Do You Need Visa to Visit Cote d’Ivoire (Ivory Coast)?

Visa is required

Visa On Arrival

Do You Need Visa to Visit Cote d’Ivoire (Ivory Coast)? Check It Out!

Visa Types

Visa Types & Categories to Apply for Cote d’Ivoire (Ivory Coast)

Visa Types & Categories to Apply for Cote d’Ivoire (Ivory Coast)

You can realize your planned trip to Cote d’Ivoire (Ivory Coast) by obtaining Cote d’Ivoire (Ivory Coast) visa. Foreign nationals can apply to Cote d’Ivoire (Ivory Coast) short-term visas (tourist visa, e-visa) for temporary reasons (tourism, business, cultural, health, study, and other short-term purposes). If you want to stay in Cote d’Ivoire (Ivory Coast) for a longer period for some reason (such as study, employment, etc.), you can also apply for Cote d’Ivoire (Ivory Coast) long-term visas. Click here for more information about Cote d’Ivoire (Ivory Coast) visa.

Citizens of all countries can obtain an online visa (e-Visa) or an embassy visa depending on their choices.

Cote d’Ivoire (Ivory Coast) E-visa

Cote d’Ivoire (Ivory Coast) E-visa

  • It is the simplest and fastest way to get your visa. Citizens of the eligible nationalities can, within a few minutes, complete their application and pay their visa fees on the dedicated website. With your scanned photo, your passport, and your credit card, you can obtain your visa.
  • You must first apply for pre-enrollment to get Cote d'Ivoire (Ivory Coast) e-Visa by registering certain personal information and uploading some documents.
  • After pre-enrollment, you should pay the fee for obtaining the visa, the period of which shall be 3 months (multiple-entries).
  • Payment is made with a VISA CARD or a MASTER CARD.
  • The applicant receives an instant email when the payment is made (accompanied by an attachment on which the unique and personal code of payment certificate appears)

NB: The approved pre-enrollment document is valid for 3 months from the date of approval.

  • With the “Approved pre-enrollment” document, you should present yourself at Abidjan Airport upon arrival.
  • You perform your biometric enrollment there, and the visa is printed and issued immediately. 

Standard Procedure in Embassies

  • If you are not eligible for the e-Visa or if the type of visa you wish cannot be obtained through the e-Visa procedure, you can go to the nearest Cote d’Ivoire (Ivory Coast) Embassy with the required documents you are required to bring.

 

Required Documents for Cote d’Ivoire (Ivory Coast) E-visa

Pre-enrollment consists of registering certain personal information and uploading 3 documents: 

1. Passport Bio Page

2. Reservation of the Plane Ticket

3. Letter of Invitation or the Accommodation Certificate.  

 
Required Documents for Cote d’Ivoire (Ivory Coast) E-visa to Present at Abidjan Airport

1. The Original Receipt of Payment of the Visa Fees 73 Euros Including Bank Charges;

2. DST Approval (Pre-visa or Let-Off);

3. Passport Valid for a Minimum of Six Months;

4. The International Certificate of Vaccination Against Yellow Fever


NB: You should print the payment receipt and the DST approval.

 

Processing Time for Cote d’Ivoire (Ivory Coast) E-visa

The average processing time for Cote d’Ivoire (Ivory Coast) e-visa is 48 hours (2 working days).

 

Cote d’Ivoire (Ivory Coast) E-visa Fee

Cote d’Ivoire (Ivory Coast) E-visa fee is 73 EUR. The fee may vary depending on your nationality or depending on the category of E-visa.

 

Where to Apply for Cote d’Ivoire (Ivory Coast) E-visa Application?

You will apply to Cote d’Ivoire (Ivory Coast) e-Visa online. You can apply for an E-visa through this website.

Cote d’Ivoire (Ivory Coast) Short-term Visa

Cote d’Ivoire (Ivory Coast) Short-term Visa

You can also apply for short-term (from 1 to 3 months) visas for realizing your temporary travel to Cote d’Ivoire (Ivory Coast). Reasons to apply for this type of visa can be tourism, visiting family or friends, business trips, short-term education, exchange programs, short-term work, and many other non-permanent nuances. You can check all the required documents for each type of visa application, visa fees, processing time, and where to apply for a visa below.

 

Required Documents for Cote d’Ivoire (Ivory Coast) Short-term Visa

 

1. Application Form 

  • Fully completed in English and signed and dated by the applicant himself (signed by both parents in case of minors, below the age of 18)

2. Passport

  • Validity minimum of six months beyond the date of your departure from Cote d’Ivoire (Ivory Coast).
  • Signed by bearer
  • Passport not older than 10 years (issued in the last 10 years)
  • At least one or two free “visa pages”
  • Undamaged pictures securely affixed with/to passport

3. Photo

  • NEW! Should not be older than 6 months.
  • A frontal view of the face-covering 70-80% (32-26mm) of the photo.
  • A uniform and white background.
  • Clear facial features and eyes – not covered by hair or glasses frame.
  • 4.5x3.5 size

4. ID Card Copy

  • Validity minimum of six months beyond the date of your departure from Cote d’Ivoire (Ivory Coast).

5. Residence Permit/Visa Copy (if your country of residence and citizenship are different)

  • Validity minimum of six months beyond the date of your departure from Cote d’Ivoire (Ivory Coast).

6. Photocopies

  • Copy of the main page of your passport
  • Copies of previous visas
  • Copy of visa for the final destination (if any)

7. Travel Itinerary 

  • Flight reservation (return ticket)
  • Valid (existing) hotel/accommodation booking/reservation with the full address (name, street, city, zip code, contact information, booking ref.)

8. Letter from Local Employer/Sponsor (Proof of Occupation)

  • The letter must include:
    • Name, postal address, and telephone number of sponsor/company
    • Details regarding the applicant’s working position, starting date of the employment, and salary
    • The timeframe of work leave (expected date to resume duties) and purpose of travel
  • Valid trade license copy and company ownership documents (if a person is an owner of the company).
  • Letter from University (if student)
  • Copy of sponsor’s valid passport and residence visa (if any) to be attached to letter from sponsor (if an applicant is a dependent)

9. Proof of Financial Means

  • Generally, there are several recognized ways to prove your financial sufficiency:
    • A personal bank statement indicating your financial
    • Credit card
    • Cash
    • Traveler's cheques
    • Payslips
    • Proof of employment
    • Supporting document to attest sponsor’s readiness to cover your expenses during your stay
    • Proof of prepaid accommodation
    • Document about accommodation in private
    • Proof of prepaid transport
    • Other

10. Medical Insurance

  • It should cover all the duration you intend to stay in Cote d’Ivoire (Ivory Coast)

11. The Appointment Confirmation Certificate

12. The Original of the Payment Receipt Made Online

13.The International Certificate of Vaccination Against Yellow Fever

14. Supporting Documents that Show Your Reason for a Trip

     For tourism:

  • Confirmation of the accommodation (hotel confirmation, apartment rental contract, etc.)
  • Proof of financial means for the stay.

     For business/congress/sports travel:

  • Original invitation letter by the company/organization
  • Confirmation of the accommodation (hotel confirmation, apartment rental contract, etc.)

     For private visit:

  • Confirmation of hotel reservation or
  • Original invitation letter by inviting person
  • The original document that confirms the ownership of estate (home) of your inviting person, if you are going to stay there
  • Copies of passport, ID card/residence permit of your inviting person

     For studying or research (short-term):

  • Original invitation letter by the educational establishment in Cote d’Ivoire (Ivory Coast)
  • Acceptance letter to education establishment in Cote d’Ivoire (Ivory Coast)
  • Confirmation of the accommodation (apartment rental contract, dormitory contract, etc.)
  • The last school certificate or school card as well as the last diplomas obtained
  • Proof of subsistence at the time of attendance or a certificate of scholarship stipulating the amount and timing of the stipend
  • Health insurance plan

      For mission:

  • Original invitation letter by a company in Cote d’Ivoire (Ivory Coast)
  • Confirmation of the accommodation (apartment rental contract, hotel confirmation, etc.)
  • Mission order

15. For Minors:

  • Copy and English translation of either birth certificate/proof of adoption/custody decree if parents are divorced/death certificate of parent
  • Permit letter by parents/guardians if minor is traveling alone or permit letter by one of the guardians/parents in case of minor is traveling with one of them.
  • The identity document of the parent (father, mother, or legal guardian) who authorized the trip (passport, national ID card, or residence permit).

*Additional documents can be required by the embassy.

 

Processing Time for Cote d’Ivoire (Ivory Coast) Short-term Visa

The average processing time for a Cote d’Ivoire (Ivory Coast) Short-term Visa is up to 48 hours (2 working days). It depends on your visa application country.

 

Cote d’Ivoire (Ivory Coast) Short-term Visa Fee

Cote d’Ivoire (Ivory Coast) Short-term Visa fee is 50 EUR for single-entry and a multiple-entry visa (it can vary depending on your country and nationality). Additionally, you may also need to pay other fees, courier service fee, etc., depending on the country and location of your documents' submission.

 

Where to Apply for Cote d’Ivoire (Ivory Coast) Short-term Visa?

You will apply for a Cote d’Ivoire (Ivory Coast) Short-term visa in Cote d’Ivoire (Ivory Coast) visa application centers, embassies, or consulates, whichever accepts visa applications in your country of residence. If there is none of them in your country, you need to apply to the nearest embassy or consulate to your location.

Cote d’Ivoire (Ivory Coast) Long-term Visa

Cote d’Ivoire (Ivory Coast) Long-term Visa

Even if your country is exempt from visa requirements, if you intend to stay longer in Cote d’Ivoire (Ivory Coast), you will need to apply for a long-stay visa from your home country before coming to Cote d’Ivoire (Ivory Coast). 

In some countries, Cote d’Ivoire (Ivory Coast)'s official embassies, and consulates don’t process long-term visas, visa applicants apply for short-term tourist visas for traveling to Cote d’Ivoire (Ivory Coast), and they only apply for residence permit when they have already arrived in Cote d’Ivoire (Ivory Coast). This procedure can vary depending on your country of residence, nationality, and the policy of the embassy you apply for a visa.

Cote d’Ivoire (Ivory Coast) Long-term Visa is given to foreigners who wish to live in Cote d’Ivoire (Ivory Coast) for a longer period of time or to have temporary or permanent residence established.

The long-term visa grants entry to Cote d’Ivoire (Ivory Coast) on the basis that you will be applying for a residence permit. It enables you to enter Cote d’Ivoire (Ivory Coast) as a potential resident and stay while you apply for residency.

In most cases, the embassy will issue a short-term visa for you in order to make possible your entrance to Cote d’Ivoire (Ivory Coast) then you will apply for a residence permit at Migration Department in Cote d’Ivoire (Ivory Coast), but your visa purpose must be the same as your reason to travel. It means your short-term visa’s purpose also must be "study" (for example) if you travel for study purposes, but you cannot apply for a residence permit for study with a short-term tourist visa in Cote d’Ivoire (Ivory Coast).

Prior approval by the Directorate of Territorial Surveillance (DST) via the receipt of let land (pre-visa) is required in order to apply for a long-stay visa (up to 6 months and 1 year).

The long-stay visa requires a short-stay visa as a prerequisite.

 

Required Documents for Cote d’Ivoire (Ivory Coast) Long-term Visa

 

1. Application Form 

  • Fully completed in English and signed and dated by the applicant himself (signed by both parents in case of minors, below the age of 18)

2. Passport

  • Validity minimum of six months beyond the date of your departure from Cote d’Ivoire (Ivory Coast).
  • Signed by bearer
  • Passport not older than 10 years (issued in the last 10 years)
  • At least one or two free “visa pages.”
  • Undamaged pictures securely affixed with/to passport

3. Photo

  • NEW! Should not be older than 6 months.
  • A frontal view of the face-covering 70-80% (32-26mm) of the photo.
  • A uniform and white background.
  • Clear facial features and eyes – not covered by hair or glasses frame.
  • 4.5x3.5 size

4. ID Card Copy

  • Validity minimum of six months beyond the date of your departure from Cote d’Ivoire (Ivory Coast).

5. Residence Permit/Visa Copy (if your country of residence and citizenship are different)

  • Validity minimum of six months beyond the date of your departure from Cote d’Ivoire (Ivory Coast).

6. Photocopies

  • Copy of the main page of your passport
  • Copies of previous visas
  • Copy of visa for the final destination (if any)

7. Travel Itinerary 

  • Flight reservation 
  • Valid (existing) hotel/accommodation booking/reservation with the full address (name, street, city, zip code, contact information, booking ref.)

8. Letter from Local Employer/Sponsor (Proof of Occupation)

  • The letter must include:
    • Name, postal address, and telephone number of sponsor/company
    • Details regarding the applicant’s working position, starting date of the employment, and salary
    • The timeframe of work leave (expected date to resume duties) and purpose of travel
  • Valid trade license copy and company ownership documents (if a person is an owner of the company).
  • Letter from University (if student)
  • Copy of sponsor’s valid passport and residence visa (if any) to be attached to letter from sponsor (if an applicant is a dependent)

9. Proof of Financial Means

  • Generally, there are several recognized ways to prove your financial sufficiency:
    • A personal bank statement indicating your financial movements
    • Credit card
    • Cash
    • Traveler’s cheques
    • Payslips
    • Proof of employment
    • Supporting document to attest sponsor’s readiness to cover your expenses during your stay
    • Proof of prepaid accommodation
    • Document about accommodation in private
    • Proof of prepaid transport
    • Other

10. Medical Insurance

  • It should cover all the duration you intend to stay in Cote d’Ivoire (Ivory Coast)

11. The Appointment Confirmation Certificate

12. The Original of the Payment Receipt Made Online

13. The International Certificate of Vaccination Against Yellow Fever

14. Approval of D.S.T. (Pre-visa or Leave to Land)

15. Supporting Documents that Show Your Reason for a Trip

        For employment (long-term):

  • Original invitation letter by a company in Cote d’Ivoire (Ivory Coast)
  • Confirmation of the accommodation (hotel confirmation, apartment rental contract, etc.)
  • Employment contract form
  • Professional references (diploma, certificate of employment, or work certificate)
  • Criminal record
  • Resume
  • Medical examination certificate

*Additional documents can be required by the embassy.

 

Processing Time for Cote d’Ivoire (Ivory Coast) Long-term Visa

The average processing time for a Cote d’Ivoire (Ivory Coast) Long-term Visa is up to 48 hours (2 working days). It depends on your visa application country.

 

Cote d’Ivoire (Ivory Coast) Long-term Visa Fee

Cote d’Ivoire (Ivory Coast) Long-term Visa fee is 77 USD – 143 USD (it can vary depending on your country and nationality). Additionally, you may also need to pay other fees, courier service fee, etc., depending on the country and location of your documents' submission.

 

Where to Apply for Cote d’Ivoire (Ivory Coast) Long-term Visa?

You will apply for a Cote d’Ivoire (Ivory Coast) Long-term visa in Cote d’Ivoire (Ivory Coast) visa application centers, embassies, or consulates, whichever accepts visa applications in your country of residence. If there is none of them in your country, you need to apply to the nearest embassy or consulate to your location.

EMBASSY INFORMATION AND LOCATION

FAQ

old.pickvisa.com

I am from a country whose citizens do not need a visa to enter Cote d’Ivoire (Ivory Coast). Can I experience any problems at the border, while entering Cote d’Ivoire (Ivory Coast)?

You must meet certain requirements to enter Cote d’Ivoire (Ivory Coast), even if you are not required a visa:

  • The purpose of your trip to Cote d’Ivoire (Ivory Coast) must be plausible and comprehensible.
  • Your passport should be valid for at least 6 months beyond your stay in Cote d’Ivoire (Ivory Coast).
  • You must be able to finance your own living and travel costs.
  • You must hold a confirmed return flight to prove that you are prepared to leave Cote d’Ivoire (Ivory Coast) before the duration of the permitted stay ends.
  • You must not pose a threat to security or public order.
old.pickvisa.com

Can I get a residence permit for Cote d’Ivoire (Ivory Coast) at the Consulate General?

No, you cannot get a residence permit for Cote d’Ivoire (Ivory Coast) at the embassy or consulate of Cote d’Ivoire (Ivory Coast). You should get a long-term visa, then apply for a residence permit after your arrival in Cote d’Ivoire (Ivory Coast).

old.pickvisa.com

What happens if my Cote d’Ivoire (Ivory Coast) visa application is rejected?

If your Cote d’Ivoire (Ivory Coast) visa application is rejected, you will be notified by your mission that your application has been unsuccessful. You will be informed of the grounds on which it was rejected and have one month to appeal the decision by writing to the Cote d’Ivoire (Ivory Coast) mission. Your application will then be reconsidered. You can also apply for a visa again if your circumstances have changed.

old.pickvisa.com

Will my fees be refunded if my visa is refused?

All fees are non-refundable and will not be refunded if your visa application is not successful.

old.pickvisa.com

Can I extend the validity of my Cote d’Ivoire (Ivory Coast) visa?

The validity of a visa can be extended in some exceptional and force-major cases. You can get information about that directly at the Migration Department of Cote d’Ivoire (Ivory Coast). 

old.pickvisa.com

Do I have to participate in the Embassy in person for applying for Cote d’Ivoire (Ivory Coast) visa?

It depends on your country of residence or the embassy/consulate/Visa Administrative Center’s rules and obligations. In some countries, sending your documents via courier is enough to the embassy/consulate/Visa Administrative Center. 

old.pickvisa.com

Can the Embassy/Consulate request me to provide additional documents or information?

The embassy may request you to provide additional documents or information, according to your personal situation, even after you have submitted all the required documents mentioned on the official website of the Embassy/Consulate/Visa Application Center.

old.pickvisa.com