Rules for overlanding in Togo

Our summary of the country advice published by the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Viaggiare Sicuri) on 15 January 2026.

Which licence you need

All vehicles — An Italian licence is accepted. Check what applies to the licence you hold.

An International Driving Permit states the categories it covers: check yours covers what you will actually drive. A car licence does not cover a motorcycle, and a heavy camper or a truck can need a higher category.

At the wheel

Insurance and vehicle paperwork — Third-party liability cover is taken out at the border. Cars must be insured, and an annual technical inspection plus payment of a tax to the OTR, the Office Togolais des Recettes, are required.
Temporary import — A Carnet de Passage en Douane is required for a vehicle brought in temporarily.
Helmet compulsory — Since 2023 the highway code makes helmets and rear-view mirrors compulsory on motorcycles. Driving without a seatbelt draws a 5,000 CFA fine.
Checkpoints — You have to stop at the checkpoints placed along the main roads. Gendarmerie, army and forest guards all run them, and the advice is to respect them.
Night driving between towns — Avoid driving between towns at night, both to reduce the risk of attack and because of accidents caused by the uneven road surface and by roadworks that are poorly or badly signed.
Lomé after dark — In Lomé, avoid moving around at night on foot or by moto-taxi. Use car taxis instead, shared or private; apps exist for booking private ones.
After an accident — Avoid the crowds that gather around accidents, as they can turn violent. If you are involved in one, go to the police.

What catches travellers out

Visa online in advance — A visa is required and must be obtained online at least a week before departure; make sure you have the confirmation code before travelling. Follow the border formalities carefully at every crossing, in and out, by air and by land.
Drugs — Possession and use of narcotics carry heavy prison sentences and fines.
Homosexuality — Same-sex relations are illegal, punishable by one to three years in prison and a fine between 1,500 and 4,500 euros. The law is not always enforced, but social acceptance is low, particularly in rural communities outside Lomé.
Declare your cash — Declare the currency you carry at customs. The maximum allowed is the equivalent of 10,000 US dollars.

Before you rely on this

This is our summary of advice written by the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs for Italian travellers, published on 15 January 2026. We summarise in good faith, but we cannot guarantee it is accurate, current or complete, and we take no responsibility for decisions made on the basis of it. Rules change without notice and are applied by officials at the border, not by websites. Always read the original source and the travel advice your own government publishes for Togo before you travel. GuideMeet has no way of checking whether an individual guide meets any standard mentioned here — ask them directly.

Source: Viaggiare Sicuri — Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, updated 15 January 2026. Last checked by GuideMeet on 2026-09-20.