Burundi flag

Burundi — Complete Emigration Guide 2026

12,332,788 people · Capital: Gitega · Eastern Africa

Updated H2 2026 · Compiled from official government sources, re-checked on a rolling basis

Safety
37/100 (limited)
Cost of Living
€268/mo
Healthcare
11/100 (limited)
Career
31/100 (limited)
English Level
very_low
Visa Pathways
12

Overview

Population
12,332,788
Capital
Gitega
Currency
BIF Fr
Language
French, Kirundi
Timezone
UTC+02:00
GDP per Capita
$219
Unemployment
0.9%

Burundi is located in Eastern Africa, with a population of 12,332,788. Its currency is the Burundian franc. Our database tracks 12 visa pathways for Burundi, each linked to a named source.

See also: Burundi country profile

Compiled from official government sources, re-checked on a rolling basis. See our methodology and data sources.

Visa Pathways (12)

Study (2)

ProgrammeMin IncomeFeeDurationProcessing
Visa d'études EAC€1,04612 mo
Visa d'études RDC€1,046/mo€1,04612 mo

Free Movement (2)

ProgrammeMin IncomeFeeDurationProcessing
Visa d'entrée CEPGL€436
Visa d'entrée EAC€1,0466 mo

General Residence (2)

ProgrammeMin IncomeFeeDurationProcessing
Visa d'établissement ordinaire€1,04699 mo
Visa de séjour€1,046/mo€1,046

Permanent Settlement (1)

ProgrammeMin IncomeFeeDurationProcessing
Visa de résident permanent€87/mo€1,04630d

Diplomatic & Official (2)

ProgrammeMin IncomeFeeDurationProcessing
Courtesy Visa€1,04624 mo
Diplomatic Visa€43636 mo

Tourism & Short Stay (2)

ProgrammeMin IncomeFeeDurationProcessing
Visa d'entrée multiple€1,0461 mo
Visa d'entrée simple

Transit (1)

ProgrammeMin IncomeFeeDurationProcessing
Visa de transit
Get Your Free Verdict →

Cost of Living

ItemBurundiW. Europe AvgDiff
Rent (1BR)€180€1,200-85%
Rent (3BR)€320€2,000-84%
Groceries€45€350-87%
Transport€8€80-90%
Utilities€35€150-77%
Dining (meal)€4€15-73%
Baseline monthly cost (1BR rent + groceries + transport + utilities)
€268/mo

Salary & Employment

Average Salary
€43
EUR/month gross
Minimum Wage
€1
EUR/month gross
Unemployment
0.9%
SectorMedian (gross, €/yr)
Construction€2,500
Education€2,000
Engineering€5,000
Finance€5,000
Healthcare€3,000
Hospitality€1,500
IT€6,500
Retail€1,500

Shortage Occupations

  • Healthcare Workers (Healthcare)
  • Engineers (Engineering)
W
Send money to Burundi
Wise — real exchange rate, low fees
Open account

Tax

Tax System
Progressive
Top Income Rate
20%
Effective Rate @€90k
7.5%
VAT
18%
Net Monthly @€90k
€6,167

Healthcare

Healthcare Index
11/100
System Type
universal public
Spending per Capita
$28
Life Expectancy
63.8 years
Emergency Number
112
S
Health insurance for Burundi
SafetyWing — from $45/mo, covers 190+ countries
Get covered

Education

Total Universities
15
UniversityQS RankEnglish ProgsTuition (Intl)
University of Burundi12€1,200
Université du Lac Tanganyika8€1,500
Institut d'Études Diplomatiques et Internationales15€2,000
Université Catholique de Bujumbura10€1,800
Institut Supérieur de Commerce14€1,600

Practical Info

Banking

Wise: No   N26: No
Access difficulty: medium

Driving

Drives on: right

Phone & Internet

Operators: Lumitel
Internet: 6.1 Mbps

Credentials

Recognition: Not_recognized

Quality of Life

Safety
37
Climate
tropical
21°C summer / 21°C winter
English Proficiency
very_low
Score: 35/100
Expat Satisfaction
4.2/10
N
Secure your internet in Burundi
NordVPN — access home content from anywhere
Get VPN

Official sources

The visa data on this page is compiled from official government sources — 11 of the 11 pathways link directly to the government page they were verified against, and 4 financial requirements below carry the exact quote from the official source. Values that fail verification are removed, not guessed — see the live verification freshness index.

Verified requirements — exact official citations

Each figure below was verified verbatim against the official page linked, on the date shown.

Visa d'études EAC · 1 verified requirement

Savings / proof of funds: “Visa detudes EAC Documents exiges: Pour les etudiants ressortissants des pays membres de lEAC Carte detudiant ou autre document Photocopie du passeport Photocopie du visa en cours ou cachet dentree Photo passeport” migration.gov.bi, 2026-07-06

Visa de séjour · 1 verified requirement

Requirement: “CGM official price list: visa de sejour (3-month tier) capped at USD 210. Converted at 1.143747 USD/EUR = 183.60 EUR.” migration.gov.bi, 2026-07-08

Visa d'entrée multiple · 1 verified requirement

Requirement: “CGM official price list: multiple-entry visa (1-month tier) = USD 90. Converted at 1.143747 USD/EUR = 78.68 EUR.” migration.gov.bi, 2026-07-08

Visa d'études RDC · 1 verified requirement

Savings / proof of funds: “Visa detudes RDC Documents exiges: Pour les etudiants ressortissants de la RDC Carte detudiant ou autre document Photocopie du passeport Photocopie du visa en cours ou cachet dentree Photo passeport” migration.gov.bi, 2026-07-06

Frequently Asked Questions

How many visa pathways does Burundi have?

Our database tracks 12 visa pathways for Burundi across 7 categories, the largest being Tourism & Short Stay, General Residence, Free Movement. Each entry links directly to an official government source.

What is the minimum income for the Visa de séjour?

The Visa de séjour lists a minimum income of EUR 1,046 per month, according to the official source (last checked 2026-06-23).

What is the average salary in Burundi?

The average gross salary in Burundi is EUR 43 per month. The statutory minimum wage is EUR 1 per month.

How much does rent cost in Burundi?

A one-bedroom apartment in Burundi averages EUR 180 per month, and a three-bedroom apartment averages EUR 320 per month.

What is the top income tax rate in Burundi?

The top personal income tax rate in Burundi is 20%. The standard VAT rate is 18%.

Start Preparing for Burundi

Wise
International transfers at real exchange rate. Open a multi-currency account before you move.
SafetyWing
Travel medical insurance from $45/month. Covers you in Burundi and worldwide.
Airalo
Get an eSIM for Burundi before landing. Instant data, no roaming charges.
NordVPN
Access home banking and streaming from Burundi. Protect your data abroad.

Check Your Eligibility for Burundi

Find out if Burundi is Eligible — or Almost eligible — based on your income, savings, profession, and family situation.

Get Your Free Verdict → Find a Lawyer →
Free · 2 minutes · No signup required

Still shortlisting? See our data-driven ranking of the best countries to move to in 2026 — Top 10 overall plus picks for digital nomads, retirees, skilled workers, families, and low-cost living.

Affiliate disclosure: This page contains affiliate links (e.g. Wise, SafetyWing, Airalo, NordVPN). If you sign up through them we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. This never affects our Eligible / Almost verdicts or rankings — see our full disclosure.

More on emigrating to Burundi