Côte d’Ivoire visa options for United Kingdom passport holders

Visa types & longer-stay routes for Côte d’Ivoire

Rules are written for non-ECOWAS/CEDEAO foreign nationals; citizens of ECOWAS member states enter and circulate visa-free and generally do not need these visas.

• Most nomadsTourist

  e-Visa (Tourist / Short-Stay)

  Up to 90 days (3 months); SNEDAI e-visa is issued with multiple entries, valid 90 days from issuance

  Insurance

  RecommendedNot required as a stated visa condition; travel/health insurance recommended (no public healthcare access for visitors). Verify.

  Good for

  Leisure travellers and tourists from non-ECOWAS countries visiting Côte d'Ivoire short-term; applied for online via the official SNEDAI portal with pickup on arrival at Abidjan airport.

  Requirement

  Online pre-enrolment via snedai.com with passport bio page, return/round-trip flight reservation and a hotel booking or accommodation/invitation letter; passport valid 6+ months. Apply ~10 working days before travel. Yellow fever vaccination certificate required for entry.

• Business

  e-Visa / Business Visa (Visa d'Affaires)

  Up to 90 days; no work permit or residence permit needed for business stays within this window

  Insurance

  RecommendedNot required as a stated condition; business travel/health insurance recommended. Verify.

  Good for

  Foreign nationals travelling for short-term commercial activity such as meetings, conferences, training or project planning, without taking up local employment.

  Requirement

  e-Visa application (or embassy business visa) with a letter of invitation, hotel reservation and a letter of assignment from the applicant's employer; passport valid 6+ months. Yellow fever vaccination certificate required.

• Work

  Work Permit + Long-Stay Visa (Expatriate Work Contract)

  Long-stay entry visa for stays exceeding 90 days; work permit typically valid 1 year and renewable

  Insurance

  OptionalNot specified as a visa condition in sources; confirm employer-provided or private health cover. Verify.

  Good for

  Foreign nationals taking up employment in Côte d'Ivoire for more than 90 days under a fixed-term or permanent contract, with an employer sponsor.

  Requirement

  Employer-sponsored process: long-stay entry visa, then in-country work permit application (associated with the Agence Emploi Jeunes / labour authorities) plus a residence card; requires an employment contract and proof the role needs an expatriate.

• Study

  Student / Research Visa (Study)

  For the study period (long-stay; tied to enrolment), beyond the 90-day short-stay window

  Insurance

  RequiredSNEDAI and the Ivorian diplomatic mission explicitly list a health insurance subscription among study/research visa documents.

  Good for

  Foreign students and researchers enrolled at a university or public institution in Côte d'Ivoire.

  Requirement

  Certificate of (pre-)registration at an Ivorian university/public institution, school certificates and diplomas, proof of accommodation, and proof of funds for the stay or a scholarship certificate.

• Residence

  Residence Card (Carte de Séjour / Carte de Résidence)

  Long-term residence; validity tied to the principal's work/residence status (sources do not state an exact card validity - verify)

  Insurance

  RecommendedNot addressed in sources; private health insurance recommended for long-term residents. Verify.

  Good for

  Foreign nationals settling long-term in Côte d'Ivoire (e.g. workers and their dependants/family members) who need a local residence document; not required for ECOWAS/CEDEAO citizens in all cases.

  Requirement

  Online pre-enrolment plus proof of residence (signed rental lease) and payment at an authorised centre; for dependants, proof of relationship and sufficient financial means. Costs approx. 194,000 CFA (~EUR 300) for some EU nationals and ~344,000 CFA (~EUR 520) for non-CEDEAO non-European nationals (varies).

• Transit

  Transit Visa

  Short stopover - sources cite roughly under 72 hours (some list a short pass-through window); verify exact limit

  Insurance

  OptionalNot required as a stated condition. Verify.

  Good for

  Travellers passing through Côte d'Ivoire (typically a stopover at Abidjan airport) en route to another destination.

  Requirement

  Onward travel documentation; applied for via the e-visa/embassy channel. Yellow fever vaccination certificate required for entry.

Figures are sourced from the SNEDAI e-visa portal, the Ivorian diplomatic mission and immigration-law firms and may change; verify exact stay limits, fees and document lists before applying. Last checked: 2026-06.

Last verified June 2026

United Kingdom → Côte d’Ivoire: frequently asked

Do United Kingdom passport holders need a visa to visit Côte d’Ivoire?

Electronic travel authorisation (eTA). Apply online for a quick travel authorisation before you go. Always confirm with the official source before booking.

Can a United Kingdom passport holder live or work long-term in Côte d’Ivoire?

Yes, via a long-stay visa. Côte d’Ivoire has 6 documented visa types covering work, study, residence and — where it exists — digital-nomad routes.

Do I need travel insurance for Côte d’Ivoire?

Entry to Côte d’Ivoire never includes health cover, so travel medical insurance is strongly recommended. Several Côte d’Ivoire visas also require proof of insurance before they're granted.