the requirement itself comes from your passport.

A decision normally takes 15 to 45 days, so apply several weeks ahead, but no earlier than six months before departure. Ouagadougou appointment slots can fill quickly in peak season. Mind your vaccination record: a yellow-fever certificate is often required to travel from Burkina Faso, so check the requirements that apply.

The most common mistake is applying to the wrong Schengen state, always target your main destination. Inadequate insurance, weak proof of funds or an incomplete file frequently cause refusals. Because fees and timelines change, always confirm the official details on france-visas.gouv.fr before you apply.