Voodoo Markets, Mountain Villages & West African Spirit
VAT (TVA) is 18% on most goods and services. A reduced 10% rate applies to accommodation, catering, and other services provided by registered hotels, restaurants, and licensed tour operators. Financial, insurance, medical, and transport services are exempt.
Generally when you spend at least 183 days in Togo during a calendar year (cumulative, not necessarily consecutive), or when your main home / centre of economic interests is in Togo. Residents are taxed on worldwide income.
Through PAYE: your employer applies a 28% standard allowance and family deductions, runs the income through the progressive IRPP scale (0–35%), withholds the tax plus your 4% CNSS share, and remits everything to the OTR.
The standard corporate income tax rate is 27%. Non-resident companies without a permanent establishment in Togo face a final 20% withholding tax on Togo-source income.
No. Togo is not a party to the Hague Apostille Convention, so foreign documents used for tax or civil purposes usually require full consular legalisation rather than an apostille.
No — do not drink untreated tap water. Use bottled, boiled, or filtered water for drinking and brushing teeth, especially outside Lomé. Sachet and bottled water are widely sold.
Yes. Malaria is endemic throughout Togo all year. Take antimalarial medication as advised by a travel doctor, sleep under a treated net, use repellent, and get any fever tested quickly.
For routine and moderate care, private clinics in Lomé are generally the better option. For major surgery or serious emergencies, medical evacuation to Accra, Abidjan, or Europe is common — which is why evacuation insurance is essential.
Yes — proof of yellow fever vaccination is mandatory and checked on arrival. Other vaccines such as hepatitis A/B, typhoid, and meningitis are strongly recommended.
Carry cash. Togo is largely a cash economy; cards work only in some hotels, supermarkets, and ATMs. Mobile money (T-Money/Mixx, Flooz) covers transfers and many bills.
The zémidjan (motorcycle taxi) is fastest and cheapest — agree the fare before boarding. Shared taxis run fixed routes, and private cars or drivers are best for longer or night trips.
Not fully — power cuts are common. Many households use prepaid Cash Power meters plus an inverter/battery or generator for backup.
A lot for anything official — French is the sole official language. English is little help outside a few international settings, so learning French is strongly advised.
Roughly December to February, when a dry, dusty wind from the Sahara brings hazy skies, cooler nights, and dust that can irritate eyes and sinuses.