Traveling to Togo

What to do before you leave, checked against official sources.

Country

Passport

Yes, you need a visa

With a US passport, apply for an e-visa online before you leave: it allows a stay of 90 days.

E-visa on voyage.gouv.tg at least 5 days before arrival. No more visa on arrival.

Our advice: apply one to two weeks before you leave, even if the answer often comes sooner.

Entry and visa

Visa depends on your nationality, no more visa on arrival

Whether you need a visa depends on your nationality. Check with the passport selector above or on the official voyage.gouv.tg portal.
If you need a visa, apply online at voyage.gouv.tg after creating an account. The travel form arrives by email.
The visa on arrival and the express visa have been suspended since April 12, 2024. You can no longer apply for a visa at the last minute.
Processing takes at most 5 business days. The portal recommends applying at least 7 business days before your flight, and no more than 90 days before entry. Fees are not refunded if the application is refused or canceled.
Our advice: apply one to two weeks before you leave, even though the stated processing time is 5 business days at most. A rejected document or a blocked payment can delay everything.
The length of the visa depends on the stay you declare. A 48-hour or 7-day visa can be extended up to one month in Lomé, at the passport and foreigners office of the Direction générale de la documentation nationale.
Your passport must be valid for at least 6 months after your planned return date.
A vaccination card proving yellow fever vaccination is required.

Yellow fever required, malaria everywhere

The yellow fever vaccine is required to enter Togo, from 9 months of age and wherever you are coming from. Get it at least 10 days before you leave, at an approved center.
Reminder: since 2016, a single dose is valid for life for most adults, and so is the certificate (WHO). A second dose is recommended before a new trip if you were vaccinated before age 2, during pregnancy, or if you live with HIV or a weakened immune system. Keep your yellow card (international certificate of vaccination) with your passport, and ask the vaccination center for advice if you are unsure.
Make sure your routine vaccines are up to date. Hepatitis A is recommended. Hepatitis B, meningitis, rabies and typhoid are worth discussing depending on your trip. Cases of meningitis are frequently reported in Togo.
Malaria circulates year-round throughout the country. See a doctor about preventive treatment and protect yourself from mosquitoes.
Any fever during your trip or within 3 months of returning means you should see a doctor without delay.
Drink only sealed bottled, filtered or boiled water, and avoid raw vegetables and cold buffets.
Insurance covering medical costs and repatriation is essential. Your embassy does not pay these costs.

CFA franc, only Visa cards work

The currency is the CFA franc (XOF), issued by the BCEAO and shared by the eight WAEMU (UEMOA) countries.
It is pegged to the euro at a fixed rate: 1 euro = 655.957 CFA francs.
Only cards on the Visa network can be used to withdraw cash or pay. Bring a Visa card.
If someone asks you for money, whether a business contact, a person in distress or a so-called official, do not pay. Online and romance scams are on the rise.

Avoid the north, heightened vigilance elsewhere

According to the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs (France Diplomatie), travel is strongly advised against in the tri-border areas of Burkina Faso, Togo and Benin, and of Burkina Faso, Togo and Ghana, as well as at the Sinkassé and Mandouri border posts.
Travel is advised against except for essential reasons in the whole Savanes region, including Dapaong. The state of emergency there has been extended until March 13, 2027, and foreigners must obtain written permission from the Ministry of the Armed Forces, requested 30 business days in advance.
The rest of the country is under heightened vigilance. In Lomé, avoid walking and riding motorcycles at night, and stay away from the beach and the seafront after sunset: knife attacks have been reported there.
Road accidents are frequent. Avoid traveling by road at night, both between and within towns, and avoid motorcycle taxis (zems). Choose taxis with yellow plates.
Swimming is dangerous because of strong currents. Only a few developed spots, such as the private beaches east of the port of Lomé, are less risky.
Useful numbers: police emergency 117 from a landline and 161 from a mobile, fire department 118, gendarmerie 172.
Also check your own government's travel advice, which may be stricter.
For French travelers: French Embassy, +228 22 23 46 00. Consular section: +33 1 82 88 09 05.

French official, type C/E plugs, GMT

French is the official language.
Type C and E plugs, 230 V and 50 Hz.
Togo is on GMT (UTC+0) all year: one hour behind Paris in winter, two hours in summer.
The country calling code is +228.
An international driving permit is accepted for stays of up to 3 months, as is a French license for French travelers. Buy fuel only at stations of the major chains.
It is forbidden to photograph public and military buildings, as well as soldiers and police officers. Ask people's permission before photographing them, and flying a drone requires authorization.
Drugs are illegal, cannabis included, with sentences of up to 20 years in prison. Wear clothing that covers you and respect local customs.

Dry season from December to February

Togo has two rainy seasons: from late March to July, then from mid-September to late October. Roads quickly become impassable, and a 4x4 is advised on secondary roads.
In Lomé, December, January and February are the least rainy and sunniest months.
It is hot all year in Lomé: about 32 °C during the day in February and March, the hottest months, and about 28 °C in August, the coolest month.
The national holiday is on April 27.

Rules can change without notice: before you leave, always check with the embassy of Togo and your own government's travel advice.