Systems compared
Burundi customs and trade systems
Short answer
- Customs body
- Office Burundais des Recettes (OBR) 5
- Customs system
- SYDONIA World (ASYCUDA World), live 11 May 2013 3
- Single window
- ASYCUDA-based module for medicine imports, live July 2021 4
- Online services listed by OBR
- ASYCUDA World, télédéclaration and télépaiement 7
- EAC membership
- Joined July 2007 1
- EAC Customs Union
- Joined 2008, applying its instruments from July 2009 2
- Working OSBP with Tanzania
- Kobero and Kabanga 6
Customs computer system
UNCTAD's ASYCUDA newsletter of June 2013 says Burundi's customs began using an automated system in January 1993. It moved through SYDONIA 2.5 in 1993, SYDONIA 2.7 in 1999 and SYDONIA++ in July 2005 3. In 2010 OBR chose to migrate to SYDONIA World. After a parallel run from 6 to 10 May 2013, SYDONIA World went live on 11 May 2013 in all automated offices and border posts 3.
Burundi told the WTO that OBR uses the latest version of ASYCUDA World for registration and risk-based processing of declarations sent remotely 5.
Single window for trade
The ASYCUDA Compendium 2022 says the ASYCUDA Programme and OBR built a single window module for medical imports. In July 2021 the ASYCUDA Programme, OBR, the medicines regulator ABREMA and the Ministry of Health made it live 4. It replaced a paper process that took two weeks to a month 4.
From July 2021 to May 2022, 3,249 requests were submitted and 2,864 authorised. 71% were processed in under 24 hours 4.
TradeMark Africa says the upgraded Burundi single window covers the Investment Promotion Agency, the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Agriculture. It says Ministry of Health medicine approval times fell from 5 days to under one by the end of 2024 8.
Volumes and revenue
The sources measure revenue in different ways. They are shown side by side.
| Source | Measure | Figures |
|---|---|---|
| ASYCUDA Compendium 2022 4 | Customs annual revenue, million US$ 4 | 191 (2017), 178 (2018), 204 (2019), 237 (2020), 283 (2021) 4 |
| TradeMark Africa 8 | Annual revenue 8 | $240 million (2009), $480 million (2015), $667 million (2024) 8 |
| ASYCUDA Compendium 2022 4 | Declarations in 2021 4 | 52,202 import, 8,693 export, 1,195 transit 4 |
Border posts
The Schedule to the EAC One Stop Border Posts Act, 2016 names five Burundi pairs 6,9.
Regional rules Burundi applies
The EAC says Rwanda and Burundi joined the Customs Union in 2008 and began applying its instruments in July 2009 2. Burundi is on the TRA list of countries whose goods from outside the EAC are treated as direct imports under the Single Customs Territory 10. TradeMark Africa says over 80% of Burundi's international trade passes through the port of Dar es Salaam 8.
Burundi told the WTO it needs help to set up a single window for foreign trade and to build and computerise one stop offices at all goods border crossings. Its definitive date for pre-arrival processing is 31 December 2027 5.
Common questions
Does Burundi use ASYCUDA?
Yes. OBR went live on SYDONIA World, the French version of ASYCUDA World, on 11 May 2013 3.
Does Burundi have an electronic single window?
An ASYCUDA-based single window module for medicine import approvals went live in July 2021 4. Burundi told the WTO it still seeks help for a full single window for foreign trade 5.
Which border posts connect Burundi and Tanzania?
The EAC Act names Mugina and Manyovu and Kobero and Kabanga 9. TRA lists Kobero and Kabanga as a working OSBP 6.
When did Burundi join the EAC?
The EAC says Burundi joined in July 2007 1.
Rules and charges change. Check the official source linked on this page before you pay or travel. Spotted an error? Email [email protected].
Sources
- East African Community: Republic of Burundi (accessed 24 October 2026)
- East African Community: Customs (accessed 24 October 2026)
- UNCTAD: ASYCUDA Newsletter, UNCTAD/WEB/DTL/ASYCUDA/2013/2 (June 2013)
- UNCTAD ASYCUDA Programme: ASYCUDA Compendium 2022, Burundi's Single Window for Trade, Digitizing Medicine Import Approvals (2022)
- WTO Trade Facilitation Agreement Database: Burundi, 7.1 Pre-arrival processing (accessed 24 October 2026)
- Tanzania Revenue Authority: One Stop Border Post (OSBP) (accessed 24 October 2026)
- Office Burundais des Recettes: Accueil, home page (accessed 24 October 2026)
- TradeMark Africa, provider page: Burundi (accessed 24 October 2026)
- East African Legislative Assembly: East African Community One Stop Border Posts Act, 2016 (Gazette of 15 April 2016)
- Tanzania Revenue Authority: Single Customs Territory (SCT) (accessed 24 October 2026)
Related
- Central Corridor: Dar es Salaam to the Great Lakes
The Central Corridor links Dar es Salaam port to Rwanda, Burundi, Uganda, eastern DRC, Malawi and Zambia. Agreement, routes, border posts and volumes.
- Customs management systems compared across East Africa
iCMS in Kenya, TANCIS in Tanzania, ASYCUDA World in Uganda, Rwanda and Burundi, SYDONIA in the DRC. Who runs each system and its status with dates.
- Electronic single windows compared: Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda, Tanzania
Kenya TradeNet, the Uganda Electronic Single Window, the Rwanda Electronic Single Window and Tanzania's TeSWS. Launch dates, operators and agencies.
- One-stop border posts in East Africa
The 15 border pairs named in the EAC One Stop Border Posts Act, how a one-stop crossing works, and dated facts on Rusumo, Namanga, Kobero and Nimule.
- EAC Single Customs Territory (SCT)
How the EAC Single Customs Territory clears goods with one declaration, when it started on each corridor, and what EAC and TRA sources say about it.