How to Get Burkina Faso CitizenshipKey facts
- Residence for naturalisation
- 10 years
- Language
- None
- Dual citizenship
- Accepted
- Civic test
- No civic knowledge requirement
- Criminal record
- A criminal record or good character condition applies
- Income condition
- No income condition in the law
- Dual citizenship in detail
- Accepted in both directionsNew citizens do not have to give up their previous citizenship.Citizens who naturalise abroad keep their citizenship.
- Available routes
- Region
- Africa
- Law in force as of
- 1 January 2024
- Last checked
- Not yet checked by our team
The rule text in the sections below was coded for the law on 1 January 2024. A November 2026 search found no later change for this country, but this has not been verified.
Naturalisation (residence)
This route covers foreign residents who seek citizenship after living in Burkina Faso, subject to the conditions below. Authorities retain discretion and may refuse an application even when the conditions are met.
- Residence
- 10 years
Person has been habitually and legally resident in Burkina Faso for 10 years.
- Previous citizenship
- New citizens do not have to give up their previous citizenship
- Language
- No language requirement
- Civic knowledge
- No civic knowledge requirement
- Criminal record
- A criminal record or good character condition applies
Person is of good character, no criminal convictions for more than 1 year in prison.
- Income or economic resources
- No income condition in the law
Marriage or civil partnership
This route covers people married to a citizen of Burkina Faso, subject to the conditions below. The law of Burkina Faso confers citizenship automatically, independent of any administrative decision.
Person is married to a citizen, unless person declares s/he does not wish to acquire citizenship. Government may oppose within 1 year.
Descent (citizen parent)
Descent from a citizen parent is the basis of this route in Burkina Faso. The law of Burkina Faso confers citizenship automatically, independent of any administrative decision.
Descent (born in country)
Person is born in Burkina Faso to a citizen.
Descent (born abroad)
Person is born abroad to a citizen.
Birth in the country
For people born in Burkina Faso, the rules below show when birth there leads to citizenship. The law of Burkina Faso confers citizenship automatically, independent of any administrative decision.
Birth in country (two generations)
Person is born in Burkina Faso to a person who was also born there.
Birth in country (acquisition after birth)
Person is born in Burkina Faso of foreign parents and has been habitually resident there at time of majority for at least 5 years.
Child of a new citizen
For children whose parent becomes a citizen of Burkina Faso, the rules below set out what applies.
Transfer to a child
Person is minor child of a person who acquired citizenship (if person has not already acquired citizenship by collective effect under the rules for child coacquisition).
Child coacquisition
Person is the child of a person who is acquiring citizenship.
Adoption
Adoption by a citizen of Burkina Faso is the basis of this route. Authorities retain discretion and may refuse an application even when the conditions are met.
Person is adopted by a citizen.
Other family members of citizens
For certain relatives of citizens, former citizens or new citizens of Burkina Faso, the rules below set out what applies. Authorities retain discretion and may refuse an application even when the conditions are met.
Person is married to a person who is acquiring citizenship.
Former citizens (reacquisition)
For former citizens of Burkina Faso, the rules below show when citizenship can be reacquired. Authorities retain discretion and may refuse an application even when the conditions are met.
Person is a former citizen. Other conditions: person was not deprived of citizenship or repudiated citizenship, unless there is an exceptional national interest in reacquisition.
Stateless persons
This route covers stateless people and children who would otherwise be stateless, subject to the conditions below. The law of Burkina Faso confers citizenship automatically, independent of any administrative decision.
Foundlings
Person is born in Burkina Faso of unknown parents. Newborn child found in Burkina Faso is presumed born in the country.
Otherwise stateless (born in country)
Person is born in Burkina Faso and cannot claim any other citizenship.
Special achievements
Special achievements, or a national interest in granting citizenship, are the basis of this route in Burkina Faso. Authorities retain discretion and may refuse an application even when the conditions are met.
Person has rendered exceptional services to Burkina Faso or his/her naturalisation presents an exceptional national interest.
Investment
This route concerns people who make a qualifying investment or contribution in Burkina Faso, subject to the conditions below. Authorities retain discretion and may refuse an application even when the conditions are met.
Person is an industrialist or business person, who has important investments or who brings funds, according to the laws in force.
Not available in Burkina Faso: Citizens of specific countries, Ethnic or cultural affinity, Residence during childhood, Very long residence, Refugees, Public or military service. This follows the GLOBALCIT coding, with in-force changes applied.
Dual citizenship
Dual citizenship is accepted in Burkina Faso for new citizens and for citizens who naturalise abroad.
- New citizens
- New citizens do not have to give up their previous citizenship
- Citizens who naturalise abroad
- Citizens who naturalise abroad keep their citizenship
Compare with neighbours
Under the law of Burkina Faso, 10 years applies, exceeding the usual 5 years found across Western Africa.
Check where Burkina Faso sits in the full residence ranking
| Country | Residence | Language | Dual citizenship |
|---|---|---|---|
 Benin | 5 years | Assimilation only | Accepted |
 Cabo Verde | 5 years | None | Accepted |
 Guinea-Bissau | 6 years | Assimilation only | Accepted |
 Mali | 10 years | Assimilation only | Accepted |
 Mauritania | 10 years | Required, no test | Accepted |
 Niger | 10 years | None | Accepted |
Official sources
Official government page: not yet linked.
Naturalisation provisions: Nationality law: Art. 162-165, 170, 177.
Cite this page
TravelDecl. (n.d.). How to Get Burkina Faso Citizenship. Retrieved November 5, 2026, from https://traveldecl.com/citizenship/burkina-faso/
<a href="https://traveldecl.com/citizenship/burkina-faso/">How to Get Burkina Faso Citizenship</a> (TravelDecl, retrieved 5 November 2026)
Sources and licence
Vink, van der Baaren, Bauböck, Džankić, Honohan, Manby (2025). GLOBALCIT Citizenship Law Dataset v3.1. Global Citizenship Observatory, https://hdl.handle.net/1814/73190. CC BY 4.0. Modified by TravelDecl.
Modified by TravelDecl: updated with changes after 1 January 2024.
GLOBALCIT codes the law as written. Fees, processing times, quotas and how officials apply the rules in practice are not in this dataset: check them with the official authority.
FAQ
How many years to become a Burkinabe citizen?
A foreign resident needs 10 years of residence to meet the condition for naturalisation in Burkina Faso. Other conditions also apply.
Does Burkina Faso allow dual citizenship?
Yes. Burkina Faso accepts dual citizenship in both directions, as coded in the data.
Do I need a language test for Burkinabe citizenship?
Applicants are not required to demonstrate language skills under the law of Burkina Faso.
Is there a civic knowledge test for Burkinabe citizenship?
Applicants for Burkinabe citizenship are not asked to demonstrate civic knowledge.
Do I have to give up my current citizenship to get Burkinabe citizenship?
There is no obligation to renounce your current citizenship to get Burkinabe citizenship. The law of your current country may have its own rules on this.
Can I get Burkina Faso citizenship by marriage?
Yes. Marriage to a citizen is a route to citizenship in Burkina Faso. Procedure: automatic.
Can I get Burkina Faso citizenship by descent?
Yes, Burkina Faso has a descent route. Procedure: automatic.
Can I get Burkina Faso citizenship by investment?
Yes, the data codes an investment route for Burkina Faso. Check the current programme terms with the official authority.
Related pages
Also see: Burkina Faso passport, visa-free access and entry rules. Latest law changes.
Corrections to this page are handled by Sarah Kim, Fact-Checker.