Burundi Work Permit and Special Work Authorization in 2026

Burundi's 2022 employment ordinance distinguishes longer employment from short assignments.

For employment lasting more than 90 days, a foreign worker or EAC citizen applies for a work permit. For employment lasting 90 days or less, the ordinance uses a special work authorization.

Filing deadlines

A worker who enters Burundi with a contract longer than 90 days submits the work-permit application within 15 days from entry. If the employment contract is concluded while the person is already in Burundi, the application is submitted within 15 working days from the contract date.

For a contract longer than 90 days, the ordinance also allows a special work authorization to be requested before the full permit is obtained.

Documents

The ordinance lists, depending on resident/non-resident status:

  • completed application form;
  • valid travel document or foreigner identity card;
  • criminal-record evidence;
  • diploma/certificate required for the job;
  • diploma-equivalence evidence where required;
  • two passport photographs;
  • CV;
  • family-composition certificate;
  • employment contract; and
  • any profession-specific document.

Decision periods

The ordinance states that the migration authority issues a work permit within 30 days after application.

A special work authorization is issued within 7 working days after the application, subject to the required opinion.

These are official administrative periods, not promises covering document legalization or professional-equivalence work before filing.

Duration and renewal

The ordinance contains harmonized EAC permit categories. It provides, among other categories, an initial term of up to two years, renewable on request, for foreign workers with particular technical skills and for EAC citizens.

A renewal request should be filed one month before expiry.

Permit validity is also limited by the employment contract and the validity of the travel document/foreigner identity document where applicable.

Job changes

A permit or special authorization can be cancelled when the worker ceases or changes the employment for which it was granted. Work authorization is therefore connected to the approved employment facts.

Investor permanent work permit

The ordinance also provides a permanent work permit for a foreign/EAC investor, or the investor's representative, when investment documents show that presence in Burundi is justified to supervise management of the invested capital.

That is a permanent work authorization concept. It is not automatic permanent residence or citizenship.

See the entrepreneur/investor guide.

Residence is separate

Work authorization does not replace immigration residence documents. Longer residence can also require the establishment visa and applicable secure residence documentation.

Return to the Burundi immigration hub, browse visa types, explore Africa, review our methodology, and read the legal disclaimer.

Official and supporting sources

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