Is It Safe to Travel to Chad in 2026?
Chad - Level 4: Do Not Travel
Last updated: · Source: U.S. Department of State
⛔ Do Not Travel
The U.S. State Department advises against all travel to Chad or parts of Chad due to serious safety concerns. Key factors: crime, terrorism, civil_unrest, health, kidnapping, natural_disaster.
Chad, officially the Republic of Chad, is a landlocked country in Central Africa. It is bordered by Libya to the north, Sudan to the east, the Central African Republic to the south, Cameroon to the southwest, Nigeria to the southwest (at Lake Chad), and Niger to the west.
Is It Safe to Travel to Chad in 2026?
Chad is currently rated Level 4 — Do Not Travel by the U.S. Department of State. Do not travel to Chad for any reason due to risk of crime, terrorism, unrest, inadequate health infrastructure, kidnapping, and landmines. Outside of N’Djamena, the U.S. government has extremely limited ability to provide emergency services to U.S. citizens in Chad.
Key concerns cited in the advisory:
- crime
- terrorism
- civil_unrest
- health
- kidnapping
- natural_disaster
The overall security situation has been worsening recently. Contributing factors: Advisory level increased to 4, Do not travel to Chad for any reason due to risk of crime, terrorism, unrest, Limited ability to provide emergency services, Kidnapping for ransom is common in Chad.
Active restrictions in Chad:
- Movement restrictions in effect
- Security escort may be required
U.S. government employees need special authorization to travel outside of the capital due to safety risks.
Traveler Impact
Solo travelers face extreme risks from violent crime and kidnapping, particularly in areas outside of N'Djamena where emergency services are severely limited.
Business travelers must navigate significant risks from crime, terrorism, and civil unrest, with restricted movement and limited emergency support complicating operations.
Families with children face severe health risks due to inadequate medical facilities and high crime rates, making travel with kids extremely dangerous.
Remote workers will encounter extreme risks from crime and health issues, with unreliable infrastructure and no consular support outside the capital.
Data on this page comes from the U.S. Department of State, the CDC, the World Bank Worldwide Governance Indicators, and Freedom House. All sources are updated regularly and cross-referenced to provide a composite safety picture for Chad.
Regional Safety Breakdown
Do Not Travel Zones
The U.S. State Department advises against all travel to the following areas due to extreme risk:
- Chad
▶Level 4 — Do Not Travel1 region
▶Chad
Chad has 1 distinct regions with varying advisory levels. Risk conditions differ significantly by area.
▶Safety and Stability Ratings
Threat Severity (0-10 scale)
Chad has an overall threat severity of 9.9 out of 10. Crime risk is rated 8.0/10, terrorism risk 5.0/10, and kidnapping risk 9.0/10.
Governance Indicators (World Bank, percentile)
Political Stability▶
Measures the likelihood that the government will be destabilized or overthrown by unconstitutional or violent means, including politically-motivated violence and terrorism. Higher percentile means greater stability.
Rule of Law▶
Captures perceptions of the extent to which agents have confidence in and abide by the rules of society, including the quality of contract enforcement, property rights, the police, and the courts, as well as the likelihood of crime and violence.
Control of Corruption▶
Captures perceptions of the extent to which public power is exercised for private gain, including both petty and grand forms of corruption, as well as capture of the state by elites and private interests.
Government Effectiveness▶
Captures perceptions of the quality of public services, the quality of the civil service and the degree of its independence from political pressures, the quality of policy formulation and implementation, and the credibility of the government's commitment to such policies.
Regulatory Quality▶
Captures perceptions of the ability of the government to formulate and implement sound policies and regulations that permit and promote private sector development.
Voice & Accountability▶
Captures perceptions of the extent to which a country's citizens are able to participate in selecting their government, as well as freedom of expression, freedom of association, and a free media.
Data from World Bank Worldwide Governance Indicators (2023).
Freedom Status: Not Free — scored 15/100 by Freedom House (2024). View full freedom profile →
▶Entry Requirements and Health
Entry Information
Visa
Check embassy for details
Currency
Central African CFA Franc (XAF)
Language
French / Arabic
Notable restrictions:
- drug possession illegal including medical marijuana
- e-cigarettes prohibited
Vaccinations
Recommended:
⚠ Malaria Risk: high
Recommended medications: Atovaquone-proguanil, doxycycline, mefloquine, tafenoquine
Active health notices:
- alertGlobal Polio: Some international destinations have circulating poliovirus. Before any international travel, make sure you are up to date on your polio vaccines.
- watchGlobal Measles: Measles cases are rising in many countries around the world. All international travelers should be fully vaccinated against measles with the measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine.
Vaccination data sourced from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Consult a travel health professional before your trip.
Common Questions About Traveling to Chad
▶What is the current travel advisory level for Chad?
▶Is it safe to travel to Chad right now?
▶Do I need a visa to visit Chad?
▶What vaccines do I need for Chad?
▶Is Chad safe for solo travelers?
▶How bad is crime in Chad?
More Chad Data
Not Free — 15/100 on the Freedom House index.
Governance indicators including rule of law, corruption control, and regulatory quality.
View all 195 countries color-coded by advisory level.
Read the full advisory on travel.state.gov.
Access this data programmatically. Free tier available.
On-demand country risk PDFs from 6 government sources.