He made his debut for the Cameroon national team in 2000. He represented his country at the 2002 FIFA World Cup, and the African Cup of Nations in the same year, which Cameroon won. Tchato appeared in two FIFA Confederations Cup competitions, in 2001 and 2003. He also played in the 2004 and 2008 African Cup of Nations, where Cameroon were defeated by Egypt in the final.