The Foreign Office has updated its traveller information for those heading to the West African beauty spot of Togo. Travellers are being urged to now check with their airline prior to travel to see if they require a transit visa when on a layover at any of Togo's airports.

People wanting to visit Togo always require at least a single-entry tourist visa which is valid for 15 days and must be applied for at least six days before you plan to arrive in the country. However, a separate transit visa is required if you're just travelling through Togo on a layover for any of the country's airports.

While some countries exclude certain travellers from specific countries from needing a transit visa, Togo has no exception and requires all travellers passing through the country to hold an eligible transit visa. In its entry requirement update, the Foreign Office said: "You must get a visa if you’re travelling through Togo. For layovers in Togo’s airports, it is advisable to check with the airline on whether a transit visa is required."

There are a variety of reasons why some countries require passengers travelling through to hold a transit visa. In some cases, it can be to prevent someone from pretending to travel through a country and instead stay in that country under false pretences. A number of major countries around the world require some degree of transit visas for travellers to pass through the country, including: