Togo student visa and student residence card

Togo Voyage lists three immigration visas, one of them for study or internship. It is meant for foreigners who come to settle in Togo for higher education or a training placement. ECOWAS citizens are exempt from visas but must still complete the online immigration formalities before reaching the border.

Mandatory: the online application form, a scan of the first three passport pages with validity at least three months beyond the visa, a recent photo, a flight booking or ticket if arriving by air, and an enrolment certificate from an approved educational institution in Togo or an internship certificate from a duly registered company or association. Strongly recommended: travel insurance, a hotel booking or accommodation certificate from the town hall or prefecture, an invitation letter and a bank statement.

The immigration visa is issued for 31 to 90 days with multiple entries at XOF 65,000; requests made at short notice become Arrivée Express visas at double the price. The DGDN student cards cost XOF 100,000 for the one-year temporary student card, renewable each year, and XOF 250,000 for the three-year ordinary student card, renewable until the end of studies.

Immigration visa holders must start the residence card formalities once in Togo, at the DGDN or online. The student list asks for a request addressed to the Director General of National Documentation, a certificate of no conviction from the country of residence, a school certificate for the current year, three photos, the student’s email address in Togo, a medical certificate under three months old from a state doctor with the blood group, copies of the first three passport pages (valid at least six months) and of the current visa, the previous card if renewing, and a recommendation from a contact person with a copy of that person’s ID.

The immigration visa can be renewed once. The one-year student card must be renewed before it expires if studies continue, and a late renewal can be fined XOF 300,000. According to the DGDN, the one-year card allows part-time work on the university campus, and the three-year card part-time work linked to studies with an authorisation from the competent authorities; the student card does not give the right to settle in Togo after studies unless the holder qualifies for another card.