Chad - Business TravelChad - Business Travel

Business Customs

Chadians appreciate an opportunity to “get to know” potential partners before beginning concrete discussions.  Meetings usually begin with polite inquiries about personal and family health before getting down to business.  It is helpful in Chad to supplement written communication with as many face-to-face contacts as possible.  Patience and persistence are necessary to do business in Chad.  In professional settings, Chadians normally dress in business or traditional attire.  In adherence with cultural sensitivities, women should dress conservatively for business meetings in Chad.  

French and Arabic are the official languages of Chad.  Business correspondence, brochures, and advertising materials should all be prepared in French.  Translation of materials into Arabic can also provide an advantage.  Business calls are generally in French, but for some discussions, an interpreter who speaks Chadian Arabic may be necessary.

The use of the Internet is still very limited and few companies have websites.

Travel Advisory

For up-to-date travel advisories, consult the State Department travel page at: www.travel.state.gov.  

Visa Requirements

U.S. citizens require a visa to enter Chad.  Travelers must obtain a Chadian visa in advance and should not count on obtaining a visa at the airport upon landing.  U.S. visitors must register with the National Police at the Commissariat Central on Rue du Colonel Moll in N’Djamena within 72 hours after arrival.  Travelers are advised to carry their passports at all times, since authorities often request identification.  Long-term visas (Visa de Long Séjour) are also available, valid for up to one year.  

U.S. travelers can obtain tourist, business, and diplomatic visas from the Embassy of the Republic of Chad, 2002 R Street, NW, Washington, D.C.  20009.  Telephone: (202) 462-4009; fax: (202) 265-1937.  Entry visas are also available at Chadian embassies or consulates in Algeria, Belgium, Benin, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Central African Republic, China, Republic of Congo, Cote d’Ivoire, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Egypt, Ethiopia, Equatorial Guinea, France, Gabon, Germany, India, Italy, Kuwait, Libya, Niger, Nigeria, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Sudan, Russia, United Arab Emirates, and Qatar.  

U.S. Companies that require travel of foreign businesspersons to the United States should be advised that security evaluations are an interagency process, and travelers should apply for the necessary visa as soon as possible. 

Currency

Chad uses the CFA Franc (FCFA), which is pegged to the Euro at a fixed rate of one Euro to 655.957 FCFA.  Exchange rates with the USD therefore vary according to the strength of the dollar versus the Euro.  The average exchange rate in 2018 was 596 FCFA per U.S. dollar.

Telecommunications/Electronics

Chad’s telecommunications markets are still developing.  Penetration rates as of 2016 were mobile telephones at 40.2% and Internet at 18.1% (well over 90% of Chadians who access the Internet do so via their mobile phones).  Chad’s mobile sector is growing quickly through competition between two foreign-owned networks – Bharti Airtel (formerly Zain), and Millicom (Tigo) now bought by Morocco Telecom.  The national telecom and fixed-line operator, Sotel Tchad, operates the country’s third mobile network.  Mobile phone handsets are expensive in Chad; smartphones are scarce.  It is advisable for business travelers to bring a GSM capable phone or smartphone to Chad.  SIM cards for all of the carriers are relatively inexpensive and easy to purchase.  

Transportation

Chad is a landlocked country with occasionally challenging transportation links between major cities and neighboring countries.  The nearest port is Douala, Cameroon, 1,800 km (1,120 miles) from N'Djamena.   

N'Djamena International Airport is administered by the International Agency for Air Navigation Security in Africa (ASECNA).  Thirteen international carriers serve N’Djamena:  Air Côte d'Ivoire, Air France, ASKY Airlines, Camair-Co, CEIBA Intercontinental, EgyptAir, Ethiopian Airlines, Karinou Airlines,  MAF (an air charter service), Royal Air Maroc, Sudan Airways, Turkish Airlines, Air Ivoire and the UN Humanitarian Air Service (UNHAS). Additionally, there are several cargo routes and charter carriers. Air travel from Chad to other African countries can be costly and time-consuming. Several small companies offer chartered flights to domestic cities and the Zakouma National Park in southeast Chad.  Others offer cargo service to Dubai (United Arab Emirates) and Saudi Arabia.

Road conditions in Chad and the region are challenging.  In N'Djamena, main roads are paved; other roads are highly variable, normally dirt and sand.  During the rainy season (mid-June to mid-September) many roads become impassable or are restricted by flooding.  It is imperative to watch for pedestrians, bicyclists, motorcyclists, and livestock, as they may not be visible until they are in very close proximity.

In cities, motorists share the roads with bicycles, motor scooters, pedestrians, and non-motorized carts.  Rush hours are generally 7:00 a.m.  - 9:00 a.m.  and 3:00 p.m.  - 6:00 p.m.  Monday - Thursday; 7:00 a.m.  - 9:00 a.m.  and 11:00 a.m.  - 12:30 p.m.  on Friday.  Drivers are urged to be particularly observant at these times.  There are only a few traffic lights in N'Djamena and they are often out of service.  Drivers are supposed to yield to traffic on their right, particularly when other cars are entering traffic circles.

In rural areas, drivers should watch for livestock crossing the roads, and for large birds that rest on the roads.  Drivers should be alert to older trucks, which do not always have functioning headlights.

Emergency services are poor, so drivers should exercise extreme caution.  Travelers should always wear seat belts.  When traveling by car, be sure to carry a spare tire.  Professional roadside service is not available.  When traveling outside the capital, it is imperative to carry sufficient quantities of drinking water.  Drivers should ensure that their gas tanks are at least half-full at all times, as gas stations are not widely available.  Unleaded

Gasoline may be purchased in an emergency from roadside stands, but it is of poor quality.

Travelers on roads in all areas of the country are subject to attack by armed bandits.  Please refer to the Department of State’s Road Safety page for more information.

Language

French and Arabic are the official languages of Chad.  Chadian Arabic varies considerably from Classical Arabic.  Chadians may be able to understand the latter, while speakers of Classical Arabic may have difficulty understanding Chadian Arabic.  Although there is a growing number of English speakers in the government and business communities, proficiency in French remains important.

Health 

With the exception of a few international clinics, health facilities in Chad are not up to western standards.  A valid U.S. passport and international health certificate (aka shot card, yellow card) indicating recent immunizations against yellow fever and cholera are required for entry into Chad. Vaccinations against typhoid, tetanus, diphtheria, meningitis, and hepatitis are recommended.  Malaria is common; malaria prophylaxis is strongly recommended.  

Local Time, Business Hours and Holidays

Chad lies entirely in the West African time zone (WAT), which is one hour ahead of Greenwich Mean Time (GMT+1).  Chad observes the following public holidays:
 

Note:    (M) - Muslim holidays are based on the lunar calendar, and the exact dates may vary in different countries.  Travelers may want to confirm the dates of these holidays before traveling.

For government offices, working time is usually Monday through Thursday from 7:00 AM to 3:30 PM, with a 30-minute break at 12:00, and Friday from 7:00 AM to 12:00 PM.  Commercial working hours vary but in general are from 8:00 AM to 12:30 PM and from 4:00 to 8:00 PM.  Offices close Friday afternoons.  Offices are closed on Sundays, but markets and restaurants are usually open seven days a week.

Temporary Entry of Materials or Personal Belongings

Articles such as clothing and other personal effects along with professional tools and devices, musical instruments, and other personal items may be allowed duty-free entry for short- and long-term residents.  Foreigners wishing to import personal vehicles have two alternatives: 

(1) Those intending to stay for a predetermined length of time can obtain a Form D18 from the Chadian Customs office.  The form allows for temporary admission of a vehicle for up to two years.  The vehicle will receive temporary transit tags along with an assigned validity date; the vehicle must then be re-exported at the end of the stipulated period.  

(2) Those intending to stay in Chad for a longer period must present their vehicles to Customs, who will determine duty based on the invoice value or, in the absence of an invoice, the estimated value calculated by the Customs office.  Customs duties are based on the following duty schedule: 30 percent Import Tariff; VAT Tax 18 percent, two percent for a license fee ("redevance") and four percent Income Tax.  Upon payment of duties, the vehicle is inspected by the Bureau of Transportation and receives a tag number.

Travel Related Web Resources

For up-to-date travel information, consult the State Department travel page at: www.travel.state.gov.