VISA REQUIREMENTS & GENERAL INFORMATION YOU SHOULD BE AWARE OF BEFORE VISITING CHAD

Chad is best known for Lake Chad, the largest body of water in the Sahara, the lake provides water to more than 30 million people living in the four countries surrounding it and fluctuates in size due to its shallow waters.

Lake Chad is a freshwater lake located in the interior basin in the Sahelian zone of West-central Africa, many centuries ago it used to be occupied by a much larger ancient sea sometimes called the Mega Chad.

Chad is home to the Tibesti mountain range, in the far north, in the domain of the Toubou people, this place features a large number of canyons, massive gravels, enormous peaks and forested spots.

You can go hiking, mountaineering and camel race-viewing here or enjoy the hot springs or examine a variety of parietal art. In the same Tebesti mountain range lies Emi Koussi, a shield volcano that is 3 445 m tall, making it the rooftop of the Sahara.

In the east of Chad lies the Ennedi region, home to some of the most remarkable and unusual rock formations in the world. Prehistoric cave paintings depict the times when primeval caravans trespassed through this region which is a flat trajectory dominated by jagged canyons and stone arches that wind up like natural works of art.

Finally, there is the Zakouma National Park, one of the last central refuges for wildlife in Africa. Animals like antelopes, buffalo, elephant, Kordofan giraffe, hartebeest, leopard, and lion call this park home.

Most travellers who wish to experience all that Chad has to offer will have to apply for a visa, this information piece tells you everything you need to know about visa requirements for visiting Chad.

It is important that you familiarise yourself with these legal requirements of entry before your visit, since in most cases, you will have to obtain a Chad visa prior to your travels.

Visa requirements are governed by the Chad embassy or Diplomatic mission, located in the area that you reside and can be found through visiting the website of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Chad.

Visa requirements are always subject to change without prior notice. Rather check the country’s official website or enquire from a reputable travelling agency or tour operator like MoAfrika Tours what the latest updates or changes to the requirements for a Chad visa application may be.

WHAT IS A VISA?

A visa is issued to international travellers visiting Chad for a short stay on a temporary basis for tourism, business, study or medical reasons. Visas are normally issued for a maximum 30 or 90 days, depending on your country of residence.

A valid visa allows you to enter the country through a port of entry and stay in the country for the period specified in your visa.

Note that you are restricted to the activity or reason stated in your application, for example, if you applied for a visa for a holiday or family visit, you are not allowed to work in the country during your stay.

VISA REQUIREMENTS FOR VISITING CHAD

The Chad tourist visa is issued for short-term purposes – up to 90 days maximum, you will need a passport valid for at least six more months from the date of entry and with at least two blank pages for stamps.

Visitors holding passports from countries that are classified as ‘exempt’ do not need to apply for a visa prior to arriving in Chad. Instead, they are issued with a short-stay visa at the point of entry for a period of time relevant to the status of the visitor’s country.

Chad unfortunately does not support e-visas; therefore, it is necessary to obtain your visa for Chad via the nearest Embassy or Diplomatic Mission. Only those with an Entry Authorisation letter issued by the authorities of Chad before departure can obtain a visa on arrival with the exception of the citizens of Benin.

The time it takes to process a Chad visa is around five working days – possibly more if you do not have a Chad embassy or diplomatic mission in your area.

The validity of a Chad visa can depend on the number of entries it allows and also on which country you are applying from, usually the tourist visa will allow a stay of up to 90 days and is valid for one month.

A transit visa is not required for Chad within 48 hours, if you are in possession of a valid passport, an onward ticket and you do not leave the airports transit area.

COUNTRIES EXEMPTED AND COUNTRIES THAT NEED VISAS

All visitors to Chad except those from the countries listed below, must have a visa to enter Chad. Citizens of the following 14 countries can visit Chad without a visa for up to 90 days

Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Republic of the Congo, Côte d’Ivoire, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, Nigeria, Senegal, Togo and United Arab Emirates.

Citizens of Benin can obtain visa on arrival without Entry Authorisation.

DIFFERENT KINDS OF VISAS

When applying for a Chad visa, you need to know which one to apply for according to your reason for traveling to Chad. There are two types of visas available, the Tourist visa which is reserved for tourist/vacation reasons and the business visa which is reserved for conducting business in Chad.

Both of these visas are issued as single entry or multiple entry which means you can enter Chad once or unlimited times within the validity of your visa.

There is also a transit visa available which needs to be obtained if you are travelling through Chad and you lay-over is longer than 48 hours or you wish to leave the airport in Chad before moving onto your next destination.

The price and validity will depend on how long you wish to stay and from which consulate/diplomatic mission or country you are applying from.

The visa on arrival is only available to those who have an Entry Authorisation letter issued by the authorities of Chad.

HOW AND WHERE TO APPLY FOR VISAS WHEN VISITING CHAD

There is only one way to apply for a Chad visa; you will have to make an appointment at your nearest Chad Embassy or Diplomatic Mission.

From there, depending on which country’s embassy or diplomatic mission you use, you might be required to give biometric scans of your fingerprints or facial features.

This is a quick, discreet and non-intrusive process that captures a facial image with a digital camera and a 10-digit fingerprint scan with a digital finger scanner and is done at the embassy or diplomatic mission.

You will need to complete a Chad visa application form, obtainable from the embassy or diplomatic mission offices.

Gather all the required documents, pay the visa fee and then submit the documents and application at the embassy or diplomatic mission. Some offices require you to submit the documents in person, whereas others also allow submissions through the mail.

DOCUMENTS NEEDED FOR APPLICATION FOR VISA

When you apply for a Chad visa, you need the following documents to support your application:

• Two copies of the application form
• Two passport-size pictures of yourself with your name written on the backs
• Your passport, which must be valid for at least six more months from the date of entry and has at least two blank pages available for stamps and visas
• Two certified photocopies of the personal information page of your passport
• A residence permit or other proof of legal residence if you are not a citizen of the country from which you are applying
• Proof of a return or onward travel ticket
• Proof of accommodation in Chad, such as your hotel booking confirmations
• A Letter of invitation from the hosting company if you are travelling for business purposes
• Proof of payment of the visa fee
• If you apply by mail, a self-addressed and prepaid envelope for the return of your passport and documents.

Note that the exact required documents depend on the purpose of your travel as well as the embassy or consulate in which you apply.

When you arrive in Chad you will need to obtain a registration stamp through the National Police within 72 hours of arrival. Bring two additional passport size photos for registration. Re-register if you are issued a new passport.

COST OF A CHAD VISA

Fees for a Chad visa may vary depending on the consulate or the diplomatic mission and country in which you are applying from. You will have to check what the exact cost is with them first, since it may vary or even change without prior notice.

However, the below is an example of the last known fees charged:

A single entry and transit visa are 70 euro and are valid for 30 days.

A multiple entry visa is 100 euro and is valid for three months.

VACCINES NEEDED WHEN VISITING CHAD

An international yellow fever vaccination certificate is a compulsory requirement for all travellers to Chad. A yellow fever certificate is valid 10 days after the vaccination is administered, hence it is very important to get the vaccination in time before leaving for Chad.

You may be refused entry if you leave it too late and arrive in Chad within the 10-day waiting period.

The CDC and WHO recommend the following vaccinations for Chad: hepatitis A, hepatitis B, typhoid, yellow fever, rabies, meningitis, polio, measles, mumps and rubella (MMR), Tdap (tetanus, diphtheria and pertussis), chickenpox, shingles, pneumonia and influenza

Travelers to Chad should avoid contact with animals like dogs, monkeys, snakes, rodents, birds and bats as it could lead to infections like avian influenza and rabies.

Chad is also known to have outbreaks of Malaria, so it is recommended that you take prescription medicine before, during, and after your trip to prevent malaria.

Your doctor can help you decide which medicine is right for you, and also talk to you about other steps you can take to prevent malaria.  

Insect repellent is your best friend when it comes to avoiding mosquito bites, you can buy insect repellents from the local supermarkets and/or pharmacies and apply to any exposed areas of the skin. Those products, which include DEET, claim to be the most effective, but there are alternatives if you are allergic.

Keep air circulating in your room, mosquitoes aren’t strong flyers (that’s why they are more active during the evening and in the mornings when there is little wind). Using fans is a good way to avoid getting bitten by a mosquito, as it makes it difficult for them to fly near you.

OTHER SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS WHEN VISITING CHAD

VISITING CHAD WITH MINORS

If you are travelling to Chad with a minor, you should take note of the additional documents you will need for each child. This include:

• There must be a completed visa application for each child and certified copy of their birth certificate.
• If the child is only traveling with one parent, a letter of consent or affidavit from the other parent consenting to such travel is required.
• If the child is traveling alone then a letter of consent or affidavit from both parents consenting to such travel is required.

WHAT HAPPENS IF ONE OVERSTAYS ON A VISA IN CHAD

Foreign visitors who overstay on a visa are normally declared ‘undesirable persons’ and may incur a ban from Chad for a period, which prevents them from applying for a visa and re-entering Chad for a prescribed period of time.

You may also be charged a fine for each day that you overstay on your visa. There may even be legal action taken against you, it is highly recommended that you extend your visa well in advance.

Individuals who have been affected by the overstay visa regulations of a country can usually lodge a visa overstay appeal.

ENJOY A SAFE HOLIDAY IN CHAD WITH A REPUTABLE TOUR OPERATOR

MoAfrika Tours is a leading tour operator in South Africa that offers an outstanding selection of tours to Chad. We have a close association with the most reputable tour operators in Chad who make safety a priority.