Burkina Faso & Indonesia Consider Visa-Free Agreement for Diplomatic Passport Holders

Following recent discussions about a bilateral visa-free travel policy, holders of diplomatic and service passports from Burkina Faso and Indonesia may soon be able to travel without visas.

In a meeting last weekend, Burkina Faso, the head of diplomatic services, and Tuty Dityawanty, the Indonesian ambassador in Abuja, expressed their desire to continue negotiations and aim for a formal agreement soon. This initiative aligns with Burkina Faso’s broader strategy to diversify its diplomatic partnerships, VisaGuide.World reports.

As of October 2024, citizens of Burkina Faso can travel visa-free to 33 countries, require an eVisa for 15 countries, and must apply for a visa to visit 22 others. The Burkina Faso passport ranks 166th globally on the VisaGuide Passport Index.

On the other hand, Indonesian citizens can travel visa-free to 53 countries, need an eVisa for 30 countries, and must apply for a visa for 22 others. The Indonesian passport holds the 114th position on the same index.

Indonesia Recently Agreed With 3 Countries on Visa-Free Travel for Diplomatic Passport Holders

Recently, Indonesia has also agreed to drop the visa requirement for diplomatic passport holders with certain nations worldwide. As a result, this month, Azerbaijan and Indonesia signed a visa-free agreement for holders of diplomatic passports.

The agreement was formalized during a meeting between Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov and Indonesian Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi at the ongoing 79th session of the United Nations General Assembly.

According to Azerbaijan’s Foreign Ministry, the discussions focused on key areas such as the economy, transport, and tourism.

Additionally, Iraq is another country that Indonesia has reached a mutual visa exemption agreement for diplomatic and service passport holders. The agreement aims to facilitate entry and strengthen diplomatic relations based on reciprocity. The two ministers of these countries also addressed various bilateral and global issues, including cooperation and the situation in Palestine, emphasising the importance of easing travel between their nations.

Similarly comes Nepal, which has agreed to establish a visa-free agreement for holders of diplomatic and official passports with Indonesia. This was signed on September 22 during a meeting in New York between Foreign Ministers Retno Marsudi and Arzu Rana Deuba.

Earlier this month, Indonesia also launched a visa-free travel policy for citizens of 13 countries, including the destinations as follows:

• Brunei Darussalam
• Philippines
• Cambodia
• Laos
• Malaysia
• Myanmar
• Singapore
• Thailand
• Vietnam
• Timor Leste
• Suriname
• Colombia
• Hong Kong

This policy allows these visitors to stay in Indonesia for up to 30 days, although the government may suspend it in specific state security or public health situations.