Arrival in Chad

Chad has no single national arrival service. Responsibilities are divided among the Direction de l'Immigration et de l'Émigration (DEI), the National Police, the Agence Nationale des Titres Sécurisés (ANATS), local authorities and, for protection cases, CNARR and UNHCR. N'Djamena is the main formal access point, while procedures and available services vary considerably in provinces and border areas. Most foreign nationals need a visa unless they fall under a current exemption. Since 11 May 2026, new visa applications must be submitted online through evisa.td. Visas issued outside the platform after 21 May 2026 are invalid, and manual entry permissions have been discontinued. The online process normally involves the application, form completion, payment and status tracking. Required documents depend on the travel purpose and can include a valid passport, passport photograph, travel or return details, hotel reservation or attestation d'hébergement, a legalized invitation, proof of funds, professional or organizational evidence and an ordre de mission. Visa fees are payable under Arrêté 033/2026, but exact amounts should be checked on the current official platform because they have not been reliably verified; eVisas are non-refundable. The eVisa information advises applying at least seven days before travel and no more than 90 days before entry. A circular dated 4 June 2026 refers to a maximum of 60 days, standard processing within 10 working days and express processing within 72 hours. Because these instructions conflict, confirm the current deadline and processing rule directly with DEI or evisa.td before booking travel. Chad does not generally provide visa on arrival. A passport valid for at least six months is normally expected. Travellers should carry a Yellow Fever International Certificate of Vaccination or Prophylaxis when arriving from a Yellow Fever risk country; evisa.td may require it for verification, and vaccination is recommended for travel south of the Sahara. N'Djamena airport is the preferred entry point in current travel guidance. Immigration officers may check the passport, visa, Yellow Fever certificate, accommodation or invitation evidence, travel details and financial documents. Keep the eVisa both digitally and on paper, together with passport copies and offline contact and accommodation details. Land borders and other border areas can involve different security and administrative conditions. After arrival, foreign visitors may need to register with the National Police or the Commissariat Central. Published guidance is not fully consistent: some instructions refer to registration for stays longer than 72 hours, while others refer to first-time visitors, tourists and humanitarian personnel registering within 72 hours. A passport photograph may be required. Confirm the applicable deadline directly with the immigration authorities or DEI before travelling. Carry your passport during intercity travel. Foreign residents should also carry their Carte de séjour and, where practical, a certified copy. Report a lost passport or residence document immediately to the Police and DEI. A stay exceeding 90 days requires a Carte de séjour or long-stay visa. The application should be made no later than ten days before the 90-day period expires. The Carte de séjour is biometric, normally valid for one year and renewable through ANATS and Immigration. Work, trade and independent professional activity can require additional prior authorizations. Entry permission alone does not establish permission to work or conduct commercial activity. ANATS issues or supports identity and civil-status documents including the Carte d'Identité Nationale, passport, Carte de Résident, driving licence, vehicle registration and civil-status records. The SIGPTS and NNI identity systems cover citizens, refugees, foreign residents and people in transit. ANATS lists 29 one-stop service locations across provinces, but fees, processing times and local availability vary. Because Chad has no general arrival register, reliable identity and residence documents are especially useful for dealing with authorities, opening or using bank services, accessing health care and obtaining a SIM card. Asylum seekers do not follow the ordinary foreign visitor pathway. Reception and registration involve CNARR and UNHCR under the Asylum Act 2020 and Decree 2023, with biometric identification through ANATS using an NNI or NNIR where applicable. Registration and documentation support protection against refoulement and access to health care, education, banking, SIM cards and remittances. A refugee identity document also serves as a residence document under UNHCR guidance. Some mass influxes may receive prima facie recognition. The responsible access point depends on the region and current conditions, and no general registration fee has been reliably established. Chadian returnees, including people returning in connection with the Sudan situation, use a separate pathway. IOM and government, local, United Nations and non-governmental partners may register returnees biometrically in displacement sites or host communities. Initial support can include water and sanitation, temporary accommodation, essential household items, health care and protection. This pathway is not the same as ordinary foreign entry. A hotel reservation, attestation d'hébergement or legalized invitation can satisfy an entry-document requirement, but it is not a national reception or housing service. Health care is available through public and private facilities, yet capacity is limited, especially outside N'Djamena, and treatment or medical evacuation often requires self-payment. Malaria is widespread and the risk is high; medical prevention, mosquito protection, travel insurance covering evacuation and an adequate medicine supply are prudent. Use safe drinking water, boiled water or bottled water and avoid ice when its source is uncertain. Security conditions differ sharply by region. Current travel guidance advises avoiding all travel to Borkou, Ennedi Ouest, Ennedi Est, Tibesti, western Kanem and Nokou, the Lake Chad area and zones within 30 kilometres of other borders. Elsewhere, including N'Djamena, guidance generally limits travel to essential journeys. Travel outside N'Djamena may require authorization from the Ministry of the Interior and a professional security or escort assessment. Expect checkpoints and possible passport, driving-licence and vehicle checks. Avoid night travel, large gatherings and photographing military or government sites or airports without permission. Roads and services can deteriorate during the July-to-October rainy season. Cards may not work reliably and ATMs can be unavailable, so keep a reserve of Central African CFA francs (XAF). Water, sanitation and electricity vary strongly by location. Published emergency numbers are inconsistent, including 1212 for ambulance in one source and 121 or 2121 in another; verify the working local number after arrival. No general government service for newcomers has been established, so the correct authority depends on the task and the person's status.