Visas
All visitors to Côte d'Ivoire require a visa, except for citizens of ECOWAS member Countries (BCEAO in French) who only require a valid Identity card for a three month period. The ECOWAS member countries are Benin, Burkina Faso, Cap Verde, Côte d’Ivoire, Gambia, Ghana, Guinee, Guinee-Bissau, Liberia, Mali, Niger, Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone and Togo.
Citizens of Andorra, Chad, Monaco, Morocco, Seychelles, Tunisia and Vatican City also do not need a visa, if they are staying for less than three months. Passengers in transit, leaving within 12 hours, with onward or return journey documentation and are not leaving the airport also do not need a visa.
You can apply for a visa at one of the Ivorian embassies or a consulate in your country of residence prior to arrival. You can find the one closest to you at our page Ivorian Representations Abroad.
Alternatively, starting in 2014, Côte d'Ivoire has introduced an E-Visa system which involves applying and submitting your documentation online. Once approved, you will receive an email with an attached approval letter that you must print to take with you when you arrive in Abidjan. Then once you arrive in Abidjan Airport, you can follow the signs to the E-Visa office where they will adhere the pre-approved visa to your passport and you will be allowed to pass through immigration. It is a relatively simple process, however do note that the wait times can be long depending on how many E-Visas are being issued that day.
Please check with your embassy or a representative to find out what are the necessary visa requirements prior to travel. However the general requirements for obtaining a visa are:
- An application form which can be accessed at www.snedai.com
- A recent identity photo
- A letter of invitation
- A passport which should be valid for at least six months
- A yellow fever vaccination certificate -- See more information here Vaccinations
- A copy of your air ticket
- In the case of minors a letter signed by a parent or a guardian
The main international airport of Côte d'Ivoire is situated at about 14km south of Abidjan city center and is known as Felix Houphouet Boigny International Airport or Port-Bouet Airport. Click on our links here to learn more information about the Airport in Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire or about transfers from the airport via a Taxi/Private Car.