Burkina Faso, though beset with many challenges - landlocked and prone to droughts and floods, has a long history of cultural achievements. Today, they have a very active artistic community and its people regularly host several major cultural events:
The International Art and Craft Fair
The PanAfrican Festival of Film and Television
The International Festival of Masks and Arts
While e-commerce is still developing in Burkina Faso - hampered by infrastructure and legal issues, internet penetration has grown to over 30% of the population. In spite of challenges and limitations, e-commerce continues experiencing double-digit annual growth, which shows that the Burkinabé are eager to trade and grow their economy.
Shipping Rates
Easily compare the best and cheapest shipping options to Burkina Faso
through a variety of carriers using Secureship
Secureship provides safe and affordable shipping from Canada to Burkina Faso. In case you are an everyday shopper or a business,
you can easily save up to 50% on your international shipping costs by way of accessing our group buying power.
Shipments through Secureship come with full, easy to read tracking
information to Burkina Faso
Disclaimer
While we have made every effort to ensure that the information on this
page is accurate, Customs laws and procedures change regularly so it is
important to consult a licensed broker in Burkina Faso before shipping any
goods.
Tracking #:780123123123
Tel: 1-800-463-3339
Signed By: Pikwalia @ Residence
Feb 21, 2026
8:49 am
Banfora, BA, BF
Delivered
Feb 20, 2026
7:18 am
Koudougou, KU, BF
In transit
Feb 19, 2026
9:03 pm
Bobo-Dioulasso, BD, BF
International Clearance
Feb 19, 2026
8:14 am
Ouagadougou, OU, BF
In transit
Feb 19, 2026
12:17 am
Toronto, ON, CA
In transit
Feb 18, 2026
4:30 pm
Ottawa, ON, CA
Pickup Scan
Types of Shipments
Not all types of shipments are created equal. Shipping a television will
require different paperwork, duties, and taxes than shipping an accounting
statement, for example.
Here is a list of the most common types of shipments:
All gifts entering Burkina Faso will incur duty and VAT regardless of
the value of the shipment.
Shipments from Individual-to-Individual
A gift shipment from an individual in Canada to an individual in
Burkina Faso will be liable to duty and VAT charges. There is no
threshold value below which no duty or taxes are incurred.
Shipments from Business-to-Business
Shipments of gifts from a business in Canada to a business in Burkina
Faso will have duty and VAT charges applied to them no matter the
value of the gift.
Shipments from Business-to-Individual
A gift shipment from a business in Canada to an individual in Burkina
Faso will incur VAT and duty fees even if the gift's value is
negligible.
Gift Checklist
A commercial invoice must be included with your shipment
The words 'Gift Shipment' or 'Unsolicited Gift' are included on the
commercial invoice, even if the shipment is sent at Christmas time (see sample)
List the items in the parcel and write the value of each
Sending more than one gift in the parcel? Wrap and tag each one
individually.
Sample Commercial Invoice for Gifts
Ship To
Invoice
Yvonne Yennenga Av. de la Résistance du 17 mai Ouagadougou Burkina Faso
Phone: +226 77 40 9768
Carrier tracking number: 736534736 General Description: Personal Shipment / Gift Shipment
Invoice number:
123456MGEP4916926
Customs Broker: UPS Date: 28 May 2023
QTY
Description of Goods
C/O
SubTotal
1 Each
Gift Shipment: LEGO Star Wars Rebel UWing Fighter, 659 piece set
CA
$79.99
Terms of Sale: None Total number of packages: 1 Reason for export:Gifts Contact Name: James Smith
Total Invoice Amount: $79.99 Total Weight: 10.0 lbs
Declaration Statement: I hereby certify that information provided
is true and complete to the best of my knowledge
Multiple Gifts in One Shipment
Gift shipments to Burkina Faso will be charged duty charges and VAT
when they enter the country no matter the value of the parcel.
Also, in the case of multiple gifts in a shipment, you should wrap and
tag the gifts separately.
Sample Commercial Invoice for Gifts
Ship To
Invoice
Yvonne Yennenga Av. de la Résistance du 17 mai Ouagadougou Burkina Faso
Phone: +226 77 40 9768
Carrier tracking number: 736534736 General Description: Unsolicited Gift: Consolidated Gift Package
Invoice number:
123456MGEP4916926
Customs Broker: UPS Date: 28 May 2023
QTY
Description of Goods
C/O
SubTotal
1 Each
Gift - Roger: LEGO Star Wars Rebel UWing Fighter, 659 piece set
CA
$39.99
1 Each
Gift - Erica: Handwoven French Canadian Catalogne Blanket
CA
$49.99
Terms of Sale: None Total number of packages: 1 Reason for export:Gifts Contact Name: James Smith
Total Invoice Amount: $89.98 Total Weight: 10.0 lbs
Declaration Statement: I hereby certify that information provided
is true and complete to the best of my knowledge
Burkina Faso citizens who are returning to the country with their
personal effects may ship them exempt from duty and taxes provided
they have been outside of the country no longer than 1 year.
Moving Temporarily
Students
There is no information at this time regarding students moving to
Burkina Faso with their personal effects in order to study.
Non-students
Non-students who are moving temporarily to Burkina Faso may ship their
personal effects exempt from duty and taxes though a deposit to cover
those fees will be imposed.
Other conditions that must abided by are:
Items may stay in Burkina Faso for a maximum of 1 year
The shipment cannot include prohibited goods
Moving Permanently
Burkinese citizens may return to Burkina Faso with their exported
personal effects exempt from duties and taxes if they have been
outside of the country for 12 months or less.
Personal Effects Checklist
A commercial invoice must be included with your shipment
Commercial invoice must clearly indicate 'Personal Effects' (see sample)
Sample Commercial Invoice for Promotional Material
Ship To
Invoice
Yvonne Yennenga Av. de la Résistance du 17 mai Ouagadougou Burkina Faso
Phone: +226 77 40 9768
Carrier tracking number: 736534736 General Description: Promotional Material - Not for Resale
Invoice number:
123456MGEP4916926
Customs Broker: UPS Date: 28 May 2023
QTY
Description of Goods
C/O
SubTotal
1 Each
Promotional Material: Not for Resale. Product pamphlets to hand out at trade show.
CA
$163.00
Terms of Sale: None Total number of packages: 1 Reason for export:Promotional Material Contact Name: James Smith
Total Invoice Amount: $163.00 Total Weight: 10.0 lbs
Declaration Statement: I hereby certify that information provided
is true and complete to the best of my knowledge
Repairs
Equipment for repair may enter Burkina Faso as a temporary import.
Goods may stay in the country for a maximum of 1 year though an
extension may be granted by customs authorities.
Items Under Warranty
Equipment and items under warranty that are repaired in Burkina Faso
and returned to Canada will be exempt from GST.
Items No Longer Under Warranty
An item no longer under warranty that is shipped to Burkina Faso for
repair will incur GST on the value of the repair and on any parts
required for the repair.
Sending Product for Repair to Burkina Faso
Burkina Faso allows entry to goods for repair under temporary import
rules. Equipment must be re-exported within 1 year of its entry to the
country. (This can be extended by customs under unique circumstances.)
Returning Repaired Product to Burkina Faso
Products repaired in Canada that are no longer under warranty will be
charged GST on the value of any parts used to effect the repair and on
the cost of the repair itself.
Repair Checklist
Commercial invoice must clearly indicate 'REPAIR & RETURN' under the General
Description or Remarks, and include the estimated time of return(see sample)
Include repair contract with shipment
Serial or product number and the cost of repairs should be indicated under
the Detailed Description of Goods section
Include the original shipping documents or tracking number from when the
item was first exported to Burkina Faso or exported to Canada (depending on
which case applies)
A commercial invoice must be included with your shipment
Yvonne Yennenga Av. de la Résistance du 17 mai Ouagadougou Burkina Faso
Phone: +226 77 40 9768
Carrier tracking number: 736534736 General Description: Repair and Return - Watch being sent for repair
Invoice number:
123456MGEP4916926
Customs Broker: UPS Date: 28 May 2023
QTY
Description of Goods
C/O
SubTotal
1 Each
Fossil Watch being sent for repair - Model E5, serial # 789456FG7E2 - Repair Cost $76.00
US
$163.00
Terms of Sale: None Total number of packages: 1 Reason for export:Warranty Repair Contact Name: James Smith
Total Invoice Amount: $163.00 Total Weight: 10.0 lbs
Declaration Statement: I hereby certify that information provided
is true and complete to the best of my knowledge
Temporary Imports
Goods imported temporarily into Burkina Faso may do so exempt from
duty and taxes provided they stay in the country no longer than 1
year.
Items that typically qualify as a temporary import include:
Goods to be tested or experimented upon
Equipment required for research purposes or mining activities
Those used for charitable causes or emergency situations
ATA Carnets
Burkina Faso does not recognise ATA Carnets for temporary imports.
Temporary Imports Checklist
Commercial Invoice clearly stating 'Temporary Import'. This must be written
in the General Description section and the Detailed Description of Goods. (see sample)
The goods arrive and leave in the same condition, i.e. they undergo no
repairs nor are they used in manufacturing
Stay no longer than the period listed above
Include your ATA Carnet with your shipment (if applicable)
Include the expected return date or the date that it was originally received
within the country (whichever applies)
Any above listed items not listed in this checklist
Yvonne Yennenga Av. de la Résistance du 17 mai Ouagadougou Burkina Faso
Phone: +226 77 40 9768
Carrier tracking number: 736534736 General Description: Temporary Imports - Trade show booth and display equipment returning Jan 2027
Invoice number:
123456MGEP4916926
Customs Broker: UPS Date: 28 May 2023
QTY
Description of Goods
C/O
SubTotal
1 box
Temporary Imports - Trade show booth and display equipment
CA
$1032.00
Terms of Sale: None Total number of packages: 1 Reason for export:Temporary Imports Contact Name: James Smith
Total Invoice Amount: $1032.00 Total Weight: 10.0 lbs
Declaration Statement: I hereby certify that information provided
is true and complete to the best of my knowledge
Permanent/Sold Goods
Burkina Faso imposes duty and taxes on all imports of sold goods
regardless of their value. This includes those who are occasional
shippers.
Occasional Shipper
Even if you only ship sold goods occasionally to Burkina Faso, be
aware that all shipments will incur duty and taxes (there is no
threshold on these types of imports).
Regular shipper
If you regularly ship sold goods to Burkina Faso, you may require a
trader's card (CPC), so we recommend that you consult a licenced
Burkinese customs broker to assist you with the required paperwork.
Sample Commercial Invoice for Permanent/Sold Goods
Ship To
Invoice
Yvonne Yennenga Av. de la Résistance du 17 mai Ouagadougou Burkina Faso
Phone: +226 77 40 9768
Carrier tracking number: 736534736 General Description: Permanent/Sold: Parts and accessories for Canon B78n camera
Invoice number:
123456MGEP4916926
Customs Broker: UPS Date: 28 May 2023
QTY
Description of Goods
C/O
SubTotal
15 Each
Camera Lenses: Canon EF 50mm, Canon EF 85mm & wide-angle lenses.
CA
$132.00
Terms of Sale: None Total number of packages: 1 Reason for export:Permanent/Sold Contact Name: James Smith
Total Invoice Amount: $1980.00 Total Weight: 10.0 lbs
Declaration Statement: I hereby certify that information provided
is true and complete to the best of my knowledge
Required Documents
Shipping packages internationally requires a lot of documentation. This
process alone can be confusing and time-consuming. So we’ve narrowed
down what documents you might need and ranked them based on likeliness of
being needed.
Document Type
When?
Details
Shipping Label / Bill of Lading
Always required
This is a label provided by the carrier (UPS, FedEx, DHL, etc.).
Always required because the carrier needs to know the parcel's
destination.
Commercial Invoice
Required for all non-document shipments
For all non-document shipments, you will require 3 copies of the
commercial invoice (to be included with your shipping labels). These
are for customs purposes and need to be included inside a document
pouch outside of the box.
When creating a shipment through the Secureship website, the
system will help you create this document automatically.
B13a
Required if value exceeds $2,000 per shipment or is a controlled
good
A B13a is required if your shipment exceeds $2000 CAD or is a
controlled good and is destined to a country other than the US, Puerto Rico, or the US
Virgin Islands
Canada has a preferential trade agreement with Burkina Faso. A COO
proves that an item has been produced, manufactured or processed in
Canada.
When an item with a COO is imported into Burkina Faso, it will
incur a reduced or zero-rated import duty.
Certificate of Insurance (COI)
Infrequently required
Shows that the shipment has been insured.
Banks may request a certificate of insurance when providing letters
of credit for the goods. Otherwise, it is generally your choice
whether to purchase insurance for the shipment.
ATA Carnet
Infrequently required
Used to avoid duties and taxes on shipments of temporary nature.
If you ship goods of temporary nature to and from a country, you
can obtain an ATA Carnet to expedite the customs clearance process
and ensure that anything of temporary nature is not charged duties
and taxes.
No specific form required, but generally includes information regarding:
The exporter, importer and transport company
Date of issue
Number of freight invoice
Type and number of packages
Contents of each package
Marks and numbers
Net weight, gross weight and measurements of each package
Prohibited & Restricted Imports
Goods deemed prohibited may not enter Burkina Faso whereas those
declared restricted may enter but will either require authorisation to
enter the country or have quantity limits.
Prohibited Items
Alcoholic beverages
Psychotropic drugs
Medicines (including samples)
Fireworks and sparklers
Firearms and ammunition
E-cigarette liquid (UPS cannot clear)
Restricted Items
Foodstuffs
Medications for use by veterinarians
Instruments and machines used to
measure and weigh
Duty and taxes on imports into Burkina Faso are calculated using the CIF
method, i.e. the sum of the customs value plus insurance costs plus
freight expenses.
CIF Value = Customs Value + Insurance Amount + Freight Costs
By calculating the CIF value of your shipment, you will be able to
predict the duty and taxes owed by the recipient.
Thresholds
There is no threshold on imports entering Burkina Faso. Also known as
a de minimis value, this means that all imports, regardless of value,
will incur duty and taxes.
Currency
West African CFA Franc
Duty Exemption (De minimis Value)
N/A
Duty Calculation Method
CIF
TAX (VAT)
18%
Tax Exemption (De minimis Value)
N/A
Tax Calculation Method
CIF
Duties on Imports
Excise Taxes
The government of Burkina Faso imposes excise taxes on the following
products:
You can purchase insurance
through Secureship, and it is provided by the carrier that will be transporting
your shipment.
Each carrier will charge a different amount per $100 of declared
insurance. If you indicate that you need insurance for your shipment, our
system will automatically include the insurance costs for your shipment.
Insurance is great to have in case your package is accidentally lost or
damaged by the carrier. But be careful, not everything you ship is
insurable. Worse - even if your package contains items that are insurable,
if it doesn't meet the ISTA 3A packaging standard, the insurance purchased
through the carrier would not be available to you.
Here are some items that cannot be insured by the carrier:
Personal belongings
Antiques
Artwork
Liquids (including alcohol)
Televisions
Jewellery in excess of $500
Perishable goods
Glass or Ceramic
And many more items
For more information, please see the carrier's terms and conditions.
Shipping to Burkina Faso from Canada can take between 3-5 business days
through the fastest carriers available on the Secureship platform. More
economical services, such as Canada Post, can take up to 1-2
months to complete the delivery.
