Chad
TCDChad 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 around 49 destinations, mostly within Africa and the Arab world.
- Naturalisation
- 15 years
- Tax system
- Residence Based
- Currency
- XAF
- Dual citizenship
- Not allowed
- Capital
- N'Djamena
- Region
- africa
- Population
- 18,279,000
- Cost-of-living
- 28 /100
Passport Rank
#99
Visa-Free
49
destinations
Visa-free travel
A Chad passport has visa-free access to 49 destinations. See the full Chad passport breakdown →
Passports that enter Chad without a prior visa (16)
Visa-free, visa on arrival, or on an eTA.
Community-sourced (passport-index, synced 2026-08-18) — verify with the embassy before travel.
Immigrating to Canada from Chad
Current IRCC processing times for Chad nationals, by application type.
| Visitor visa (outside Canada) | 113 days |
| Super visa | No processing time available |
| Study permit | 3 weeks |
| Work permit | No processing time available |
| Sponsor a dependent child | No processing time available |
| Adopted child (citizenship) | Not enough data |
| Government-assisted refugees | Not enough data |
| Privately sponsored refugees | sponsor: Not enough data / refugee: Not enough data |
Your application may take longer than the times shown here. They’re not a maximum or a guarantee.
As of 2026-09-22 (IRCC). See all Canada processing times →
Source: Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada — “Check processing times”. This is a copy of the version available at https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/application/check-processing-times.html. Reproduced under the Government of Canada’s non-commercial reproduction terms; not endorsed by or affiliated with IRCC.
Sources & last verified
Government of Canada — non-commercial reproduction (canada.ca Terms and conditions)
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
- GDP per capita
- $1,022
- Life expectancy
- 55.24 yrs
- Population growth
- 3.41%/yr
GDP per capita, life expectancy, and population growth: World Bank (2025).
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 →
| City | Rent 1BR centre | Rent outside | Groceries | Utilities | Transit 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
- 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
#[object Object]
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.
Regulators & official sources
Bodies that regulate immigration advice in Chad, and the official sources indexed for it by Visa Atlas. Descriptions are verbatim; each links to its source.
Chad Direction of Emigration and Immigration
DEI ChadOfficial Chad eVisa platform for entry-visa applications, visa-exempt country checks, application tracking, eVisa FAQs and contact details for visa extensions.
Related Guides
Related on The Citizenship Desk
Visa routes
Official visa and residence routes for Chad, indexed from Visa Atlas. Each links to its government source. This is a licensed external index, distinct from our own curated visa guides.
Residence
eVisa Extension Direction
ResidenceOfficial Chad direction for travellers whose eVisa expires during their stay to approach immigration for an extension.
Short-term / business
Entry eVisa
Short-term / businessChad official online entry-visa route for foreign nationals who are not visa-exempt and want to visit Chad.
Visa-Exempt Entry
Short-term / businessChad visa-exempt entry handling for nationals listed by the official eVisa portal.
Sources & last verified
Route index from Visa Atlas (CC BY 4.0), as of 2026-09-12. Each route links to its official government source.
Sources & last verified
- Last verified