Togo launches e-visa

Public services

Friday, 01 July 2022 15:23

(Togo First) - Togo is launching its electronic visa (e-Visa), a new version of its national travel platform (https://voyage.gouv.tg).

"From now on, anyone wishing to enter or leave Togo must first visit https://voyage.gouv.tg," wrote in a joint note, Ministers Yark Damehame, and Cina Lawson, respectively in charge of security and digital transformation.

The website enables people to fill out their immigration form (mandatory for all entry and exit of the territory), apply for a visa for nationals of a country for which entry into Togo requires a visa, and declare their vaccination status and/or register to take a PCR COVID-19 test, for those who have not been vaccinated.

The platform was initially launched almost 2 years ago, on August 03, 2020. Its new version, which has just been deployed, integrates all immigration formalities that a traveler entering or leaving the territory must complete, including visa application and health information.

The portal (https://voyage.gouv.tg) provides several features such as a "Visa Wizard", which allows incoming travelers to know if they need a visa to travel to Togo. It also offers the traveler the possibility to create an individual account with a password; on this account, personal information such as names, contact details, passport numbers, etc., can be saved to avoid having to fill this information again for each trip.

It should be noted that the platform and the accompanying devices currently in place at air borders will be gradually extended to land and sea borders during this year 2022, according to public authorities.

These updates come a few months after the government announced (in February 2022) its intention to digitalize the process of applying for and issuing visas and residence permits for foreigners.

Ayi Renaud Dossavi

REFORMS OVERVIEW

STARTING A BUSINESS (more info)

At the fifteenth position, worldwide, and first in Africa, under the Starting a Business index of the 2020 Doing Business ranking, Togo sustains its reformative dynamics with more reforms….

ENFORCING CONTRACTS (more info)

Compared to some years ago when it was one of the lowest rankers under the Doing Business’ Enforcing Contracts indicator, Togo, leveraging many efforts to improve its business climate, was able to jump significantly on the index in the recent years... .

CONTRACT EXECUTION (more info)

Creation of special chambers of commerce for small debts • Creation of chambers of commerce at the Court of Appeal • Civil and commercial cases now handled by distinct clerks • Establishment of commercial courts in Lomé and Kara • Lawyers and bailiffs now have access to the FORSETI COMMERCIAL platform • A maximum period of 100 days was fixed to settle a commercial dispute .

TRADING ACROSS BORDERS (more info)

In comparison to previous years,Togo has significantly improved its ranking under the“Trading across borders” indicator by adopting multiple reforms that focus mainly on the digitization and reduction in delays, for import and export procedures related to import and export.

In comparison to previous years, Togo has significantly improved its ranking on the “Trading across borders” index by adopting multiple reforms that focus mainly on the digitalization and reduction in delays, for import and export procedures related to import and export.

CONSTRUCTION PERMIT (more info)

After moving from the 133rd to 127th place under the 2020 Doing Business’ construction permit index, Togo intends to reiterate this feat in the coming edition of the global ranking. To this end, it has introduced this year multiple reforms.

GETTING ELECTRICITY (more info)

Over the past two years, Togo’s ranking under the Doing Business’ Getting electricity and water indicator has increased consistently. Owing this performance to multiple reforms aimed at making it easier for businesses to access power and water, Lomé plans to introduce even more reforms this year to keep up its improvements.

REGISTERING A PROPERTY (more info)

Out of all the 'Doing Business’ indicators, Property Registration is where Togo has improved the most since 2018. Indeed, after spending years in the lowest part of this ranking, the country now seeks to beat Rwanda which is the best performer on this index in Africa. To do so, Lomé has been introducing many reforms, with the latest batch implemented this year.

PUBLIC PROCUREMENT (more info)

From professionalization to digitization, through legislative regulations, Togo’s public procurement framework is constantly being modernized. Several reforms have been implemented to improve the sector much to the benefit of the private sector, which is the focus of the National Development Plan.

PAYING TAXES AND DUTIES (more info)

To improve its business environment, Togo introduced some important reforms related to the payment of tax and duties. From the replacement of some taxes to the cancellation of others through exemptions, the country has only one objective: offer the most attractive tax framework to investors and economic operators. To achieve this, the authorities relied on digitization.