Everything You Need To Know About Côte d'Ivoire E-visa

Côte d'Ivoire also known as Ivory Coast allows foreign nationals to visit the country using e-visas. These e-visas are actually electronically generated travel authorization documents which allows them to enter the country legally. An e-visa will be electronically connected to the traveler’s passport, and he or she should show the print out of these electronic authorization document to the Côte d'Ivoire immigration authorities after landing on the airport. Once you show the e-visa, Côte d'Ivoire authorities will ask the foreign national to do a biometric process (fingerprint) for security reasons.

In order to get a visa to Côte d'Ivoire in the most hassle-free manner, the first thing you should is finding an entrusted travel agency to assist you in obtaining the e-visa. Agencies like Visa Genie have proven track record, and their highly professional team of visa experts will help you to get an e-visa very quickly.

As per the requirements of the traveler, Côte d'Ivoire authorities have classified e-visas into two types; tourist and business. A tourist e-visa allows the foreign national to visit Côte d'Ivoire solely for tourist purposes. Using these e-tourist visas, the traveler is not allowed to do anything other than sightseeing and other tourism-related activities. Using a business visa, the foreign national can take part in business-related operations and other commercial trading activities.

Please scroll down to know more about Ivory Coast e-business visa and e-tourist visa.

Côte d'Ivoire tourist e-visa

Foreign nationals intending to visit Côte d'Ivoire for tourism-related activities can easily obtain an e-visa by availing the service of Visa Genie. In order to get a sanctioned e-visa, the foreign national should meet the criteria mentioned below, and should also send the necessary documents via mail to Visa Genie.

Please find below the documents that should be submitted to obtain the Côte d'Ivoire e-tourist visa.

• All foreign nationals traveling to Côte d'Ivoire should enroll themselves in an online biometric program to obtain a tourist e-visa. Once approved for pre-enrolment, the traveler can fly to Côte d'Ivoire and can do the biometric process at the International Airport Felix Houphouet Boigny in Abidjan.
• In order to get the pre-enrolment authorization, you should submit your passport which has at least six months validity. The copy of the passport submitted should be taken in color.
• A passport size photograph.
• The foreign national should also show the proof of onward and return flights.
• Should submit proofs of hotel booking.
• The applicant should correctly fill the pre-approval questionnaire. Sometimes, you may find it difficult to complete the questionnaire, and if you encounter any issues, you can avail the service of Visa Genie.

Special note: Once you reach the Ivory Coast airport, the foreign national should submit the below-mentioned documents.

• Approval letter of pre-enrolment for biometric process.
• Submitting the original copy of yellow fever certificate is mandatory.
• Proof of onward and return flights, along with the hotel booking confirmation.
• The foreign national should also submit the receipt of payment of e-visa fee.

What is the validity of Côte d'Ivoire tourist e-visa?

The validity of a Côte d'Ivoire tourist e-visa is valid for 90-days after the arrival. Unlike tourist visas issued by other countries where the validity starts upon the date of issuance, Côte d'Ivoire’s visa validity begins after the foreign national enters the country. Using these e-visas, foreign nationals can enter Côte d'Ivoire multiple times, but the maximum days allowed for the traveler to stay inside the country will be 30 days.

Special note: A foreign national visiting Côte d'Ivoire using a tourist visa is not supposed to do any kinds of works during his stay in the country. If found violating the rules, the foreign national may face strict legal consequences.

Côte d'Ivoire business e-visas

These visas are issued to travelers who visit Côte d'Ivoire for business purposes. For these e-visas too, obtaining a pre-approval for the biometric process is a must.

The foreign national can avail the service of entrusted agencies like Visa Genie to obtain the pre-approval for biometric process with ease. After getting the pre-approval, the foreign national can fly to Côte d'Ivoire, and can do the biometric process after landing in the airport.

In order to obtain the pre-approval for biometric, the travelers should submit the passport which has at least six months validity. The foreign national should also make sure that that the passport has a minimum of two blank pages for visa stamping purposes. The traveler should also send a passport photograph. While sending the passport copy to Visa Genie, you should make sure that you are sending a color copy. The foreign national should also fill his visa application for correctly. It should be noted that there are several instances where the foreign nationals were denied the pre-approval due to errors in the application form. So, always make sure that the application form is filled under the guidance of an expert in Visa Genie.

While traveling to Côte d'Ivoire, you should also carry a business introduction letter from your homeland. The business introduction letter should carry your name, designation and other details like purpose and nature of the visit. The proof of onward and return flight tickets along with the hotel booking confirmation should be submitted. It is also necessary to submit the original yellow fever certificate to the immigration authorities.

Frequently asked questions (FAQ)

I am a Singapore citizen. Should I need to get an e-visa to visit Côte d'Ivoire?

Citizens of countries like Singapore, Philippines, Congo, Seychelles etc do not need a visa to visit Ivory Coast. If you are a Singapore citizen, you can stay in Côte d'Ivoire for 90 days without a visa. However, if you wish to stay for more days, you need to obtain a regular Côte d'Ivoire visa.

What are the guidelines to be followed while submitting a photograph to obtain Côte d'Ivoire e-visa?

The photograph should be taken within the last three months. The background of the photograph should be white. The foreign national should make sure that he or she is not using a headwear while taking the photograph. Even if you have eye problems, you are not supposed to wear spectacles. The foreign national should look straight while taking the photograph, and you should make sure that no face gesture is being made.

How many days can I stay in Côte d'Ivoire using an e-tourist or business visa?

Even though the validity of a Côte d'Ivoire visa is 90 days, the maximum stay allowed is 30 days. The validity of the visa begins once the traveler enters Côte d'Ivoire, and from then he or she can visit multiple times to the country.

How many days it will take to get the e-visa sanctioned?

In usual cases, Côte d'Ivoire authorities will process the e-visa within six days. However, if you want to process the visa urgently, you can opt for super rush processing. To obtain the visa quickly, you should pay an extra fee to the authorities.

Can I enter multiple times using a Côte d'Ivoire e-visa?

Unlike other countries that offer single entry e-visas, Côte d'Ivoire offer multiple-entry privilege to foreign nationals. However, the maximum stay days will be 30 days altogether within the visa validity period.

Can I obtain a work e-visa to Côte d'Ivoire?

No, Ivory Coast authorities offer e-visas only for business and tourist purposes. If you need a work visa, you should directly contact the Ivory Coast embassy located in their respective countries with all the relevant documents and a properly filled visa application form. In order to get a work visa, the applicant should submit the below-mentioned documents.

• The passport of the applicant and photograph along with the completed visa application form should be submitted.

• Four copies of the employment contract form.
• The foreign national should also submit professional references like educational certificates, work certificate and other relevant documents.
• A statement from law authorities in the homeland which substantiates that the applicant does not have any criminal records.
• A resume of the applicant should be submitted.
• The applicant should also submit the medical examination certificate.

What should I do if my request for e-visa pre-approval gets rejected?

If the pre-approval request gets denied, the foreign national should directly visit the embassy, and should apply for a regular visa.

Will I get a fee refund if my e-visa application gets rejected?

Côte d'Ivoire authorities are charging an amount from the applicant as a processing fee. As a result, once you paid the fee, you will not get a refund no matter your e-visa is sanctioned or not.

Is it compulsory to submit a business introduction letter while applying for a e-business visa?

To obtain an e-business visa, it is very much essential to submit a business introduction letter. The business introduction letter should be issued by your employer in the homeland. The letter should also detail complete personal and professional details of the foreign national. It should be also noted that the business introduction letter should explain everything about the purpose and nature of the visit.