With no English travel guides on the market, topics like documentation requirements for travel to Chad can appear murky. Nevertheless, four things seem clear:
- All non-Africans who wish to travel to Chad must have a passport and a Chadian Visa (citizens of some African nations need not obtain a visa)
- To travel outside of the capital (N’Djamena), travelers will need to obtain a special permit called “Autorisation de Circular” (more)
- Those who wish to take pictures while in Chad must first obtain a camera permit (more)
- Visitors should check in at the police station in N’Djamena upon arrival (more)
These foundational requirements are widely accepted, although the details surrounding their fulfillment vary by source. Below these processes are disambiguated as much as is possible.
Visas
Obtaining a visa to Chad will be different depending on which country you are departing from. Click here to view all the countries with Chadian embassies. Americans should visit this site to learn how to apply for a visa. Many sites will refer users to the website “chadembassy.org” to access the Chadian Embassy in Washington. NOTE that this website is not the correct one and is instead a website with only travel advertisements. Another fake site - chadembassy.com - recently appeared. THE PROPER WEBSITE for Americans to visit is www.chadembassy-usa.org. Information for obtaining a visa will be under the “services” link.
There are a couple of very important tricks to applying for a visa at the D.C. embassy. Fist of all, applicants should only send a money order as payment. Although the website explicitly states that checks should be used, as of 2008, the embassy is only taking money orders (this error can add significant delays to applications). The second trick is even more confusing. Applicants are expected to somehow provide return service for their visas. In other words, you, the applicant, are expected to somehow have the visa sent back to you. Return service is not covered in your visa fee, and you cannot just pay extra to have them mail it back to you. The embassy recommends that applicants use FedEx to come pick up your visa and ship it to you. Nevertheless, you must sign up for a special FedEx account before using their pick up services.
Travel outside N'Djamena
If you wish to travel outside of the capital, you will probably need to obtain documentation. Travel accounts vary on this matter. We have decided to simply include a summarized narrative of one American traveler to Chad. It is our hope that potential visitors to Chad will not be discouraged by the confusing process. Admittedly, patience is a virtue in Chad.
Summarized from Angry Wind by Jeffrey Taylor, concerning his trip to Chad in 2004:
Upon arrival, he had to get a permit to leave N’Djamena. The Ministry for the Development of Tourism held jurisdiction over foreigners. The Ministry was a couple of two story stucco buildings near the Chari River. He approached a guard, who directed him to the office of the Director of Hotels (on the second floor). The Director then led him downstairs and around the side of the building to the Directorate of the Promotion of Tourism. His request for Autorisation de Circular had to be approved by the Minister of Public security himself (who may or may not be there at the time of your arrival). He had to write a personal letter, in his name, stating his itinerary and mode of transport. There were two parts to the necessary documentation – an official letter from the director and a personal request for permit. The packet then had to be taken by the employee to the Ministry of Public Security for a requisite ministerial signature.
Photo permits
Visitors who wish to take pictures in Chad will need to obtain a camera permit. This permit will require its own application, and at this time, it seems camera permits are only granted from the Ministry of Communications in N’Djamena (inside the government complex). Those who wish to obtain a camera permit will need to provide their reasons for taking pictures. The government prohibits photography of administrative facilities, military sites, airports, and parks and wildlife reserves, as the permit clearly states (Cette autorisation n'est pas valable pour les façades administratives, les sites militaires, les aéroports, les parcs et réserves de faunes). If you are a tourist and are planning on taking pictures in Chad, please read our note on local attitudes and techniques for photography.
Registering on arrival
Upon arriving at N’Djamena Airport (IATA Code: NDJ), visitors pass through a very simplified immigration process. After immediately descending from the plane, passengers are taken to immigration (inside the airport) via minibus. Then you hand your immigration card (which is filled out while still on the plane) to an immigration worker, who will look it over and possibly ask a question (such as, “How long will your stay be?”). Then, he will stamp your passport and release you into the city. Nevertheless, there is a second step. You must register at the police station within three days of arriving in the capital. Be sure to take three passport-size photos with you, as they will request them. Also take your passport.
Many sources report that travelers must register at every town they travel to in Chad. This process should not be a lengthy one, but be ready for an inquiry into your reasons for traveling.
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