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COVID-19 Information
Last updated: 12/17/20
Country-Specific Information:
- The situation in Burundi with regard to COVID-19 has remained relatively stable throughout the pandemic as compared with other countries in the region. Social distancing and masks are encouraged but not enforced by law and large gatherings can be seen particularly with family, religious and cultural events. There was no national lock down and it has been businesses as normal in many areas of society. For example, soccer matches have continued, as have large-scale group exercises, parties, weddings, and other activities. Burundians have stopped hugging and shaking hands to some extent, and many public venues have handwashing stations installed. Overall, stores have continued to be fairly well-stocked, with the exception of imported fresh produce, which was affected slightly due to the interruption of commercial flights, while locally grown produce remains largely available. Public schools have remained open as well. Melchior Ndadaye International airport reopened on November 8, 2020.
Entry and Exit Requirements:
- Are U.S. citizens permitted to enter? Yes
- Is a negative COVID-19 test (PCR and/or serology) required for entry? Yes
- Are health screening procedures in place at airports and other ports of entry? Yes
- Visas can be renewed at the Bureau des Migrations, which is the Burundi immigration office.
Movement Restrictions:
- Is a curfew in place? No
- Are there restrictions on intercity or interstate travel? No
Quarantine Information:
- Are U.S. citizens required to quarantine? Yes, until they receive a negative COVID-19 test result.
- The Ministry of Health expanded prevention measures related to COVID-19 for all travelers arriving to Burundi. Measures are regularly updated and subject to change without notice. All passengers arriving at Bujumbura’s Melchior Ndadaye’s international airport will be transported to designated hotels approved by the Government of Burundi. Travelers must make hotel reservations at Government of Burundi approved quarantine hotel before arriving. Upon arrival, travelers will be tested at the airport for COVID-19 and will transit, either in a Government of Burundi shuttle or a shuttle provided by their hotel, to an approved hotel for quarantine. The cost of a COVID-19 test is $100.00. Passengers who test negative for COVID-19 will normally be released. Note: If a single positive case is found amongst the passengers on a same aircraft, then all passengers will be required to undergo a second control test, generally after three days. Passengers who test positive may be taken to a treatment center or remain in their hotel to quarantine for a period of 14 days or more and required to have two negative COVID results before being released from quarantine. These measures and the timeline may vary, due to limitations of resources. The Government of Burundi announced that quarantined individuals would also be responsible for the hotel costs of the quarantine. It is advisable, when planning travel to Burundi, to take into account the possibility of additional expenses and lengthy delays due to quarantine procedures.
COVID-19 Testing:
- U.S. Citizens are required to have a negative PCR test to depart the country. The cost of the test is 10,000 bif and is carried out at one of the Ministry Health testing centers. There is no cost for a test carried out while in country in case of suspected COVID-19 infection.
Transportation Options:
- Are commercial flights operating? Yes
- Is public transportation operating? Yes
- There are no COVID related rules in place regarding public transport.
Fines for Non-Compliance:
- There are no legal obligations to distance or wear a mask. While the government advises about prevention measures there are no legal penalties.
Consular Operations:
- The consular section is only processing emergency American Citizen services at this time.
- Visa services are only available for official travel or when determined to be in U.S. national interest.
Local Resources:
- More information can be found on the Burundi Ministry of Health website.
- On April 1, 2020 the Ministry of Public Health published a press release calling on the public to follow preventative measures, recommending self-quarantine if you have been in contact with a positive case, yet do not show any symptoms of COVID-19 and to call the toll-free number 117 or consult the nearest health facility, should symptoms appear.
Other Links:
- COVID-19 crisis page on travel.state.gov
- CDC page on COVID-19
- Burundi Country Information and Travel Advisory
Assistance:
- U.S. Embassy Bujumbura, Burundi
+257 22 20 70 00
BujumburaC@state.gov - U.S. Embassy Bujumbura, along with at least one other embassy in Burundi, is considering creating special repatriation flights for its citizens. The Embassy will utilize the STEP to distribute more information about these flights. If you are interested in repatriating to the United States via a special flight, please follow the instructions here.
- If you are a U.S. citizen or national traveling abroad who would like to receive important information from the embassy about safety conditions in Burundi to help you make informed decisions about your travel plans, to help U.S. Embassy Bujumbura contact you in an emergency, and to help family and friends get in touch with you in an emergency, please enroll in Check the Alerts and Messages for U.S. Citizens portion of our webpage for past communications from STEP.
