Traveling to Togo: What to Prepare Before You Leave for Lomé

Entry rules for Togo were eased on 18 May 2026. African nationals now enter without a visa, and the voyage.gouv.tg platform handles the paperwork for everyone else. This guide covers the formalities to arrange beforehand, what to expect once you land, and how we handle accommodation at ORADYS RESIDENCE, our furnished residence in Sanguéra — for a short visit, a work assignment or a longer stay.

Togo at a glance, before you book

Togo sits on the Gulf of Guinea. Its capital, Lomé, concentrates the country’s economic and administrative activity. French is the official language. The CFA franc (FCFA, or XOF) remains the currency in circulation, pegged to the euro at a fixed rate of 655.957 FCFA to 1 EUR, managed by the BCEAO. The country has more than 9 million inhabitants according to INSEED estimates.

The climate is tropical. Two rainy seasons shape the year: the main one from April to July, a shorter one from August to October. The dry season, November to February, is the most comfortable window for Lomé and the coast. Close to a million visitors were recorded in 2022 according to figures relayed by the Ministry of Tourism. In 2024, the Togolese government allocated 2 billion FCFA to the sector’s budget, according to Togo First.

Before you leave: formalities to arrange

Visas: what changed on 18 May 2026

On 18 May 2026, Togo removed the visa requirement for African nationals holding a valid passport, for stays of up to 30 days. The measure puts Lomé alongside Benin, Ghana, Rwanda, the Seychelles and the Gambia. It comes on top of the ECOWAS free movement protocol, which already covers the fifteen member states, including Côte d’Ivoire, Senegal, Burkina Faso and Nigeria.

For non-African travellers, the electronic visa is still required. Applications go through voyage.gouv.tg, the official platform of the Republic of Togo. Allow around five days for processing and file at least six days before departure. The fee ranges from 39 to 100 € depending on the duration chosen — 15, 30 or 90 days — and on whether you opt for single or multiple entry. Payment is by Visa card, Mastercard, Mixx by YAS or Flooz. Do not count on a visa on arrival: applying online before departure is the only reliable route.

Online immigration declaration

Every traveller, exempt or not, must complete the online immigration declaration no later than 24 hours before arrival, on the same voyage.gouv.tg platform. This pre-declaration produces a document to present at the border.

Yellow fever vaccination and health preparation

The international yellow fever vaccination certificate is required on entry for anyone aged nine months and over, whatever their country of origin, according to the Institut Pasteur. The vaccine must be administered at least 10 days before departure, at an approved centre. It is now valid for life, following the revision of the International Health Regulations. Ask your doctor about hepatitis A, hepatitis B, typhoid, tetanus and meningitis, and about the malaria prophylaxis suited to your situation.

Documents, budget and insurance

Bring a passport valid for at least six months beyond your return date, two recent passport photographs and proof of accommodation. Insurance covering medical care and repatriation is recommended by France Diplomatie.

On the budget side, carry cash in FCFA for small retailers, bearing in mind that an ATM withdrawal is possible on arrival at Gnassingbé Eyadéma airport. Visa and Mastercard are accepted at most Ecobank, BOAD and UTB machines in Lomé.

Arriving in Lomé: airport, transfers and first steps

Gnassingbé Eyadéma international airport lies about 5 kilometres from the centre of Lomé, which puts most residential districts within thirty minutes by car outside peak hours. The terminal handles flights from Air France, Brussels Airlines, ASKY, Ethiopian Airlines, Turkish Airlines and Royal Air Maroc. A bureau de change inside the airport converts euros, dollars or Ghanaian cedis into FCFA.

On arrival, present your passport, your online immigration confirmation, your yellow fever card and, where applicable, your printed e-visa. To reach Sanguéra, in Lomé’s 1st arrondissement, you can book the ORADYS RESIDENCE shuttle for 15,000 FCFA. Our team waits in the arrivals hall with a name board, which saves you negotiating with informal drivers.

Where to stay in Lomé: our furnished apartments in Sanguéra

ORADYS RESIDENCE opened in 2020 in Sanguéra, on the street facing the Gendarmerie, in Lomé’s 1st arrondissement. The district is residential, quiet and secure, away from the noise of the centre. We offer four categories of apartment.

• The studio (18 sqm, from 15,100 FCFA a night) suits a business traveller on a short stop or a student on an exchange programme.
• The one-bedroom apartment (46 sqm, from 17,700 FCFA) works for a couple or for a consultant who wants to keep sleeping and working areas separate.
• The two-bedroom apartments (72 sqm, from 23,600 FCFA) are aimed at families and at pairs on longer assignments.
• The three-bedroom apartment (141 sqm, from 26,200 FCFA) sleeps up to six, a format that fits institutional delegations and family visits.

Every apartment has air conditioning, a flat-screen television, a coffee machine and wifi; depending on the category, a balcony or a terrace. A cot is available free of charge on request.

For corporate seminars, training sessions and management committees, our conference room takes groups for several consecutive working days. Our transport service rents out a Hyundai Creta Grand, a seven-seat SUV suited to family trips, and a Toyota 4Runner for the city as well as for travel upcountry.

The furniture and fittings are made by Togolese craftsmen. We work with workshops in Lomé rather than with importers: furniture can be repaired locally, which matters on a property let year-round.

During your stay: safety, transport and daily life

The airport is under thirty minutes from most residential districts, and the city crosses from east to west in half an hour outside peak hours. Walking around the residential streets of Sanguéra poses no difficulty during the day. France Diplomatie advises against travelling on foot or by motorbike at night, particularly along the seafront. Lock car doors, keep devices out of sight in the street, and use taxis recommended by your host. If you plan to drive yourself, an international driving permit is required in Togo; our vehicles come with a driver, which removes that formality.

Mobile payment is widely used. Mixx by YAS (Togocom) and Flooz (Moov Africa) cover taxi fares, top-ups, small retailers and some restaurants, in Lomé II or Adidogomé for instance.

For branch banking, Ecobank, Orabank, UTB and BOAD’s Togolese subsidiary have extensive networks. We can put you in touch with our contacts on request.

On health, pay attention to hydration and to food served on the street. Voltic and Awa bottled water are reliable. For medical care, the Polyclinique Internationale Saint Joseph and the Clinique Biasa are among the references in Lomé. Our reception team can point to the nearest on-duty pharmacy to Sanguéra at any hour.

If your itinerary takes you out of the capital towards Kpalimé, Atakpamé or the far north, travel during daylight, carry water, and check with the Togolese Ministry of Defence whether written authorisation is required for the area: it applies to certain northern prefectures according to France Diplomatie, and must be requested thirty working days in advance.

After your stay: departure formalities

Before your return flight, go back to voyage.gouv.tg to complete the exit declaration, now integrated into the same portal. Arrive at Gnassingbé Eyadéma airport at least three hours before boarding, customs and border police included. Exporting ivory, rare wood or anything containing species protected under the CITES convention is prohibited. Keep purchase receipts for craft items. If you leave with FCFA notes, the currency remains convertible at several banks within the WAEMU zone and, in Europe, through certain specialised bureaux.

What is left to do before you book

Travel with your yellow fever card in order, file your formalities on voyage.gouv.tg ahead of time, and pick accommodation that takes the logistics off your hands so you can concentrate on the reason you came. ORADYS RESIDENCE handles your arrival, your stay and your journeys around Lomé. Bookings on +228 92 05 49 49, by email to servicecommercial@oradysresidence.com, or directly through our website.

Frequently asked questions about travelling to Togo

Do I need a visa to travel to Togo in 2026?

African nationals holding a valid passport no longer need a visa, since 18 May 2026, for stays of up to 30 days. Other nationalities must apply for an e-visa on voyage.gouv.tg before departure. All travellers complete the online immigration declaration at least 24 hours before arrival.

When is the best time to stay in Lomé?

The dry season, November to February, gives the most settled conditions. The harmattan dries the air in December and January. Rain returns heavily between April and July, according to climate records for the Togolese coast. The remaining months stay workable, with more frequent showers and slower journeys inland.

How much does a night in good furnished accommodation in Lomé cost?

At ORADYS RESIDENCE, the studio starts at 15,100 FCFA a night, and the three-bedroom apartment from 26,200 FCFA for six people. Long stays are quoted case by case — write to servicecommercial@oradysresidence.com.

How do I pay locally, and what should I plan for?

Everyday purchases are settled in cash or by mobile payment. Mixx by YAS and Flooz are accepted by most retailers in Lomé. Visa and Mastercard work in hotels, upmarket restaurants and the ATMs of the major banks. For corporate assignments, ORADYS RESIDENCE accepts payment by bank transfer and issues an invoice in the company’s name.

What do you offer for seminars and work assignments?

We provide a conference room for management committees, training sessions and team retreats, along with vehicle rental with or without a driver. The format suits assignments that run over several weeks and combine days of meetings with evenings of work.