Chad Travel Information

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