The Burundian government has announced significant increases in the cost of travel documents as part of its proposed 2025–2026 national budget, a move it says is aimed at boosting public development and supporting lower-income citizens. Finance Minister Nestor Ntahontuye presented the budget draft this week before the National Assembly, defending the hikes amid criticism from lawmakers.
Under the proposed changes, the cost of an ordinary passport will rise from BIF 235,000 to BIF 300,000. The price of a laissez-passer will increase from BIF 30,000 to BIF 50,000, while a CEPGL travel card—used for regional travel within the Great Lakes Community—will now cost BIF 30,000, up from BIF 18,000.
“We found that most of the people applying for travel documents are not extremely poor. Often, they are seeking these documents in order to carry out activities that will generate income for their families or businesses, “said Minister Ntahontuye.
The announcement has sparked debate among Members of Parliament (MPs), some of whom have linked the price hikes to the continuing depreciation of the Burundian franc. MP Pascal Gikeke questioned the rationale behind the increases: “What is the reason behind the rise in travel document prices? Is it the weakening of our currency, or is there another justification?”
In response, Minister Ntahontuye emphasized the government’s need to raise revenue for public infrastructure projects, framing the increase as a form of progressive taxation. “The logic behind taxation is that those with higher incomes contribute more to assist those with lower incomes,” he said. “The additional revenue will help fund essential services such as hospitals, roads, and schools.”
He argued that the rise would not overly burden the public. “We concluded that slightly raising the fees would not prevent these people from obtaining the documents, because the increase is not too high—at least that’s how we saw it within the government. This view is also supported by the national finance committee,” he said.
Nightlife Sector Faces Steep Fee Hike
In addition to travel documents, the Finance Ministry proposed new annual licensing fees for nightclubs, which would triple from BIF 5 million to BIF 15 million. However, taxes on other businesses in the hospitality sector—including restaurants, bars, and hotels—will remain unchanged for now.
According to the Ministry, these adjustments are part of a broader plan to balance fair taxation with consumer protection. The new budget, once approved, is set to take effect on July 1, with the government projecting revenue exceeding five billion Burundian francs.
Senate Budget Sparks Further Debate
Another source of contention among lawmakers was the Senate’s unchanged budget allocation. MP Gikeke pointed out that despite the 2023 constitutional reform reducing the number of senators—from a restructuring of provinces and electoral constituencies—the Senate’s budget has seen little reduction.
“Looking at this draft, it’s clear that the number of senators will drop to 13,” he said. “So why has the budget remained nearly the same? I expected a corresponding decrease in funds.”
Minister Ntahontuye responded that while salaries and travel expenses may decrease, most Senate activities and operational costs remain unchanged. He also revealed that additional funds are being allocated for vehicle purchases and end-of-mandate expenses for outgoing senators, which are factored into the current fiscal year’s budget.
“These are one-time costs,” the Minister said, “and we expect to see a significant drop in the Senate’s budget in the following year.”
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