Togo Travel Guide

Browse the Togo Photo Gallery

Passports and Visas

All travelers require a valid passport. A seven-day visa is available on arrival for all travelers; passports of non-Schengen countries will be confiscated, to be collected with the visa at the local police station the following day. An entry visa is required after the initial seven-day period, which is valid for 90 days. Visitors from non-Schengen countries are required to have three passport photos, and all require yellow fever vaccination certificates. Proof of a return or onward ticket is necessary, otherwise a refundable deposit to the amount of the normal return airfare must be paid to a bank or the transporting airline. Visitors must also hold all documentation for next destination if continuing from Togo. It is highly recommended that passports have at least six months validity remaining after your intended date of departure from your travel destination. Immigration officials often apply different rules to those stated by travel agents and official sources.

Americans

US nationals require a visa and a passport.

UK Nationals

UK nationals require a visa and a valid passport.

Canadians

Canadians require a visa and a valid passport.

Australians

Australians require a visa and a valid passport.

South Africans

South Africans require a visa and a valid passport.

Irish Nationals

Irish nationals require a visa and a valid passport.

New Zealanders

New Zealand nationals require a visa and a valid passport.

Healthcare

A yellow fever vaccination certificate is required for all visitors to Togo over the age of one year. Malaria is prevalent countrywide and insect protection, as well as a prophylactic that has not shown signs of being resisted in the area, are essential. Insect protection is also essential against other insect-borne diseases, like dengue fever. Hepatitis A, polio and typhoid vaccinations are recommended. Cholera is fairly common, though travelers are at low risk. Bilharzia is present, and it is best to avoid swimming in fresh water. African trypanosomiasis (sleeping sickness ),meningococcal disease and rabies can also occur.

N1 avian flu is present, and travelers are advised to avoid contact with poultry. It is recommended that travelers be up-to-date on all routine immunizations. Tap water is to be avoided, unless boiled, filtered or disinfected with chemicals and it is safest to drink bottled water. Avoid drinks with ice. Milk is unpasteurized and should be boiled; any diary product made from milk should be avoided. Food must be well cooked, and all fruit and vegetables should be peeled or cooked. Medical facilities are poor, and health insurance is recommended, as is a supply of basic medication (e.g. for travelers diarrhoea, headaches etc).

Safety

There has been relative calm in Togo since the Presidential elections in April 2005, but civil unrest can occur at any time and some westerners (particularly expatriates) have been the targets of attacks by demonstrators. The threat from terrorism is low. Pick pocketing, theft and carjackings are common in Lomé, especially on the seafront. It is best to travel in groups, especially at night, and the area near the Hotel Sarakawa should be avoided. Attacks have also occurred during the day. Roads can be hazardous and some taxis poorly maintained, so care should be taken. Border entry and exit points can be open and closed without warning, and roadblocks (official and unofficial) can occur, even in city centers. Vehicles, as well as passport/identity documents can be subject to checks by military and police. The ocean currents along the coast can be very strong and there is some risk of drowning.