Guidance

Togo: Knowledge Base profile

Published 3 September 2025

Version 2.0

About: Togo

This document contains useful information about Togo which will assist His Majesty’s Passport Office staff process passport applications.

Contacts

If you have any questions about the document and your line manager or senior caseworker cannot help you or you think that the document has factual errors then email the Guidance team.

If you notice any formatting errors in this document (broken links, spelling mistakes and so on) or have any comments about the layout or navigability of the document then you can email the Guidance team.

Publication

Below is information on when this version of the document was published:

• version 2.0
• published for Home Office staff on 27 August 2025

Changes from last version of this document

This document has been updated with formatting changes.

Togo: names

This section gives HM Passport Office operational staff information about names in Togo.

Names in Togo generally consist of:

• forename
• middle name
• family name

Togo: nationality

This section gives HM Passport Office operational staff information about nationality in Togo.

Dual nationality is recognised in Togo where:

• a woman acquires another nationality upon marriage to a foreign national spouse
• a person has two nationalities at birth
• a person is part of the second generation in their family to be born in Togo
• Togo nationality is acquired by declaration

Togo: legitimacy

This section gives HM Passport Office operational staff information about legitimacy in Togo

Legitimacy

Togo recognises a difference between legitimate and illegitimate births.

A child will be considered:

• legitimate if:
  • their parents were married at the time of birth
  • their parents marry after the birth
• illegitimate if their parents never marry

Togo: gender recognition

This section gives HM Passport Office operational staff information about gender recognition in Togo.

Transgender citizens are not recognised in Togo.

Togo: civil partnership and marriage

This section gives HM Passport Office operational staff information about civil partnership and marriage in Togo.

Civil partnerships and same sex marriages are not recognised in Togo.

Togo recognises:

• traditional marriages, performed by a traditional chief or elder
• civil marriages
• religious marriages

All marriages must be registered through the civil marriage process to be legally recognised.

Togo: documents

This section gives HM Passport Office operational staff information about documents in Togo.

All birth, marriage, and death certificates are registered and held locally in Togo. There is no centralised register.

Birth certificates

All births in Togo must be registered within 45 days. Late registration is allowed and incurs a fee.

The birth certificate will include the child’s, father’s, and mother’s details, including the number of children born to the mother in her lifetime.

Marriage certificates

All marriages in Togo must be registered immediately. Late registration is not allowed.

All marriages must be registered through the civil marriage process to be legal. Marriage certificates are issued for all marriages.

Death certificates

All deaths in Togo must be registered within 15 days. Late registration is allowed and incurs a fine. Death certificates are issued immediately for all deaths.

Death certificates can be issued to:

• immediate family members
• authorised representatives, such as lawyers or notaries
• government officials and health authorities