Visiting Chad requires advance visa arrangements for most nationalities. The Chadian embassy or consulate in the traveler's home country issues tourist visas before departure. On-arrival visas do not exist for standard tourism. Applications require passport validity of at least six months, invitation letters from Chadian hosts or organizations, and proof of yellow fever vaccination. Processing takes two to four weeks in most cases. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs in N'Djamena handles visa extensions beyond the initially granted period. Official information appears at www.diplomatie.td when the site functions.
N'Djamena Hassan Djamous International Airport receives international flights from Paris Charles de Gaulle via Air France, Addis Ababa via Ethiopian Airlines, and Istanbul via Turkish Airlines. Regional connections operate from Douala and Libreville through Camair-Co and Afrijet. Internal flights link N'Djamena to Abéché, Faya-Largeau, Moundou, and Sarh through Toumai Air Tchad when operational. Road entry from Cameroon uses the crossing at Ngueli Bridge into N'Djamena or the southern route through Moundou. The route from Niger enters near Lake Chad. Overland travel from Libya and Sudan faces closure or extreme danger due to armed groups and lack of government control in border regions.
The Central African CFA franc serves as currency throughout Chad. Banknotes circulate in denominations of 500, 1000, 2000, 5000, and 10000 francs. One euro equals approximately 656 CFA francs under the fixed exchange rate guaranteed by the French Treasury. Banks in N'Djamena include Commercial Bank Tchad, Ecobank Tchad, and Banque Agricole et Commerciale. ATMs exist only in N'Djamena and function irregularly with foreign cards. Credit cards see acceptance solely at major hotels catering to oil industry workers and international organization staff. Cash euros convert more reliably than US dollars. Carrying sufficient cash for the entire trip remains necessary outside the capital.
Hotels in N'Djamena range from 15000 to 150000 CFA francs per night. Budget guesthouses near the Grand Marché charge 15000 to 25000 francs. Mid-range hotels such as Hotel Le Chari cost 45000 to 70000 francs. Hotels serving expatriate workers including Radisson Blu and Kempinski charge 120000 to 150000 francs. Moundou and Sarh offer basic hotels at 12000 to 30000 francs. Abéché has guesthouses at similar rates. Camping in Zakouma National Park costs 5000 francs per person plus park fees of 25000 francs per day for non-African visitors. Meals at local restaurants cost 1500 to 3500 francs for rice or boule with sauce. Restaurants in N'Djamena serving Lebanese or French cuisine charge 8000 to 15000 francs per meal. A hired 4x4 vehicle with driver costs 75000 to 100000 francs per day for trips outside cities.
French serves as the official language alongside Arabic. Southern Chad predominantly speaks Sara languages including Ngambay and Mbaye. Central regions use Arabic dialects related to Chadian Arabic. Northern populations speak Dazaga and Tedaga in the Tibesti Mountains and Zaghawa near Sudan. The educated urban population conducts government and business in French. Market transactions in N'Djamena occur in both French and Chadian Arabic. English speakers remain rare outside international organization offices. Hiring guides who speak French becomes necessary for travel beyond N'Djamena.
Medical facilities in Chad rank among the most limited in Africa. N'Djamena contains three hospitals with basic surgical capacity: Hôpital Général de Référence Nationale, Hôpital de la Mère et de l'Enfant, and Hôpital de la Renaissance. These facilities lack advanced diagnostic equipment and maintain inconsistent supplies of medications. Private clinics serve expatriate communities but offer services equivalent to rural clinics in neighboring countries. Malaria prophylaxis is essential for all regions below 2000 meters elevation. Yellow fever vaccination receives mandatory requirement for entry with certificate checks at the airport. Hepatitis A and typhoid vaccines address food and water contamination risks. Medical evacuation to Nairobi or Paris becomes necessary for serious conditions. Travel insurance must explicitly cover Chad and include minimum 100000 euro medical evacuation coverage.