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Lome Entry Requirements

Lome Entry Requirements

Visa, immigration, and customs information

Important Notice Entry requirements can change at any time. Always verify current requirements with official government sources before traveling.
Lomé greets most travellers at Gnassingbé Eyadéma International Airport, a tidy, single-terminal building barely four kilometers from the Atlantic. Inside the immigration hall, slow ceiling fans stir the air and sea salt drifts in on the evening breeze. Officers stamp passports beneath those same fans. The indoor temperature mirrors the humid Lomé weather, so pack light, breathable clothes for the queue that winds between blue-rope barriers. Lines shuffle forward. Keep documents handy and answers short. Most visitors collect a 7-day entry stamp on arrival, extendable at the Bureau des Étrangers near the Grand Marché if you decide to stretch your stay over Lomé beaches or push farther inland. Before you board, fill in the online immigration form printed from the Togolese e-visa portal, even if you qualify for visa-free entry, because the paper copy shortens the arrival drill. The departure tax for international flights is baked into your ticket. No extra counters wait. The moment you leave the chilled arrivals corridor, you hear the steady thud of surf against the nearby coast mixing with motorcycle engines. The first thing you feel is warm, moisture-laden air wrapping your skin like a soft towel.

Visa Requirements

Entry permissions vary by nationality. Find your category below.

Visa-Free Entry
90 days

Nationals of Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and selected African countries may enter without a visa.

Includes
Ghana Nigeria Benin Burkina Faso Côte d'Ivoire Senegal Mali Niger Guinea Sierra Leone Liberia Guinea-Bissau Cape Verde Gambia

Passport must be valid for at least six months. Extension possible at immigration offices in Lome.

Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA/eVisa)
15 to 90 days depending on visa type (single or multiple entry)

Most other nationalities, including the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, and EU member states, must obtain an eVisa in advance.

Includes
United States United Kingdom Canada Australia Germany France Italy Spain Netherlands Belgium Switzerland Japan South Korea Brazil India China
How to Apply: Apply online through the official Togolese e-visa portal at least seven working days before travel. Upload passport bio page and passport-size photo, pay fee online, then print the approval letter to present at immigration.
Cost: Mid-range fee paid securely by card. Amount appears in portal before payment.

Keep the printed approval, immigration officers in Lome will request it.

Visa Required
Determined by consulate, typically 30 days

A small number of countries whose citizens cannot use the eVisa system must apply for a traditional visa at a Togolese embassy or consulate.

How to Apply: Contact the nearest Togolese diplomatic mission. Appointments are usually required. Provide passport, photos, flight itinerary, hotel confirmation, and yellow-fever certificate.

Processing times range from three to ten working days.

Arrival Process

Arriving in Lome follows a clear sequence from aircraft door to curb-side taxi.

1
Deplane & Health Check
Walk across the apron into the terminal where temperature scanners glow softly. Hand over your yellow-fever card to waiting health staff. They swipe it beneath a UV lamp and wave you onward.
2
Immigration Counters
Three parallel queues, one each for ECOWAS passports, e-visa holders, and visa-on-arrival applicants. Officers stamp without conversation unless documents look irregular.
3
Baggage Claim
A single carousel releases bags within fifteen minutes. The belt clatters, and the smell of jet fuel mixes with warm concrete as porters in yellow vests offer assistance.
4
Customs Declaration
Push your trolley through the green or red channel. Officers occasionally wave arriving passengers aside for bag inspection. The process feels routine rather than intimidating.
5
Exit to Ground Transport
Sliding glass doors open onto a small forecourt where taxi drivers call out rates and airport shuttle vans idle. The first gulp of outdoor air carries diesel exhaust, grilled fish from beach stands two kilometers away, and the sticky sweetness of tropical humidity.

Documents to Have Ready

Passport
Must be valid for at least six months and contain at least one blank visa page.
Printed eVisa approval or visa
Required for non-ECOWAS nationals. Immigration officer will scan the QR code.
Yellow Fever Certificate
Mandatory health requirement for all travelers over nine months old.
Return or onward ticket
Rarely requested but useful if immigration questions length of stay.

Tips for Smooth Entry

Have exact hotel address written down. Mobile signal inside the terminal can be weak.
Bring a pen to fill the customs form distributed mid-flight; borrowing slows the queue.
Exchange only small bills at the airport. Rates improve at downtown banks near hotels in lome.

Customs & Duty-Free

Togolese customs regulations are straightforward. Most tourists pass through without inspection.

Alcohol
One litre of spirits and one litre of wine or two litres of wine only
Must be 18 years or older. Opened bottles are confiscated.
Tobacco
200 cigarettes or 50 cigars or 250 g loose tobacco
Age restriction 18+; duty-free labels must remain intact on sealed cartons.
Currency
Declaration required for amounts equivalent to or exceeding 5,000 USD
Fill out the blue customs form handed out on arrival. Officers may count cash.
Gifts/Goods
Personal items and gifts up to 50,000 XOF value duty-free
Electronics intended for resale require receipts and attract duty.

Prohibited Items

  • Illegal drugs - possession carries severe penalties including imprisonment
  • Counterfeit currency - automatic seizure and prosecution
  • Endangered wildlife products - banned under CITES regulations
  • Fresh meat and dairy from non-approved countries
  • Satellite phones without import license

Restricted Items

  • Firearms and ammunition - import permit from Ministry of Interior required
  • Pharmaceuticals exceeding personal use quantities - doctor's letter essential
  • Professional filming equipment - media accreditation needed

Health Requirements

Entry into Lome involves health checks designed to prevent regional disease spread.

Required Vaccinations

  • Yellow Fever

Recommended Vaccinations

  • Hepatitis A
  • Typhoid
  • Meningococcal meningitis
  • Routine MMR/DPT

Health Insurance

Proof of travel health insurance is not officially required but strongly advised given limited medical facilities.

Current Health Requirements: As of June 2024, no COVID-19 test or vaccination proof is demanded. Yet policies can change quickly, verify status 48 hours before departure.

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Read our complete Lome Travel Insurance Guide →

Important Contacts

Essential resources for your trip.

Embassy/Consulate
Find your country's embassy or consulate
Check your government's travel advisory website
Immigration Authority
Direction Générale de la Documentation Nationale (DGDN)
Official immigration website: https://snedai.com for visa applications and official information
Emergency
Police, ambulance, fire
Dial 117 for police, 8200 for ambulance, 118 for fire services anywhere in Lome

Special Situations

Additional requirements for specific circumstances.

Traveling with Children

Minors need their own passport. Single parents or guardians require notarized consent from the non-traveling parent plus copies of the child's birth certificate.

Traveling with Pets

Obtain an import permit from the Togolese Ministry of Agriculture at least 30 days before arrival. Provide rabies vaccination certificate issued within 30 days of travel and a veterinary health certificate issued within 48 hours of departure.

Extended Stays

Tourist visas can be extended for up to 90 additional days at the Bureau des Étrangers behind the Palais de Justice in downtown Lome. Bring passport photos, hotel confirmation, and extension fee in cash.

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