In today’s world, traveling has become an integral part of our lives. Be it for leisure or work, many of us find ourselves regularly on the move across borders. However, one integral aspect that you may overlook is the safety of your travel documents. Losing these critical papers can turn a dream holiday into a
Visa Policy for Ivory Coast
The Ivory Coast visa policy determines who may enter the Republic of Côte d’Ivoire without a visa and who needs a visa to visit the Western African country.
At present, there are only a few nationalities granted visa-free entry to the Ivory Coast, mostly citizens of other countries in West Africa.
Most visa-exempt citizens for the Ivory Coast are permitted a stay of up to 90 days for tourism or business purposes. To gain entry without a travel visa, it is only necessary to present an eligible passport valid for at least 6 months from the date of arrival.
All other foreign citizens who wish to visit the Ivory Coast are required to have an approved visitor’s visa regardless of the duration or purpose of their stay. This may either be an embassy visa or an E-visa through a simplified electronic application process.
Approximately 120 nationalities are eligible to apply for the electronic visa for Ivory Coast and receive approval exclusively online via email, removing the need to visit an embassy of Côte d’Ivoire in person and the need for long border queues associated with visa on arrival applications.
An approved E-visa for the Ivory Coast is a multiple entry visa valid for 90 days from the date of issue. It permits entry to Côte d’Ivoire at Port Bouet Airport in Abidjan for short stays for either tourism, business, or transit pùrposes.
To visit the Republic for other purposes and long-term stays, it is necessary for these citizens to apply for a visa from an embassy or consulate of the Ivory Coast. Additionally, roughly 15 nationalities need an Ivory Coast embassy visa no matter the purpose or length of stay.
At present, there is not currently any Ivory Coast visa ban in place against any foreign nationalities. However, travelers from a number of Southeast Asian, South American, and Middle Eastern countries require prior approval from the Côte d’Ivoire Ministry of Security in order to apply for a visa for the Republic.
Find further information about the different visa types for the Ivory Coast below.