What to Do If I Am Not Eligible for an Ivory Coast e-Visa?

If you’re not eligible for the Ivory Coast e-Visa, don’t worry—there are still pathways to obtain a visa, depending on your nationality, travel purpose, and circumstances.

Why You Might Not Be Eligible for the Ivory Coast e-Visa?

The Ivory Coast e-Visa is available to more than 200 nationalities for short-term visits (tourism, business, and transit). Travelers using an e-Visa must enter through Félix-Houphouët-Boigny International Airport in Abidjan for biometric enrollment.

You might be ineligible for an Ivory Coast e-visa if:

Your nationality isn’t on the e-Visa eligible list, or Ivory Coast requires citizens of your country to apply for a visa directly at an embassy due to specific diplomatic restrictions.
You intend to enter through a land border or seaport, which the e-Visa does not cover.
You are planning to stay beyond the 90-day validity period or exceed the 30-day per-entry limit of the e-Visa.
You lack the necessary documentation (for example, a passport valid for less than six months).
A history of visa breaches, criminal convictions, or prior deportation might affect eligibility, though this is not explicitly stated in e-Visa requirements—consult Ivorian authorities for clarification.

Options if Not Eligible for the Ivory Coast e-Visa

If you are not eligible for the Ivory Coast e-Visa, here’s what you can do:

1. Alternative Options - Traditional Visa

You can apply for a traditional visa through the Ivorian Embassy or Consulate in your country of residence. This process typically takes longer than the e-Visa application and requires you to physically visit the embassy or consulate.

2. Check Visa-Exempt Status

Who It’s For: Nationals of ECOWAS countries or citizens of countries with bilateral visa-free agreements with the Ivory Coast

Process:

Verify if your country has visa-free access via the Ivory Coast Ministry of Foreign Affairs website or by contacting an embassy.
If exempt, you can enter with just a valid passport and a yellow fever vaccination certificate. The permitted stay varies by nationality but is typically up to 90 days for ECOWAS citizens and shorter for some other visa-exempt nationalities.

3. Adjust Your Travel Plans for e-Visa Eligibility

Who It’s For: Those ineligible due to entry point or stay duration, but willing to adapt.

Options:

Change Entry Point: Reroute your travel to arrive at Félix-Houphouët-Boigny International Airport in Abidjan, as e-Visa holders must enter here for biometric verification.
Shorten Your Stay: While the e-Visa is valid for 90 days from the date of issue, each stay is limited to 30 consecutive days. If you leave and re-enter, you may need to apply for a new visa depending on the immigration policy.
Update Your Passport: Renew your passport if it’s expiring soon to meet the 6-month validity rule.

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