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THE CITIZENSHIP DESK

Chad

TCD

Chad is a landlocked republic in north-central Africa sharing borders with Libya, Sudan, the Central African Republic, Cameroon, Nigeria, and Niger. The country straddles the Sahara Desert in the north and fertile savanna in the south, with Lake Chad at the western edge. French and Arabic are official languages, reflecting its colonial and Islamic heritage. Oil revenues discovered in the early 2000s provide the main export income, though poverty and political instability remain widespread. Dual citizenship is not recognised, and naturalisation requires fifteen years of legal residence. The Chadian passport offers visa-free or visa-on-arrival access to approximately 43 destinations, mostly within Africa and the Arab world.

Passport Rank

#99

Visa-Free

43

destinations

Country Details

Capital
N'Djamena
Currency
XAF
Languages
French, Arabic
Population
18,279,000
Tax System
Residence Based
Dual Citizenship
Not allowed
Naturalisation
15 years
Schengen / EU
No
Climate
Desert in north; semi-arid in centre; tropical in south

Indices

Cost of Living

28

Safety

22

Healthcare

15

Quality of Life

18

Tax Summary

Tax System
Residence Based
Territorial Taxation
No — worldwide income taxed for residents
Naturalisation
15 years of legal residency
Dual Citizenship
Not allowed

Cost of Living by City

← scroll the table →

Monthly cost of living per major city in USD: rent, groceries, utilities, transit pass
CityRent 1BR centreRent outsideGroceriesUtilitiesTransit pass
N'Djamena—————
Moundou—————
Sarh—————

Monthly USD figures. Typical central 1-bedroom rent, grocery basket for one, household utilities, monthly transit pass.

Visa Categories & Immigration Authority

Major Visa Categories

  • Tourist
  • Business
  • Long-stay
  • Work
  • Family
  • Student
Authority
Direction Générale de la Police Nationale
Official Portal
www.interieur.gov.td
Phone
+235 22 52 24 28
Email
contact@interieur.gov.td

Naturalisation Details

Residence Years
Language Test
No
Civic Test
No
Oath Required
Yes
Dual Allowed
No
Fee
—
Processing
—

Safety

GPI Rank

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Global Peace Index ranking (lower is safer)

Common Risks

  • ⚠Fake police checkpoint extortion: Men in partial uniform flag down vehicles claiming an immigration infraction and demand on-the-spot fines. Always ask for an official receipt (reçu officiel) and request to be taken to the commissariat if uncertain.
  • ⚠Overcharge taxi / moto-taxi: Agree the fare in CFA francs before entering. N'Djamena taxis have no meters; the going rate for a short city hop is 500–1,000 XAF.
  • ⚠Counterfeit CFA notes: Receive change carefully, especially for 5,000 XAF notes; check security thread under UV light if conducting large transactions.
  • ⚠NGO / business visa facilitation fraud: Fixers advertise fast-track visas or work permits that don't exist. Only deal directly with the Direction Générale de la Police Nationale for residency documentation.
  • ⚠Express kidnapping (enlèvement éclair): Victim forced to ATM to withdraw cash. Highest risk arriving at N'Djamena airport after dark; arrange pre-booked pickup, not street taxis.

Related Guides

Exit tax: countries that charge you to leave

Country-by-country reference of departure taxes, deemed-disposition rules, and wealth-locking regimes that trigger when tax residency ends.

Sources & last verified

  • Last verified 2026-06-15