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Doing business
Doing business in Burkina Faso
The official bodies a foreign company, investor or professional deals with in Burkina Faso – linked to their own websites – plus the treaties that matter for contracts and disputes, and law firms there that list business work.
Key facts
Key facts for business in Burkina Faso
The short answer
We could not confirm the company registry’s website for Burkina Faso. Requirements, fees and timelines change – confirm them with the body concerned and a lawyer admitted in Burkina Faso before you act.
| Legal system | Civil law |
|---|---|
| Official languages | National languages (since the 2023 constitutional revision), French (working language) |
| Currency | West African CFA franc (XOF) |
| Regional blocs | UEMOA (WAEMU), Confederation of Sahel States (AES) |
| OHADA business law | Yes – the OHADA Uniform Acts apply |
| AfCFTA (continental free trade) | Ratified (instrument deposited) |
| New York Convention (arbitral awards) | Party – in force since 1987 |
| ICSID Convention (investment disputes) | Contracting state – in force since 1966 |
| Apostille Convention (public documents) | Not a party – documents usually need legalization |
Treaty status from the official depositary records (UNCITRAL, ICSID, HCCH), regional blocs from their own websites, AfCFTA from tralac – checked October 2026. Not legal advice.
Official bodies
Who does what in Burkina Faso
| What for | Official body | Website |
|---|---|---|
| Central bank, currency and foreign exchange | Banque Centrale des Etats de l'Afrique de l'Ouest (BCEAO) – Central Bank of West African States | bceao.int |
| Work and residence permits | Police Nationale du Burkina Faso – Division de la Migration (Direction de la Sûreté de l'État) – National Police of Burkina Faso, Migration Division | police.gov.bf |
| Courts and justice | Cour de Cassation du Burkina Faso – Court of Cassation of Burkina Faso | cour-cassation.gov.bf |
| Official business procedures portal | Service Public – Portail d'accès aux e-services de l'Administration publique – Burkina Faso government e-services portal | service-public.gov.bf |
We could not confirm an official website for: registering a company, investment promotion, tax. We only link to sites we could open and confirm as the body’s own in October 2026.
Each link was opened and checked as the body’s own website in October 2026. Links to official sites only – never to agents or look-alike sites.
Getting started
What foreign businesses usually sort out first
- Choose how you will operate. A subsidiary, a branch, a representative office, or working through a local partner or distributor. The options and their conditions are set by the OHADA Uniform Act on commercial companies and national rules.
- Register the business. Company registration: the national company registry.
- Register for tax. Tax registration: the national tax administration.
- Check investment rules and incentives. Some sectors have licensing, local-ownership or registration rules, and some investors qualify for incentives. Investment agency: the national investment agency.
- Permits for foreign staff. Work and residence permits: Police Nationale du Burkina Faso – Division de la Migration (Direction de la Sûreté de l'État).
- Banking and foreign exchange. Rules on accounts, moving money in and out and paying dividends abroad come from the central bank (Banque Centrale des Etats de l'Afrique de l'Ouest (BCEAO)) and the banks.
- Contracts and disputes. Agree the governing law, the courts or arbitration seat, and the language. Burkina Faso is a party to the New York Convention, so arbitral awards made in other member states can be recognized there under it.
A general checklist, not legal advice. What applies to you depends on your sector, structure and nationality.
Law firms
Law firms in Burkina Faso for business matters
Cabinet d'Avocats Ali Neya
Ouagadougou
SARI Conseils – Société d'avocats
Ouagadougou
SCPA Kere-Associes
Ouagadougou
SCPA Logos
Ouagadougou
4 firms in Burkina Faso list corporate, tax, employment or other business work on their own websites. See every firm in Burkina Faso.
Checking a lawyer in Burkina Faso
Who admits lawyers: Ordre des Avocats du Burkina Faso (Barreau du Burkina Faso)
Professional title: Avocat
Official roll: barreau.bf
Look the lawyer up in the Bar's published tableau (PDF list of avocats, linked from barreau.bf as 'Voir le tableau').
Sources: barreau.bf. Checked October 2026. Not legal advice.
Questions
Doing business in Burkina Faso: questions
Is Burkina Faso a party to the New York Convention?
Yes – in force since 1987 (UNCITRAL status table, checked October 2026).
Does Burkina Faso accept apostilles?
Burkina Faso is not a party to the Apostille Convention (HCCH status table, checked October 2026), so foreign public documents usually need legalization – typically through the issuing country’s foreign ministry and Burkina Faso’s embassy or consulate. Confirm with the authority that will receive the document.
What currency is used in Burkina Faso?
West African CFA franc (XOF).