Relocating to Burkina Faso with a dog is a serious undertaking, and if you're feeling the weight of it, that's completely normal. We've all been there. The linchpin of the whole move is the entry rules, and one of them hinges on getting an official endorsement exactly right. Here's what I wish someone had told me: the certificate details trip up more relocations than the flights ever do, so start there and breathe easier.

Bringing a pet to Burkina Faso requires three documents in the right order: a microchip, a rabies vaccine within the destination's wait window, and a government-endorsed health certificate. The table below lays out exactly what's required, what's not, and where each rule comes from.

How Burkina Faso handles your pet

Each fact comes straight from the operator’s published policy. Tap the to read the exact wording; the opens the source page.

Health & documents

Microchip · Required Yesverified 2026-10-10
Quarantine · Required Noverified 2026-10-10
Rabies titer test (FAVN) · Required Noverified 2026-10-10
Import permit · Required Yesverified 2026-10-10
Import permit · Lead time14 daysverified 2026-10-10
Health certificate · Issuerveterinarianverified 2026-10-10
Health certificate · Required Yesverified 2026-10-10
Health certificate · Endorsed byofficial_veterinarianverified 2026-10-10
Health certificate · Validity days30 daysverified 2026-10-10
Health certificate · Government endorsed Yesverified 2026-10-10
Other vaccinations · Distemper Noverified 2026-10-10
Other vaccinations · Adenovirus Noverified 2026-10-10
Other vaccinations · Parvovirus Noverified 2026-10-10
Other vaccinations · Leptospirosis Noverified 2026-10-10
Rabies vaccination · Required Yesverified 2026-10-10
Rabies vaccination · Waiting period after vaccination21 daysverified 2026-10-10
Tapeworm treatment · Required Noverified 2026-10-10

Other rules

Pets accepted Acceptedverified 2026-10-10

Timing chain

Day -90 microchip implant · Day -21 rabies vaccine deadline · Day -30 health certificate issued · Day 0 arrive at customs

Burkina Faso requires the health certificate to carry a government endorsement. A USDA-accredited veterinarian can issue and electronically sign the certificate through VEHCS, the Veterinary Export Health system. For an APHIS Veterinary Medical Officer endorsement, an original ink signature is required, so route the paperwork accordingly. Confirm which endorsement path applies before booking the veterinary appointment.
The endorsement step is where calm relocations and stressful ones split apart, so give it the runway it deserves. Sort the certificate path first, confirm the signature format, then build the rest of your timeline around it. Cooper has taught me that the paperwork, not the packing, decides how a move feels. Let Pawgo build a personalized plan around your dog and your dates so every document lands endorsed, in order, and on time.
Get YOUR personalized plan for Burkina Faso →

Glossary

ISO chip
ISO 11784/11785 — the universal microchip standard.
FAVN
Fluorescent Antibody Virus Neutralization — a rabies serology test required by rabies-free destinations.
Brachycephalic
Snub-nosed breeds (French Bulldogs, Pugs, Persians, Himalayans) with restricted airline acceptance due to heat-stress risk.
AVIH
Animal Vehicle In Hold — IATA's term for cargo pet shipment, with fees that vary by carrier and route.