Travel Summary
- We advise against all but essential travel to the capital, N’Djamena. We advise against all travel to the rest of Chad. See the Political Situation and Local Travel sections of this Travel Advice.
- There is no British Embassy in Chad. There is an Honorary Consul in N'Djamena who can be contacted atmailto:ben.sibthorpe-honcon@fconet.gov.uk. In an emergency, you canalso obtain consular assistance through the British High Commission in Yaoundé, Cameroon. If you are not registered with the British High Commission you should register online at LOCATE or contact the main switchboard, 00 237 22 22 05 45.
- You should carry identification at all times (either a residence permitand/or a certified copy of your passport). Failure to produce suchidentification can lead to detention by the police, or delays with nationality identification should you have to leave the country.
- The area bordering Libya remains heavily land-mined and the border is subject to closure. The borders with Sudan and the Central African Republic (CAR) are also subject to closure at little or no notice.
- There is an underlying threat from terrorism. Attacks could be indiscriminate, including in places frequented by expatriates and foreign travellers.
- We recommend that you obtain comprehensive travel and medical insurance before travelling. You should check any exclusions, and that your policy covers you for all the activities you want to undertake. See the General (Insurance) section of this Travel Advice and our Travel Insurance page.
Safety and security
Terrorism
There is an underlying threat from terrorism. Attacks could be indiscriminate, including in places frequented by expatriates and foreign travellers.
You should be aware that the long-standing policy of the British Government is not to make substantive concessions to hostage takers. The British Government considers that paying ransoms and releasing prisoners increases the risk of further hostage taking.
For more general information see our Terrorism Abroad page.
You should be aware that the long-standing policy of the British Government is not to make substantive concessions to hostage takers. The British Government considers that paying ransoms and releasing prisoners increases the risk of further hostage taking.
For more general information see our Terrorism Abroad page.
Crime
Incidents of petty theft and theft from vehicles occur. You should take sensible personal security precautions. We recommend that you avoid carrying valuables or wearing jewellery in public and avoid isolated or poorer areas of towns. You should avoid walking around and travelling at night.
There are also reports of armed robbery, sometimes targeting expatriates. Highway bandits are known to operate in Chad. There is a high level of banditry, often involving excessive violence, throughout eastern Chad.
For more general information see our Victims of Crime Abroad page.
There are also reports of armed robbery, sometimes targeting expatriates. Highway bandits are known to operate in Chad. There is a high level of banditry, often involving excessive violence, throughout eastern Chad.
For more general information see our Victims of Crime Abroad page.
Political Situation
Chad Country Profile
There were clashes between the Chadian army and armed rebels in May 2009, around the Am-Dam and Goz Beida area in eastern Chad. Ongoing rebel attacks cannot be ruled out, particularly in eastern Chad, though decrease in likelihood during the rainy season (July-October).
Fighting previously broke out in February 2008 between rebel forces who entered N'Djamena, and Government troops; a number of foreign nationals were evacuated from Chad as a result. Further rebel attacks occurred in June 2008, but were confined to eastern Chad, around the Biltine and Am Zoer areas, and did not reach N'Djamena. The political and security situation remains uncertain, and could change rapidly. You should remain abreast of political developments.
Sudan and Chad maintain diplomatic relations, but tensions between the two countries remain high.
Local Travel
We advise against all but essential travel to the capital, N'Djamena and against all travel to other regions in Chad. If you decide to travel to Chad, you should exercise caution, seek local advice regularly, where possible, check this travel advice regularly and ensure you register with the British High Commission in Yaoundé, Cameroon. If you are in Chad you should remain vigilant at all time sand in particular, avoid travelling at night.
There is no British Embassy in Chad. If you are not registered with the British High Commission you should register on-line at LOCATE or contact the the main switchboard, 00 237 22 22 05 45.
As a result of the conflict in Darfur and inter-ethnic violence in the region, over 280,000 Sudanese refugees and 180,000 internally displaced persons live in and around camps in eastern Chad. The humanitarian situation is grave and the security situation extremely unstable, with reports of fighting spilling across the border and rebel activity in this area. There are also high levels of banditry in eastern Chad, with acts of violent crime being committed including robbery, rape, kidnap and murder.
The border between Chad and Sudan is subject to closure at little notice. The borders with CAR and Libya are also subject to closure. The area bordering Libya is heavily land-mined and the Borkou-Ennedi-Tibesti provinces in the north remain unsafe. Likewise, the border areas with the CAR in the south are to be avoided, and the tri-border area where Chad, Sudan and CAR meet is particularly dangerous.
Road Travel
You should avoid all travel to eastern Chad, where there has been significant rebel activity. The area is also renowned for its roadblocks, which are frequently used to facilitate car-jackings, some of which have proved fatal.
For travel outside the capital, you require authorisation from the Ministry of the Interior, which is normally granted without difficulty after a few days. But roads are poor and often impassable during the rainy season (July-October), especially in the south. You should travel in convoy, keep doors locked and carry spare fuel and supplies. Due to the activity of highway bandits, you should not travel by road after dark.
Police checkpoints are common: you may be asked to show your passport, driving licence and vehicle registration documents.
For more general information see our Driving Abroad page.
For more general information see our Driving Abroad page.
Air Travel
The European Commission has published a list of air carriers that are subject to an operating ban or restrictions within the European Union. You should check the following link to see whether this will affect your travel - European Commission Transport - Air.
For more general information see Airline Security.
Local laws and customs
Local laws reflect the fact that Chad is a predominantly Muslim country. You should respect local traditions, customs, laws and religions at all times and be aware of your actions to ensure that they do not offend other cultures or religious beliefs, especially during the holy month of Ramadan or if you intend to visit religious areas. For more general information see Travelling during Ramadan.
Penalties for the use and possession of drugs are severe and usually include a prison sentence.
Homosexuality is not widely accepted in central African society and some sexual acts between members of the same sex are illegal.
Photography of military sites, government buildings and airports is prohibited. Other photography requires a government permit.
You should carry identification at all times (either a residence permit or a certified copy of your passport). Failure to produce such identification can lead to detention by the police.
For more general information for different types of travellers see our Your trip page.
Penalties for the use and possession of drugs are severe and usually include a prison sentence.
Homosexuality is not widely accepted in central African society and some sexual acts between members of the same sex are illegal.
Photography of military sites, government buildings and airports is prohibited. Other photography requires a government permit.
You should carry identification at all times (either a residence permit or a certified copy of your passport). Failure to produce such identification can lead to detention by the police.
For more general information for different types of travellers see our Your trip page.
Entry requirements
Visas
British nationals require a visa to visit Chad. To apply for a visa and to obtain further information on entry requirements, please contact the Chadian Embassy in Belgium at 52 Boulevard Lambermont, 1030, Brussels, Tel: +32 2 215 1975, Fax: +32 2 216 3526, Email: ambassade.tchad@chello.be; or the Chadian Embassy in France at 65 rue des Belles Feuilles, 75116, Paris, Tel: +33 (0)1 45 53 36 75, Fax: +33 (0)1 45 53 16 09.
Yellow Fever vaccination certificate
You will be asked to produce a yellow fever vaccination certificate on arrival in the country. Failure to do so may result in a further vaccination being administered, for which a charge is made.
Travelling with children
Single parents or other adults travelling alone with children should be aware that some countries require documentary evidence of parental responsibility before allowing lone parents to enter the country or, in some cases, before permitting the children to leave the country. For further information on exactly what will be required at immigration please contact the Chadian Embassy in Belgium at 52 Boulevard Lambermont, 1030, Brussels, Tel: +32 2 215 1975, Fax: +32 2 216 3526, Email: ambassade.tchad@chello.be; or the Chadian Embassy in France at 65 rue des Belles Feuilles, 75116, Paris, Tel: +33 (0)1 45 53 36 75, Fax: +33 (0)1 45 53 16 09.
Health
Medical facilities in Chad are poor. Hospitals in N’Djamena are sometimes affected by strikes by Government workers. You need to keep in mind the possibility that medical services, stretched at the best of times, may be even less responsive than usual.
Malaria and water-borne diseases are common in Chad while outbreaks of cholera are known to occur. Meningitis outbreaks can occur throughout Chad, and are especially common in the south of the country, which lies within the African meningitis belt stretching from Senegal to Ethiopia. A measles outbreak was reported in eastern Chad in early 2009, resulting in over 600 cases.
You should drink or use only boiled or bottled water and avoid ice in drinks. Food purchased from local street vendors may not meet adequate hygiene standards.
If you suffer from diarrhoea during a visit to Chad you should seek immediate medical attention.
In the 2008 Report on the Global AIDS Epidemic the UNAIDS/WHO Working Group estimated that around 180,000 adults aged 15 or over in Chad were living with HIV; the prevalence rate was estimated at around 3.5% of the adult population. This compares to the prevalence rate in adults in the UK of around 0.2%. You should exercise normal precautions to avoid exposure to HIV/AIDS. For more general information on how to do this see our HIV and AIDS page.
You should seek medical advice before travelling to Chad and ensure that all appropriate vaccinations are up-to-date. For further information on vaccination requirements, health outbreaks and general disease protection and prevention you should visit the websites of the National Travel Health Network and Centre (NaTHNaC) and NHS Scotland’s Fit for Travel or call NHS Direct on 0845 46 47.
The World Health Organisation (WHO) Pandemic Threat Alert Phase has been raised to Level 6. The WHO website at http://www.who.int/csr/disease/swineflu/en/index.html has further details. Check the FCO Swine Flu page for further information.
For more general health information see our Travel Health and Pandemic and Avian Influenza pages.
Malaria and water-borne diseases are common in Chad while outbreaks of cholera are known to occur. Meningitis outbreaks can occur throughout Chad, and are especially common in the south of the country, which lies within the African meningitis belt stretching from Senegal to Ethiopia. A measles outbreak was reported in eastern Chad in early 2009, resulting in over 600 cases.
You should drink or use only boiled or bottled water and avoid ice in drinks. Food purchased from local street vendors may not meet adequate hygiene standards.
If you suffer from diarrhoea during a visit to Chad you should seek immediate medical attention.
In the 2008 Report on the Global AIDS Epidemic the UNAIDS/WHO Working Group estimated that around 180,000 adults aged 15 or over in Chad were living with HIV; the prevalence rate was estimated at around 3.5% of the adult population. This compares to the prevalence rate in adults in the UK of around 0.2%. You should exercise normal precautions to avoid exposure to HIV/AIDS. For more general information on how to do this see our HIV and AIDS page.
You should seek medical advice before travelling to Chad and ensure that all appropriate vaccinations are up-to-date. For further information on vaccination requirements, health outbreaks and general disease protection and prevention you should visit the websites of the National Travel Health Network and Centre (NaTHNaC) and NHS Scotland’s Fit for Travel or call NHS Direct on 0845 46 47.
The World Health Organisation (WHO) Pandemic Threat Alert Phase has been raised to Level 6. The WHO website at http://www.who.int/csr/disease/swineflu/en/index.html has further details. Check the FCO Swine Flu page for further information.
For more general health information see our Travel Health and Pandemic and Avian Influenza pages.
General
Insurance
We recommend that you obtain comprehensive travel and medical insurance before travelling. You should check any exclusions, and that your policy covers you for all the activities you want to undertake. For more general information see our Travel Insurance page.
If things do go wrong when you are overseas see our When Things Go Wrong page.
British representation
There is no British Embassy in Chad. In an emergency, you can obtain consular assistance through the British High Commission in Yaoundé, Cameroon.
Registration
Register with our LOCATE service to tell us when and where you are travelling abroad or where you live abroad so our consular and crisis staff can provide better assistance to you in an emergency. More information about registering with LOCATE can be found here.
Consular Registration
You should register your presence with the British High Commission in Yaoundé, Cameroon. This is easily done by e-mail.
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