The Burkina Faso eVisa payment gateway settles in EUR or XOF (CFA francs). The standard tourist eVisa costs €51 (~£43.80) via the government portal, while express processing costs €160 (~£137), roughly 3× the standard fee. Third-party agencies charge up to £400.50 for the same document. The gateway accepts Visa and Mastercard credit and debit cards; American Express, UnionPay, Discover, and PayPal are not supported. The XOF is pegged to the euro at a fixed rate of 1 EUR = 655.957 XOF, making EUR and XOF amounts interchangeable for conversion.
Your UK card issuer converts the charge at its own rate and may add a 0 to 3% non-sterling transaction fee. To avoid hidden costs, always pay in the gateway settlement currency (EUR or XOF) and decline any Dynamic Currency Conversion (DCC) offer to charge in GBP, which adds a 3 to 7% markup. Use a card with no foreign transaction fees and set a travel notification with your bank to prevent fraud-alert declines on West African merchant codes.
Rates as of September 2026; currency figures sourced from the European Central Bank reference rate. This article is for informational purposes only and is not a government publication. Always verify details on applicant.visaburkina.bf before payment.
Burkina Faso eVisa Fees and How to Pay Online
Fees: standard single-entry tourist eVisa €51 (~£43.80, 3 to 5 business days processing, 90 days maximum stay); express single-entry €160 (~£137), a 3× premium. The Burkina Faso eVisa payment gateway charges only the government fee, with no agency markup.
| Category | Fee (EUR) | Fee (GBP, approx.) | Processing Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Standard single-entry (3 months, 90 days max stay) | €51 | ~£43.80 | 3-5 business days |
| Express single-entry | €160 | ~£137 | Faster |
| VisaHQ agency (single entry) | N/A | £400.50 | 3-5 business days |
The VisaHQ total of £400.50 breaks down as £322.50 embassy fee + £65.00 service fee + £13.00 VAT (20%). Apply at applicant.visaburkina.bf. Before reaching the payment step, you must upload: a passport scan, a front-facing photo on white background (no glasses), accommodation proof with your name, and a health insurance certificate covering the stay.
Application
Submit Documents
Payment
Approval
Accepted Card Types and Securing Your Transaction
| Card Network | Type | Accepted? | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Visa | Credit / Debit | Yes | Primary network; reliable |
| Mastercard | Credit / Debit | Yes | Primary network; reliable |
| American Express | Credit | Not confirmed | Carry a backup Visa or Mastercard |
| Discover / UnionPay | Credit | No | Transaction likely declined |
| PayPal | N/A | No | Card-only; no PayPal option |
| Mobile money | N/A | No | Orange Money / Moov Money not supported on the portal |
The Burkina Faso eVisa payment gateway requires 3-D Secure (Strong Customer Authentication) at checkout: a one-time code is sent via SMS or your banking app, so keep your phone and app open to prevent session timeouts. UK banks often decline transactions to West African merchant category codes (MCC). To prevent this: set a travel notification beforehand, call your bank’s international desk, and carry a backup card from a different network (e.g., one Visa, one Mastercard). Before entering card details, confirm the page address begins with applicant.visaburkina.bf and that a padlock icon indicates active SSL encryption.
Currency Conversion: CFA, EUR, and GBP Rates
The Burkina Faso eVisa payment gateway settles in EUR or XOF. The CFA franc is pegged to the euro at a fixed rate of 1 EUR = 655.957 XOF, so EUR and XOF charges are interchangeable for conversion. UK card issuers convert the charge at their own rate and add a 0 to 3% non-sterling transaction fee. At September 2026 rates, €51 converts to approximately £43.80 or $55.50. Currency rates sourced from the European Central Bank reference rate; confirm before payment.
| Currency | Visa Fee | GBP Equivalent (2026) | With 2.9% Bank FX Fee |
|---|---|---|---|
| EUR | €51 | ~£43.80 | ~£45.07 |
| USD | $55.50 | ~£43.80 | varies by issuer |
Always pay in EUR or XOF on the Burkina Faso eVisa payment gateway. If offered a “pay in GBP” option (Dynamic Currency Conversion), decline it. DCC adds a 3 to 7% markup over your card network’s exchange rate without adding any service.
Complete Cost Breakdown and Payment Recovery
Government fee: €51 (~£43.80), settled in EUR/XOF. Adding a typical 2.9% UK bank foreign transaction fee gives ~£45.07. VisaHQ charges £400.50 (embassy fee £322.50 + service fee £65.00 + VAT £13.00). Recovery steps below apply if the payment fails or no confirmation arrives.
- €51 government base fee (standard single-entry): settled in EUR/XOF; card issuer converts at its own rate.
- 0 to 3% bank FX fee: non-sterling transaction fee added on top of the converted amount.
- DCC risk (3 to 7%): decline any “pay in GBP” prompt; the rate is worse than your card network’s.
- VisaHQ total: £400.50: £322.50 embassy + £65.00 service + £13.00 VAT (20%), versus ~£45-£47 via the government portal.
- Non-refundable: government eVisa fees are generally non-refundable if denied; VisaHQ’s £65 service fee is also non-refundable.
If the Burkina Faso eVisa payment gateway deducts funds but no confirmation arrives:
Check your spam/junk folder
Note the transaction reference number
Contact portal support
Phone (+226) 76 40 06 46, phone (+226) 68 15 50 07, or email [email protected]
Dispute with your bank
As a last resort
Burkina Faso eVisa Payment Gateway: FAQ
Can I use a Visa debit card for the Burkina Faso eVisa?
Yes. Visa and Mastercard debit and credit cards are accepted on the Burkina Faso eVisa payment gateway. Prepaid and virtual cards with a Visa logo are likely accepted. Keep a backup card from a different network (e.g., Mastercard if you use Visa) in case 3-D Secure declines the primary card.
Is there a service fee on the Burkina Faso eVisa payment?
The government portal charges €51 for standard processing (3 to 5 business days) or €160 for express, with no additional service fee. VisaHQ adds £65.00 service fee plus £13.00 VAT (20%), totalling £400.50. UK banks may also apply a 0 to 3% non-sterling transaction fee.
How to avoid currency conversion fees on the Burkina Faso eVisa?
Select EUR or XOF as the payment currency and decline the “pay in GBP” DCC option, which adds a 3 to 7% markup. Use a UK card with zero foreign transaction fees. The CFA franc is pegged at 1 EUR = 655.957 XOF, so EUR and XOF are interchangeable for conversion.
Why was my Burkina Faso eVisa card payment declined?
UK banks routinely flag transactions to West African merchant codes as suspicious and may block the payment. Set a travel notification before applying, keep your banking app open for 3-D Secure authentication, and have a backup card from a different network ready. Contact your bank’s international desk if the block persists.
Does the Burkina Faso eVisa accept Amex or UnionPay?
Only Visa and Mastercard credit and debit cards are confirmed as accepted on the Burkina Faso eVisa payment gateway. American Express, UnionPay, and Discover are not reliably supported. PayPal is not accepted. Use a Visa or Mastercard alternative to avoid a failed transaction.
What is the difference between the eVisa fee and processing fee in Burkina Faso?
The government eVisa fee is €51 for standard single-entry (3 to 5 business days) and €160 for express, a 3× premium. VisaHQ charges £322.50 embassy fee + £65.00 service fee + £13.00 VAT = £400.50 total. The government portal has no separate processing fee beyond the visa fee.
How much is the Burkina Faso eVisa in GBP after all fees?
Standard: ~£45.07 total (€51 + 2.9% UK bank FX fee). Express: ~£137 (€160). VisaHQ: £400.50 including all agency markups. At September 2026 rates, €51 ~ £43.80 before bank fees.
What to do if the Burkina Faso eVisa payment gateway is not working?
Check your spam folder for a confirmation. Note your transaction reference number. Contact portal support at phone (+226) 76 40 06 46 or (+226) 68 15 50 07, or email [email protected]. If the payment was deducted without confirmation, request a bank chargeback as a last resort.
