Ivory Coast visas
Whether you need a visa for Côte d'Ivoire depends on your nationality and the purpose and length of your stay: nationals of ECOWAS (CEDEAO) member states are exempt from entry visas, while most other travellers must obtain a visa before or on arrival. Short visits are handled through the official e-Visa pre-enrolment portal run by SNEDAI, the operator accredited by the Ivorian State, with biometric collection at Abidjan's Félix Houphouët-Boigny International Airport. Longer stays for work, study, family or settlement additionally require a residence card issued by the Office National de l'État Civil et de l'Identification (ONECI).
Ivorian visa categories
Explore visa categories by the purpose of your trip.
- Visitor & short-stay visasShort stays in Ivory Coast — tourism, visiting family or friends, business visits and transit, plus any visa-free or e-visa options.3 visas
- Work visasComing to Ivory Coast to work — the employment and skilled-worker routes and the permits they require.2 visas
- Study visasStudying in Ivory Coast — student visas and permits for accepted students.1 visa
- Family visasJoining or sponsoring a partner, child or other relative in Ivory Coast.1 visa
- Business & investor visasInvesting, doing business or coming to Ivory Coast as a highly skilled individual.1 visa
- Residence & citizenshipLiving in Ivory Coast long term — residence routes and, where available, the path to citizenship.2 visas
Ivorian visa application at a glance
From start to finish in five simple steps.
- 01Choose the right visa
- 02Check eligibility & documents
- 03Apply online
- 04Provide biometrics
- 05Wait for a decision
Ivory Coast — key facts
- Visa authority
- e-Visa Côte d'Ivoire (SNEDAI GROUPE), the state-accredited visa operator
- Application
- Online (in most cases)
- Biometrics
- Usually required
- Currency
- West African CFA franc (XOF)
- Time zone
- Greenwich Mean Time (GMT, UTC+0)
Official sources
For the most accurate and up-to-date information, always refer to the official government sources.
Verified against official sources · last reviewed 2026-08-21. Information only — not legal advice.