Customs regulations and required documents
Personal effects import regulations
Chad
Customs regulations
Local laws reflect the fact that Chad is a predominantly Muslim country. You should respect local traditions, customs, laws and religions at all times and be aware of your actions to ensure that they do not offend other cultures or religious beliefs, especially during the holy month of Ramadan or if you intend to visit religious areas. See Travelling during Ramadan
Penalties for the use and possession of drugs are severe and usually include a prison sentence. Conditions in local prisons are harsh.
Homosexuality is not widely accepted in central African society. In August 2017 a new law came into force criminalising same-sex sexual activity in Chad, with penalties of imprisonment ranging from 3 months to 2 years and a fine of between 50,000 and 500,000 CFA francs. See our information and advice page for the LGBT community before you travel.
Photographing of military sites, government buildings and airports is prohibited. Other photography needs a government permit.
You should always carry identification (either a residence permit or a certified copy of your passport). Failure to produce ID can lead to detention by the police, or delays should you have to leave the country.
Documents Required
- Copy of passport
- Packing list
- Original bill of lading (OBL) – no express release accepted / air waybill (AWB)
- Original valued inventory in French, dated, and signed by the owner of the goods
- Invoice for all electrical items less than 6 months old
- Resident or work permit or letter from the employer
- BSC (cargo tracking note)
- Non-sale certificate (stating that client will not sell personal effects in Chad)
- Move certificate (Certificat de Demenagement) from City Hall / Police Station
Specific Information
- The non-sale certificate must state that the owner of the goods will not sell his or her personal effects in Chad.
- Resident / work permit / letter of employment
- Non-diplomatic shipments are subject to 2% “Taxe statistique” plus 20% “droits de douane”
- A certificate of free entry may be granted by Customs for diplomatic imports if all documentation requirements are met (diplomats).
- Documents must be provided to agent prior to the arrival of the shipment to obtain duty-free clearance (diplomats).
Dutiable Items
Free import by passengers of 18 years of age or older:
- 400 cigarettes (or cigarillos) or 125 cigars or 500 grams of tobacco (ladies: cigarettes only);
- 3 bottles of wine and 1 bottle of spirits.
Animals being imported into the country will require an additional certificate for prove of vaccination prior to flight.
Prohibited Items
- Obscene material
- Live Animals
- Arms, Ammunition and Explosives
- Illegal Drugs
- Pornographic materials
Miscellaneous (Pets, Motors, and others.)
Motor Vehicles
Documents Required
- Original registration card
- Insurance certificate
- OBL / AWB
- Original purchase invoice
- Non-sale certificate
Specific Information
- Taxes on motor vehicles will depend on age, power, etc. (approximately 61% cost, insurance, freight (CIF)).
- The original bill of lading must show chassis number, engine number, cubic capacity, year of manufacture, brand and model.
- Cars older than 3 years cannot be imported.
Pets
Documents Required
- Certificate of vaccination (must include rabies)
- Health certificate
Specific Information
- The health certificate must show current vaccinations by a veterinarian in country of departure and dated no more than 14 days prior to arrival.
Wild Fauna and Flora:
The import of certain endangered species of plant, live animals and their products is prohibited or restricted under CITES
Baggage Clearance regulations:
Baggage is cleared at N’Djamena (NDJ).
Exempt: baggage of transit passengers with a destination outside of Chad.
Currency Import regulations:
Residents:
Local currency (CFA Franc-XAF) and foreign currencies:
- If coming from a country in the French monetary area: no restrictions
- If coming from other countries: up to the amounts exported.
Non-Residents:
- Local currency: no restrictions.
- Foreign currencies: no restrictions, if declared on arrival.
Non-Residents:
- Local currency: up to XAF 10,000.-.
- Foreign currencies: up to the amounts imported and declared.
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Tourist Tax: is levied on all passengers leaving Chad on international flights:
- For nationals of Chad: XAF 3,000.-.
- For all other nationals: XAF 5,000.-.
Security Tax: XAF 3,000.-. is levied on all passengers leaving Chad.
Place of payment: N’Djamena Airport.
Exempt:
- Transit passengers continuing their journey within 24 hours;
- Students.
- Diplomats.
Crime
The number of reports of car-jackings on roads outside N’Djamena has increased, including during daylight hours. You should use a police or military escort when driving outside the capital, and carry working communications equipment.
Armed robberies, particularly from cars, in some residential areas of N’Djamena are common. Foreigners are sometimes targeted.
Be vigilant and take particular care in the capital. Travel by car and not by foot or motorbike. Keep doors locked and windows closed. Do not carry large sums of money, jewellery, or other valuables. Avoid isolated or less developed areas of towns and do not travel alone at night.
Local travel
There are around 572,000 refugees and returnees in Chad from Sudan, Central African Republic and Nigeria, in the east, south, and Lake (western) regions of Chad respectively. There are also around 236,000 internally displaced people in the Lake region, where military operations have increased resulting in more displacements since March and a state of emergency remains in place.
Chad and Sudan have agreed to enhance the role of the joint border force but banditry and violent crime in eastern Chad still exist. Inter-communal clashes in West Darfur State have led to a new flow of refugees crossing into Chad in late December 2019 and January 2020. The number of Sudanese refugees following this influx is around 363,000.
The border between Chad and Central African Republic remains closed and instability in neighbouring Central African Republic remains concerning. The border with Sudan is subject to closure at little notice.
The area bordering Libya is heavily land-mined. The northern regions of Borkou, Ennedi and Tibesti remain unsafe.
Road travel
Road travel can be dangerous due to the state of the roads and quality of driving. Accidents involving motorbikes are particularly common. Crowds can quickly gather around the scene of an accident and, while rarely violent, can be intimidating. Try to make contact with the police or other local authority immediately if you’re involved in an accident.
For travel outside the capital, you will need authorisation from the Ministry of the Interior, which is normally granted without difficulty after a few days. Roads are poor and often impassable during the rainy season (July-October), especially in the south. Heavy rains can result in major flooding in many areas, particularly in the south and east.
You should travel in convoy, keep doors locked and carry spare fuel and supplies. Police checkpoints are common: you may be asked to show your passport, driving licence and vehicle registration documents. Do not travel by road after dark.
You should avoid using at night the road passing in front of the Presidential Palace in N’Djamena. In 3 separate incidents in March 2019, 2 motorists were killed, and a motorcyclist shot, by Palace guards.
Political situation
You should avoid any demonstrations or large gatherings of people. If you become aware of any nearby protests leave the area immediately. You should keep yourself informed of developments through local media.
Entry to Chad
Airports have re-opened for commercial flights. All passengers from the UK are banned from entering Chad until further notice due to the new COVID-19 variant.All international travellers need to present a negative COVID-19 PCR test certificate dated no more than 72 hours prior to arrival in Chad.
If you enter Chad and are planning to stay for 7 days or more, you will need to surrender your passport, quarantine at home for 7 days and take a COVID-19 test on the seventh day. Passports will be returned upon presentation of the COVID-19 test receipt. If you’re staying in Chad for less than 7 days you will not be need to quarantine.
Regular entry requirements
Visas
British nationals need a visa to visit Chad. To apply for a visa contact the Chadian Embassy in Belgium at 52 Boulevard Lambermont, 1030, Brussels, Telephone: +32 2 215 1975, Fax: +32 2 216 3526, or the Chadian Embassy in France at 65 rue des Belles Feuilles, 75116, Paris, Telephone: +33 (0)1 45 53 36 75, Fax: +33 (0)1 45 53 16 09.
If your visa is valid for longer than a short visit, the immigration officer on arrival will ask you to register at the Commissariat Central (police headquarters) on Avenue General Kerim Nassour (formerly Boulevard de Strasbourg) within 3 days. You will need to provide a passport photograph.
Passport validity
Your passport must be valid for six months from the date of entry into Chad. The Chadian Government has confirmed that it will not penalise those British nationals whose passports have expired while they were unable to leave the country due to coronavirus restrictions.
Yellow fever certificate requirements
