Understanding Togo Visa Requirements: Tourist, Business, Transit, and More

(TOGO) Togo’s e-visa system remains the safest way for most visitors to secure entry in 2026, with online approvals typically issued in 5–7 business days. Visa on arrival still exists at airports and land borders, but it brings longer lines and a real risk of being turned back if paperwork is missing.

Tourists and business travelers from most nationalities, including United States 🇺🇸 citizens, can apply online for stays of up to 90 days without visiting an embassy. Travelers from ECOWAS countries (such as Ghana and Benin) are visa-exempt for up to 90 days, while many others must hold a visa before arrival.

Two legal entry paths for short stays

For most visa-required travelers, the choice is between e-visas issued before travel and Visa on arrival issued at the border.

• The e-visa is tied to your passport and arrives by email, allowing you to approach immigration with a printed approval.
• The visa on arrival is issued after you land or cross and is often granted for a short initial period.

VisaVerge.com reports that e-visa holders experience far fewer delays because officers can verify the approval immediately in the system.

Applicants start on the Togolese government’s official portal, Togo’s e-visa application site, which includes a “Do I need a visa?” check by nationality. Processing is usually 5–7 business days, but travelers should apply 2–4 weeks before departure when possible, especially around holidays. The U.S. State Department advises submitting at least 5 days before travel for countries using e-visa systems — a useful buffer if you need to fix a photo or re-upload documents.

The e-visa journey in five actions

Here’s what the online process looks like for a tourist or business trip of 15, 30, or 90 days, including what officers check at the border.

1. Confirm your visa requirement and travel dates.
2. Upload a scan of your passport’s first three pages and a recent photo with a white background.
3. Add your flight itinerary and accommodation proof, then pay the fee by card.
4. Wait for the email approval, usually within 5–7 business days, and print it.
5. Present the printout, passport, and supporting papers at immigration for your entry stamp.

Most refusals happen before payment or during document review, so precision matters. Authorities expect every name, passport number, and birth date to match the passport page exactly. VisaVerge.com’s traveler reports put expired or near-expiry passports at 40% of rejection cases, followed by weak proof of funds and past immigration violations.

• Use the six-month validity rule as your baseline.
• Check you have at least two blank pages for stamps and visas.

Documents Togolese officers ask for, even with an e-visa

Carry both digital and paper copies because internet access at borders is uneven.

• Passport valid at least 6 months from entry, with 2+ blank pages.
• Passport photo taken within the last 6 months, white background.
• Round-trip or onward ticket; immigration often treats this as mandatory.
• Hotel booking or invitation letter showing where you’ll stay.
• Proof you can pay for the trip, commonly bank statements supporting about $50–$100 per day.
• Yellow fever vaccination certificate, often checked on arrival.
• For business travel: host-company invitation or meeting schedule.

Families should pack extra paperwork for children. Minors traveling without both parents are often asked for a notarized consent letter from the absent parent, plus copies of parents’ IDs.

• COVID-19 entry rules have been lifted in recent guidance, but health checks can change quickly at borders.
• Yellow fever proof remains a constant requirement for many travelers in the region.

Fees and validity: what travelers pay and what they get

E-visa costs rise with the length of stay and the number of entries. Fees vary by source, and some private services add processing charges. Typical published examples for U.S.-market applicants:

• “Multiple entry” is useful if you plan side trips to Ghana or Benin and want to re-enter without buying another visa.
• The maximum stay for most short-term visas is up to 90 days; officers still decide the exact period at entry.
• Always check the end date written or stamped in your passport.

If you need longer than 90 days, apply for an extension inside Togo before your permission expires.

Visa on arrival: where it’s issued and how to reduce risk

Visa on arrival is issued at key entry points, including:

• Gnassingbé Eyadéma International Airport (Lomé)
• Airports at Niamtougou and Sokodé
• Seaports at Lomé and Kpémé
• Major land borders

For most eligible nationalities, the first permission is typically up to 7 days, and immigration offices can extend it to 90 days after entry. Travelers commonly report paying about $40–$100 in cash, so carry clean bills and keep a receipt.

Officers usually ask for:

• Passport, a photo, an onward ticket, accommodation proof, and evidence of funds.
• Some nationalities (e.g., Mauritanian nationals) may have special guidance or exceptions.

Visa on arrival works best for short, simple trips when you already have every document printed and enough cash.

• Border posts get crowded during holidays; traveler reporting puts delays at roughly 20% of visa-on-arrival users in peak periods.
• By contrast, e-visa approval offers about 95% reliability at the point of entry (VisaVerge.com).
• Groups often pre-apply so families don’t get separated at the counter.

What to expect at the border, and the one rule that ends trips fast

Immigration officers in Togo focus on three things: identity, purpose of visit, and your plan to leave on time.

• Expect questions about your hotel, host, or meetings, especially on a business entry.
• Keep your return or onward ticket handy — missing proof of departure can lead to refusal at the desk.
• Short-stay visas do not authorize local employment.

For United States 🇺🇸 travelers, recent U.S. entry restriction expansions taking effect January 1, 2026 do not list Togo as a targeted country, so there is no Togo-specific ban in that update.

Even with an approved e-visa, carry the same supporting papers you used online. Officers sometimes ask to see bank statements, a letter of invitation, or hotel confirmation before stamping entry. Keep copies in your carry-on and on your phone. Stay polite and brief, and answer questions consistently with your application.

Critical: If immigration cannot verify your onward travel or doubts the purpose of your visit, your trip can end at the border. Always have clear, matching documentation.

Staying longer: extensions, overstays, and the Interior Ministry office

An e-visa or Visa on arrival does not grant an automatic right to remain past the authorized period.

• To extend, apply before expiry through Togo’s General Directorate of National Documentation under the Ministry of the Interior.
• Bring your passport, proof of address in Lomé or your region, and a clear reason for the extension.

Officers look closely at overstays. Published guidance warns that fines or deportation can follow if you remain after your permission ends. If you are close to the end date, act quickly rather than waiting for the last day.

Common travel patterns and the smartest visa choice

• If you’re flying in for a conference, apply for a business e-visa and carry the invitation letter.
• If you’re crossing from Ghana for a weekend, Visa on arrival can work, but bring cash and proof of lodging.
• For family trips, e-visas reduce stress because everyone gets approved before leaving home.

Choose the option that minimizes risk for your itinerary: e-visas for certainty and shorter processing delays; visa on arrival only when you are fully prepared to meet document and cash requirements at the border.