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For everyone, local citizens and immigrant communities alike. Describe what is happening the way you would tell a friend. Plainright explains the law that applies, the steps to take, the deadlines that matter and where to find free help.
Immigration: what you need to know now
Rules changed often in 2025 and 2026. See what changed, pick your situation, or ask about your own case.
Living in or visiting Côte d'Ivoire: the essentials
Côte d'Ivoire by the numbers
- South Africa: 90 days + 90
- Kenya: 90 days + 90
- Tanzania: 90 days
- Ghana: 30 days + 30
- Côte d'Ivoire: 90 days
Show as a table
| Country | First stay (days) | Extension (days) | Rule |
|---|---|---|---|
| South Africa | 90 | 90 | 90 days visa-free; one extension through VFS Global |
| Kenya | 90 | 90 | Up to 90 days on the eTA; extendable to 180 |
| Tanzania | 90 | None | Up to 90 days per entry |
| Ghana | 30 | 30 | As granted on arrival; extensions at the Ghana Immigration Service |
| Côte d'Ivoire | 90 | None | As stated on the visa, often up to 90 days |
Sources: Department of Home Affairs (South Africa); Directorate of Immigration Services and etakenya.go.ke (Kenya); Immigration Services Department (Tanzania); Ghana Immigration Service and Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Ghana); SNEDAI (Côte d'Ivoire). Checked 8 November 2026. Rules for your passport may differ.
Had an accident? What to do now
Car crashes, rental cars, uninsured drivers, injuries at work, falls and dog bites: the first steps, the deadlines that protect you and who pays.
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Côte d'Ivoire: what to know before and after you arrive
Visas and costs, airports, getting to your hotel, renting a car, the laws that surprise visitors, buying property, getting married, what to avoid and what is important to know. Rules change often; each item links to the Ask tool for a full, current answer.
Côte d'Ivoire compared with the region
- South Africa: 90 days + 90
- Kenya: 90 days + 90
- Tanzania: 90 days
- Ghana: 30 days + 30
- Côte d'Ivoire: 90 days
Show as a table
| Country | First stay (days) | Extension (days) | Rule |
|---|---|---|---|
| South Africa | 90 | 90 | 90 days visa-free; one extension through VFS Global |
| Kenya | 90 | 90 | Up to 90 days on the eTA; extendable to 180 |
| Tanzania | 90 | None | Up to 90 days per entry |
| Ghana | 30 | 30 | As granted on arrival; extensions at the Ghana Immigration Service |
| Côte d'Ivoire | 90 | None | As stated on the visa, often up to 90 days |
- South Africa: Free
- Kenya: US$31
- Tanzania: US$50
- Ghana: US$260
- Côte d'Ivoire: US$80
Show as a table
| Country | Cost (US$) | Detail |
|---|---|---|
| South Africa | 0 | Free for U.S., UK, EU and Canadian citizens; R500 ETA for visa-required nationalities |
| Kenya | 31 | eTA about US$30–32.50 |
| Tanzania | 50 | US$50 single entry; US$100 multiple entry for U.S. citizens |
| Ghana | 260 | E-visa fee announced at US$260 for non-Africans; free ETA for Africans |
| Côte d'Ivoire | 80 | E-visa about €73–80, paid online |
Sources: Department of Home Affairs (South Africa); Directorate of Immigration Services and etakenya.go.ke (Kenya); Immigration Services Department (Tanzania); Ghana Immigration Service and Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Ghana); SNEDAI (Côte d'Ivoire). Checked 8 November 2026. Rules for your passport may differ.
- South Africa: Open to foreigners on the same terms as citizens
- Kenya: Leases of up to 99 years; no freehold
- Tanzania: No land ownership; investment land through TIC
- Ghana: Leases of up to 50 years
- Côte d'Ivoire: Urban land with ACD; rural land reserved for Ivorians
Show as a table
| Country | Foreign cap | Detail |
|---|---|---|
| South Africa | None | Open to foreigners on the same terms as citizens |
| Kenya | None | Leases of up to 99 years; no freehold |
| Tanzania | None | No land ownership; investment land through TIC |
| Ghana | None | Leases of up to 50 years |
| Côte d'Ivoire | None | Urban land with ACD; rural land reserved for Ivorians |
Sources: Deeds Registries Act (South Africa); Constitution art. 65 (Kenya); Land Act 1999 (Tanzania); Constitution art. 266 and Land Act 2020 (Ghana); Law 98-750 (Côte d'Ivoire). Checked 8 November 2026.
How to spot a scam in Côte d'Ivoire
Scams change every month, but they share the same warning signs. If two or more of these appear together, stop and check before you pay or share anything.
Warning signs
- Pressure to act now: a deadline of minutes or hours, or a threat of arrest, deportation or a frozen account.
- Payment in an unusual way: gift cards, cryptocurrency, a personal bank account, or cash handed to a courier.
- Someone you met online, often recently, who asks for money, an investment or help moving funds.
- A caller or message claiming to be police, immigration, a court, a bank or a delivery company and asking for codes, passwords or a transfer. Real officials never ask for one-time codes.
- Returns that are guaranteed or far above normal, or a 'task' job that pays you first and then asks you to deposit money.
- A link or QR code that leads to a site that looks official but has a slightly different address.
- A request to keep it secret from your family, your bank or the police.
- An offer to 'recover' money you already lost, for an upfront fee. This is a second scam.
Common scams in Côte d'Ivoire
- Land sold with only customary documents.
- Unofficial visa websites.
- Fake officials at checkpoints asking for cash.
- Street money changers.
- Online-dating and 'brouteur' scams.
Where to report
If it already happened: the first hour
- Stop paying and stop replying. Do not send 'one last fee'.
- Call your bank or e-wallet at once and ask them to stop or recall the transfer. Speed matters: minutes count.
- Keep the evidence: screenshots, phone numbers, account numbers, links, receipts and dates.
- Report it to the official channel listed on this page and to the police, and keep the report number.
- Change your passwords and turn on two-step verification on email, banking and social media.
- If you are a foreign national, tell your embassy or consulate; they can help with lost passports and contacts.
Real cases
A buyer paid for land backed only by a village attestation.
How to avoid it: Insist on an ACD or titre foncier.
A traveller without a printed e-visa approval was delayed at the airport.
How to avoid it: Print the approval and receipt.
A driver without identification was held at a checkpoint.
How to avoid it: Carry your passport or a certified copy.
Visas and costs
- E-visa pre-enrolment on the official SNEDAI service; the fee is paid online.
- Print the approval and receipt for the airport.
- ECOWAS citizens enter visa-free.
- Land arrivals need a visa from an embassy.
Airports
- Abidjan – Félix-Houphouët-Boigny International (ABJ), the main gateway.
- Domestic flights to Yamoussoukro, San-Pédro, Bouaké and Korhogo.
From the airport to your hotel
- Use hotel transfers, app rides (Yango, Heetch) or official orange taxis.
- Agree taxi fares before leaving.
- Allow time for biometric enrolment on arrival.
Renting a car or motorbike
- Driving is on the right.
- Carry an International Driving Permit.
- Police checkpoints are frequent; keep documents ready.
- Hiring a car with a driver is common.
Laws and what to know
- Drug offences carry heavy prison sentences.
- Carry your passport or a certified copy.
- Do not photograph military or government sites.
- Same-sex relations are not criminalised, but attitudes are conservative.
Buying property
- Rural land is reserved for the state, public bodies and Ivorians.
- Urban land needs an ACD or titre foncier.
- Customary 'attestations' are not ownership.
- Sign before a notary and register the transfer.
Getting married
- Civil marriage at the town hall (mairie).
- Expect a birth certificate, certificate of celibacy and proof of residence, translated into French.
- Banns are published before the wedding.
What to avoid
- Unofficial visa websites.
- Buying land with only customary documents.
- Changing money on the street.
- Unmarked taxis at night.
Important to know
- Emergency: 110 or 111 police, 185 ambulance (SAMU), 180 fire.
- Carry your yellow fever certificate.
- The CFA franc (XOF) is pegged to the euro.
Key local laws
- Constitution of 2016 — fundamental rights.
- Rules on the entry and stay of foreigners — visas, residence cards and expulsion.
- Construction and Housing Code, Law 2019-576 — leases, deposits and advance rent.
- Labour Code, Law 2015-532 — employment and dismissal.
- Consumer Law 2016-412 — consumer protection.
- OHADA uniform acts — companies, securities and debt recovery.
- Personal data Law 2013-450 and Cybercrime Law 2013-451.
- Marriage Law 2019-570 and Succession Law 2019-573.
City guides
Airports, immigration offices, hospitals and local rules in the places foreigners go most.
Abidjan
- Airport
- Félix-Houphouët-Boigny International (ABJ).
- Immigration
- DST and ONECI offices for residence cards.
- Hospitals
- Polyclinique Internationale Sainte Anne-Marie (PISAM), CHU de Cocody.
- Know this
- Use app rides or orange taxis and agree fares.
Grand-Bassam and Assinie
- Airport
- Road from Abidjan, under an hour to Grand-Bassam.
- Know this
- Strong currents; swim only where lifeguards are present.
Yamoussoukro
- Airport
- Road from Abidjan, about 3 hours.
- Know this
- Carry your passport for road checkpoints.
Legal topics in depth
Property, marriage, children, inheritance, work, business, taxes and arrest.
Buying property
- Rural land is reserved for Ivorians.
- Urban land needs an ACD or titre foncier.
- Sign before a notary.
- Register the transfer.
Marriage
- Civil marriage at the mairie.
- Documents translated into French.
- Banns published before the wedding.
Work
- Foreign employees need an approved work contract (AGEPE).
- Then apply for a residence card.
- Business owners can register an OHADA company.
Taxes
- Staying more than 183 days can create tax residence.
- Check your country's tax treaty.
- Companies follow OHADA accounting rules.
Arrest and police
- You have the right to a lawyer.
- Ask for your consulate to be told.
- Do not pay 'fines' without a receipt.
Consumer rights
- Agree taxi and service prices first.
- Keep receipts.
- Complain to the consumer protection department of the Ministry of Commerce.
Step by step
Office, time, cost, documents and each step for the most common procedures.
Pre-enrol for the e-visa
Bring
- Passport
- Photo
- Return ticket
- Hotel booking or invitation
Steps
- Pre-enrol online
- Pay
- Print the approval and receipt
- Complete biometrics at Abidjan airport
Apply for a residence card
Bring
- Passport with visa
- Work contract or proof of activity
- Proof of address
Steps
- Gather documents
- Enrol
- Collect the card
Buy urban land
Bring
- ACD or titre foncier
- Passport
Steps
- Check the title
- Sign before a notary
- Register the transfer
Real cases and scams
What actually happens to foreigners, and how to avoid it.
A buyer paid for land backed only by a village attestation.
How to avoid it: Insist on an ACD or titre foncier.
A traveller without a printed e-visa approval was delayed at the airport.
How to avoid it: Print the approval and receipt.
A driver without identification was held at a checkpoint.
How to avoid it: Carry your passport or a certified copy.
A visitor without a certificate was vaccinated on arrival.
How to avoid it: Carry your certificate.
Fees, offices and procedures in Côte d'Ivoire change often. Confirm with the office or a licensed lawyer before you rely on them.
Visas and staying legal in Côte d'Ivoire
The e-visa pre-enrolment and biometric visa at Abidjan airport, ECOWAS visa-free entry, residence cards, land rules and overstays. Rules change often; this page was last checked on .
Choose your situation
Forms finder
| Document | What it is for | Who needs it |
|---|
Deadlines you cannot miss
| What | When | Source |
|---|
How the law works
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Time limits
Statutes of limitations. Exceptions exist, so confirm your deadline.
| Type of claim | Deadline | Source |
|---|
Key court system facts
Legal terms in plain words
Law libraries
Read the law yourself. These free, reliable libraries hold the statutes, regulations and court decisions that Plainright cites, for Côte d'Ivoire.
What changed in the law
The latest visa, immigration and legal updates in Côte d'Ivoire that affect visitors and residents, in plain words, with who is affected and a link to the source. Updated every week; last update .
Lawyers and free help near me
When your situation is serious, urgent or involves a court deadline, speak with a licensed attorney or a nonprofit legal service. Press one button and Plainright lists three to six highly rated law offices and the immigration help centers and legal aid offices near you, anywhere in Côte d'Ivoire.
Talk to a lawyer licensed in Côte d'Ivoire
Only a lawyer licensed in Côte d'Ivoire can represent you in its courts and agencies. Use the finder below for highly rated law offices and free legal help, or open the map to see lawyers near you.
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Lawyer requests open as soon as Plainright's registration with ARTCI, Côte d'Ivoire's personal data authority is complete. Until then, use the official lawyer registers below to find and check a licensed lawyer.
- Barreau de Côte d'IvoireRegistered lawyers (avocats).
- Chambre des Notaires de Côte d'IvoireNotaries for property and companies.
How law offices are selected
- Open and operating according to its current public business listing.
- Rated 4.5 stars or higher from at least 25 reviews; low-rated and thinly reviewed offices are never shown.
- Practice match: the office's listing or its own website must name your type of problem.
- Reachable: a published phone number and website are required.
- Nearby: within about 25 miles of the location you give.
- No middlemen: referral directories and lead-generation sites are excluded.
- Fair ranking: offices are ordered by rating weighted by the number of reviews, so a few five-star reviews cannot outrank hundreds of strong ones.
- No payment: no office can pay to appear or to move up. Any future sponsored listing would be labelled and shown separately.
How help centers are selected
- Free help: government legal aid, bar association legal-aid centres and embassy lists of lawyers.
- Everyday legal problems: legal aid societies, legal services programs, court self-help centers, bar association programs and law-school clinics near you.
- Left out: notarios, tax and "multiservice" shops, insurance agencies and help centers rated below 4 stars.
- All of Côte d'Ivoire: every district.
Listings and ratings come from Google; office websites are checked automatically. Always confirm a lawyer's licence with the Barreau de Côte d'Ivoire before hiring.
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- You describe the situationIn your own words and your own language, with the place where it happened.
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