Find the right Togo Visa for your trip with price, requirements, and application time

Togo Visa Policy

Togo has a comprehensive visa policy that regulates the entry of foreign nationals. Under current legislation, any foreigner coming to Togo must hold a visa unless they are from a visa-exempt country. Visas are issued by the country’s diplomatic missions abroad and take a few weeks to process.

The government of Togo has a visa-exempt policy for visitors from selected countries who don’t need visas to enter the country. Being a West African country and a member of Ecowas, most countries on the visa-exempt list are members of the sub-regional body. The visa exemption also covers service and diplomatic passport holders of China, including public affairs passport holders of Russia and Moscow.

If you are from any of the visa-exempt countries, you don’t need a visa to visit Togo for a short-term trip. Such visits, however, can only last for 90 days, but any trip that will last longer will require a visa.

Visa On Arrival

There is a visa-on-arrival arrangement for selected nationalities who can apply for a q visa at the entry point and stay for up to 7 days as long as they have a return or onward ticket for their journey out of the country. This visa is available to most visitors, excluding citizens of Mauritania who are not issued arrival visas. Furthermore, arrival visas can be extended for up to 90 days if the visitor decides to stay for that long.

How To Apply For A Togolese Visa

To apply for a Togolese visa, you have two options. You visit the embassy or apply for it once you arrive at any approved entry points. For the first option, you must submit your application outside the country to any of the diplomatic missions abroad. The embassy or consulate will take time to process your application after receiving your documents or application fee, which can take up to three weeks. Once approved, the visa will be released, and you can make the trip.

The other option is the visa on arrival, which will require your valid passport, an application fee, and a return or onward ticket. Arrival visas are issued on the spot.

Remember that if you are from a visa-exempt country, you don’t need to follow these procedures to land a visa unless you wish to stay longer than 90 days. In that case, you will need to apply to a foreign mission for a visa.

Key Information About Togo and Other Travel

If you are planning a trip to Togo, here are a few travel advisories to bear in mind.

Security and Safety: While most of the land borders with Togo are largely safe, the border with Burkina Faso is replete with robberies and kidnappings. Extremist groups operating in the Southwest of Burkina Faso have infiltrated that area of the border. These groups are rumored to carry out attacks and kidnappings, leading to increased military operations by both governments. Due to the volatile situation in these parts, it is what to avoid land trips in those areas if you choose land travel.

Crimes: As is the case with densely populated cities, petty crimes are common in Togo, especially in the capital city of Lome. Pickpocketing is rife in markets and beaches, so be careful when you are out and about. Conceal valuables, including passports and jewelry, at all times in public. Furthermore, violent crimes like armed carjacking, assaults, and robberies are not uncommon, so remain vigilant and don’t visit isolated areas or places you are unfamiliar with at night. In case you are a victim of a robbery, do not resist.

Demonstrations: Political demonstrations are common in Togo, with many starting as peaceful and then turning violent over time as the police get involved. Avoid such centers to avoid becoming a casualty of clashes between demonstrators and security forces. Always monitor local news before leaving your home for any outdoor engagement.

Terrorism: Unlike some of its Wear African counterparts, Togo has had fewer cases of terrorist attacks, but they have occurred in the past, so you need to be mindful

 Targets could be government buildings and schools, places of worship, public areas like hotels, restaurants, tourist attractions, and areas frequented by expats. Always be aware of your surroundings.

Culture: Togo is a conservative society like most other African countries and is a combination of animist and Western religions. You are advised to respect the culture of the people. Togolese society still maintains a strong conservative culture despite adopting a significant measure of Western standards and trends. While you are free to wear what you like at the beach dressing provocatively on a normal day is frowned upon, especially by older people. Younger people are expected to show their elders respect by greeting them with their heads bowed.

Visa Application Timeframe: The time it will take to process your application cannot be predicted because different embassies take longer to approve applications than others. Some visas may be released within a week, while others may take up to 3 weeks or more. If you wish to avoid unnecessary delays, we advise that you submit your application much earlier than your planned travel date.

Proof of Funds:  Proof of funds is one of the visa requirements to show that you have the financial capacity to cover your travel and living expenses in Togo. This can be shown in documentary form, such as a statement of account. The statement must contain a minimum account balance, a combination of daily amounts multiplied by the number of days you plan to stay in the country.

Confirmed Flight Ticket: All transit visitors are required to have a flight ticket before they arrive in Togo, not after they arrive. Border security officers will demand tickets for their next flight when they land at the airport. Furthermore, the flight ticket must have matching dates with what is on their transit visas to show proof that they have every intention to show that they will indeed leave the country on the day they claim.

Application Fee: The application fee for the visa will be collected by the embassy alongside the form and other documents. The fee is meant for document processing, without which the embassy will not collect your documents.

Overstaying:  Foreigners who overstay their visas would have broken the immigration law, which will attract sanctions. Sanctions come in different forms, like fines, temporary bans, deportation, or jail time in the worst cases. Be reminded of your visa’s expiration date and plan your trip accordingly. If you need more time to conclude your business, you should visit the nearest immigration department to apply for an extension of your visa at least a week or two before it expires. This way, you will not be stranded in the country on an expired visa.

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Anyone planning a trip to Togo must ensure they have all the required documentation to successfully navigate the immigration authorities at the point of entry as they will with any other country on the globe.