Chad

Electricity

Electrical outlets in Chad usually supply electricity at 220 volts, 50Hz. European two-pin plugs with round or flat pins are standard.

Language

French and Arabic are the official languages of Chad. English is not widely spoken.

Money

The Central African CFA franc (XAF) is the official currency of Chad (along with five other central African countries). It is divided into 100 smaller units called centimes.

Chad is a cash economy and credit cards are seldom accepted. Foreign currency can be exchanged at a few banks and hotels in the capital city, but the process is expensive, time consuming and unreliable. There are also very few reliable ATMs in Chad.

Tipping

Service charges aren't usually included in restaurants and tips of about 10 percent are appreciated. Taxi fares should be rounded up if the service is good.

Health

Malaria is fairly common in Chad so all visitors should take precautions. Vaccinations are recommended for hepatitis A, hepatitis B, typhoid and meningococcus, and visitors arriving from a country where yellow fever is a risk will need a vaccination.

Travellers should also be up to date on vaccinations for tetanus-diphtheria, MMR (measles, mumps, rubella), and polio. Those who may be at risk of receiving animal bites should consider a rabies vaccination. HIV Aids is more prevalent than in the U.S., and visitors are advised to take precautions where necessary.

Travellers should ensure they have comprehensive health insurance as medical facilities in Chad are extremely limited and serious conditions are likely to require evacuation.

Medicines are also in short supply. Visitors should bring any medication they need with them in its original packaging, along with a signed and dated note from a doctor detailing what the medication is and why they need it. Travellers should drink only bottled, filtered, boiled or chemically treated water.

Safety

Reports show that the number of car-jackings on roads outside N'Djemena has increased, including during daylight hours, and armed robberies are common in some residential areas. Foreigners are sometimes targeted. Travellers should avoid isolated or less developed areas, travelling alone at night, and carrying large sums of money, jewellery or other valuables.

There are around 600 000 refugees in the east, south, and Lake (western) regions respectively, with banditry and violent crime posing problems in these parts of the country. The area bordering Libya has many landmines; the northern regions of Borkou, Ennedi and Tibesti are still unsafe.

Local customs

Chad is a predominantly Muslim country. Visitors should respect local laws, customs and traditions, and ensure that their actions don't offend other cultures or beliefs, especially during the holy month of Ramadan. Same-sex sexual activity is a criminal offence, with penalties that range from three months to two years in prison and a fine of between 50,000 and 500,000 CFA francs; photographing military sites, government buildings and airports is prohibited.

Doing business

Chadians appreciate 'getting know' potential partners before launching into concrete discussions, so meetings usually begin with polite questions about family health and personal wellbeing. Foreigners should be patient and persistent, and women should dress conservatively to satisfy cultural sensitivities. Chadians ordinarily wear business or traditional attire in professional settings. Some knowledge of French is vital as visitors may struggle to find professional translators.

Duty free

Visitors can import 400 cigarettes, 125 cigars and 500g of tobacco (women may only import cigarettes), three bottles of wine and one bottle of spirits.

Communications

The international access code is +235 and the outgoing code is 00 followed by the relevant country code (e.g. 0044 for the United Kingdom). Mobile phone coverage is good to variable around N'Djamena and the southwest and patchy to non-existent in other regions. Internet access is limited, especially outside the capital, where speeds are slow and connection is difficult to establish.

Passport & Visa

Passengers with a pre-organised Entry Authorisation letter issued by Chad's authorities can obtain a visa on arrival. Along with a valid passport, visitors arriving from a country where yellow fever is a risk require a vaccination and proof of onward travel. Visitors planning to travel outside of N'Djamena may need a permit.

As immigration officials often apply different rules to those stated by travel agents and official sources, it is highly recommended that passports have at least six months' validity remaining after their intended date of departure.

Entry requirements

US citizens must have a valid passport and a visa to enter Chad.

UK citizens must have a valid passport and a visa to enter Chad.

Canadian citizens must have a valid passport and a visa to enter Chad.

Australian citizens must have a valid passport and a visa to enter Chad.

South African citizens must have a valid passport and a visa to enter Chad.

Irish citizens must have a valid passport and a visa to enter Chad.

New Zealand citizens must have a valid passport and a visa to enter Chad.

Useful contacts

17 (Police), 18 (Fire), 2251 42 42 (Ambulance)

Embassies / consulates in other countries

Chad Embassy, Washington DC. Tel: (202) 462 4009.

Embassy of Chad, Brussels, Belgium (also responsible for the UK): +32 2216 3526

Chad Consulate, Ottawa. Tel: (613) 236 4861.

Embassies / consulates in Chad

US Embassy, N'Djamena. Tel: (235) 2251 70 09.

UK Honorary Consul, N'Djamena. Tel: (235) 9054 64 47.

Canadian Embassy, Khartoum (also responsible for Chad). Tel: (249) 156 550 500.

South African Embassy, N'Djamena. Tel: (235) 2252 4006.