Founded in 2015French non-profit (1901 law)

66% tax-deductibleFrench income tax

Volunteer guide

Preparing your trip to Togo, step by step

Visa, vaccines, budget, packing: what you need to know, with a checklist that remembers your progress.

My departure checklistEstimate my budget

Yellow fever

the only compulsory vaccine

E-visa

online, at least 5 days ahead

GMT

all year, no daylight saving

€1 = 656 XOF

fixed rate

Your departure checklist

Tick items as you go: your progress is saved on this device.

Tasks done0/19
3 months before
1–2 months before
Departure week
In your suitcase

Visa and formalities

E-visa required

Apply online on voyage.gouv.tg at least 5 days before departure (aim for 3–4 weeks). Visas are issued for 15, 30 or 90 days.

How much?

The fee depends on length and number of entries: check the current fee on the Togolese government’s official site, voyage.gouv.tg. Intermediary sites add their own charges.

Passport

Valid at least 6 months after your return date, with blank pages. Keep a paper copy and a digital copy.

More than 90 days

For a long mission, talk to us before you leave: we will guide you through the extension on site.

Health and vaccines

See a travel clinic 4 to 6 weeks before departure: they will advise you according to your health and the length of your stay.

Yellow fever: compulsory

The certificate is checked on arrival. The vaccine is given at approved centres, at least 10 days before departure, and is valid for life.

Recommended vaccines

Up-to-date diphtheria-tetanus-polio, hepatitis A and B, typhoid; meningitis and rabies depending on season and length of stay: your doctor decides with you.

Malaria

Present all year round: preventive treatment on prescription, repellent, long sleeves in the evening and a mosquito net.

Water and food

Bottled or filtered water, peeled fruit, well-cooked food. At the Midezon house, meals are prepared for volunteers.

Insurance

Health and repatriation insurance is essential (often €1–3 per day). Also check what your bank card covers.

This advice does not replace a doctor’s opinion. References: CDC Travelers’ Health and your government’s travel advice.

Estimate your budget

Midezon fees, flight, visa, vaccines, insurance, pocket money: the full cost of your trip, item by item.

Type of stay

Apart from Midezon fees, amounts are estimates: adjust them to your situation.

  • Midezon fees (board & lodging)50 € + 75 € × 4350 €
  • Return flight700 €
  • E-visa60 €
  • Vaccines & health150 €
  • Insurance15 € × 460 €
  • Pocket money35 € × 4140 €
Estimated total1 460 €

i.e. €365 per week, all included

Flights from Europe to Lomé usually cost €600–1,000 depending on season and how early you book. Some insurers cover part of travel vaccines.

Register

Funding your trip

Many volunteers fund part or all of their trip. What works:

Grants

Ask your school or university’s international office (for example the Turing Scheme in the UK) and local foundations.

Sponsors

Local businesses, service clubs (Rotary, Lions), shops: present your project and offer a report in return.

Events

Bake sale, raffle, party, concert: one well-organised evening often pays for part of the flight.

Online fundraiser

Share your project with friends and family through an online fundraiser, and send news during your mission.

Summer job

A few weeks of seasonal work often cover the on-site costs.

Need proof for a funder? We issue a mission attestation on request.

On site: money, phone, transport

Money

The CFA franc: €1 = 655.957 XOF, fixed rate. Visa cards work in most ATMs, Mastercard far less. Bring some euros in cash too (avoid €5 and €10 notes, poorly accepted at exchange).

Phone

Yas (formerly Togocom) or Moov Africa SIM card, bought with your passport; mobile data is affordable and WhatsApp is everywhere. Country code: +228.

Electricity

220 V, European sockets (types C and E): UK travellers need an adapter. Power cuts happen: a power bank helps.

Time

GMT all year round: same as London in winter, 1 hour behind in summer.

Getting around

Taxis and zémidjans (motorbike taxis): agree the price before you get on and ask for a helmet. The team will advise you on routes.

Etiquette

Greet before asking anything, give and receive with your right hand, ask before taking someone’s photo.

Life at the Midezon house

You stay at the association’s house in Sanguera, on the outskirts of Lomé, with other volunteers: three meals a day, water and electricity included.

The house and daily lifeTogo at a glance

Registering and confirming your trip

  1. 1

    Register

    Online form, at least 5 to 6 weeks before departure (3 months for a healthcare internship).

  2. 2

    Membership and documents

    Membership form, CV, cover letter, student card or diploma.

  3. 3

    Letter of invitation

    We send it for your visa and, if needed, for your school or your funder.

  4. 4

    Something comes up?

    Let us know at least 4 weeks before departure: your dates can be postponed.

  5. 5

    When you return

    A short questionnaire, and a mission attestation on request.

Go to the registration form

Frequently asked questions before departure

Do I need a visa for Togo?

Yes. Most non-African travellers apply for an e-visa on the official site voyage.gouv.tg at least 5 days before departure (ideally 3–4 weeks). Visas are issued for 15, 30 or 90 days; your passport must be valid 6 months after your return.

Which vaccines do I need for Togo?

Yellow fever vaccination is compulsory: the certificate is checked on arrival. Recommended: diphtheria-tetanus-polio, hepatitis A and B, typhoid and, depending on the case, meningitis and rabies. Malaria prevention is advised. See a travel clinic 4 to 6 weeks before departure.

What budget should I plan for a month in Togo?

About €1,500 all-in for 4 weeks: €350 Midezon fees (board and lodging), €600–1,000 for the flight, plus visa, vaccines, insurance and €30–50 of pocket money per week. The simulator works it out with your own figures.

Will my bank card work in Togo?

Visa cards work in most ATMs (cash in CFA francs); Mastercard is far less accepted. Tell your bank before leaving and bring some euros in cash too.

How do I get a phone and internet connection?

Buy a Yas (formerly Togocom) or Moov Africa SIM card on arrival (passport required). Data bundles are cheap and WhatsApp is used everywhere.

Is Togo safe for volunteering?

Our missions take place in the south, in the Maritime region: in Lomé and Sanguera, and in the villages of Davié-Tékpo and Begbé near Tsévié, with airport pickup and a local team. As several governments recommend, avoid the far north (Savanes region, near the Burkina Faso border). Check your government’s travel advice before you go.

What if I have to cancel?

Let us know as early as possible, at least 4 weeks before departure: your dates can be postponed. Cancellation insurance can cover your flight.

Ready to go?

Your place is waiting in Sanguera. Register, and we will help you with every step of this guide.

RegisterVideo call with the team