If your company is planning an expansion to Côte d’Ivoire, you’ll need to make sure all international employees have the appropriate work permits and visas to work there.
Types of work visas in Côte d’Ivoire
Like any other country, Côte d’Ivoire has a specific process for non-nationals who wish to enter the country for various purposes. The main types of visas are as follows:
- Short-term visa: Valid for up to 3 months
- Long-stay visa: Valid for a maximum of 1 year
- Expatriate work contract visa: Validity depends on the duration of the work contract
As the name suggests, the expatriate work contract visa is the appropriate choice for international employees who wish to live and work in Côte d’Ivoire.
Requirements to obtain Côte d’Ivoire work visas
The first requirement for international workers is to obtain a job from a company in Côte d’Ivoire. Having a job with an established company is essential because the employer will play an important role as the sponsor throughout the application process. Several documents are required in addition to the application. These documents include:
- A passport with at least 6 months of validity and 2 blank pages.
- 4 copies of the worker’s employment contract.
- A copy of the employee’s resume.
- A police background check from the employee’s country of residence.
- A medical certificate including proof of immunization against yellow fever.
- Professional references, such as the employee’s diploma and any relevant certifications.
In some cases, the employee’s documents may need to be translated into French. The employee’s nearest consulate or embassy will be able to provide information regarding specific requirements, including the potential need for additional documents.
Application process
The government in Côte d’Ivoire issues work permits alongside residency visas. This system streamlines the visa application process, as international employees will only need to file 1 application to live and work in Côte d’Ivoire. The process involves the following steps:
- Companies must first advertise the job vacancy for 1 month in a widely circulated national daily newspaper. Should the position remain unfilled by a national candidate by the end of this period, the employer gains authorization to recruit any candidate who meets the required qualifications.
- Prior to employment, any non-national prospective employee must possess a contract or a letter of employment sanctioned by the Agency for Employment Studies and Promotion (AGEPE – L’Agence d’études et de promotion de l’emploi, désigné par l’abréviation), utilizing a specified form designed for this purpose.
- Submission of the job application along with the pertinent documents is to be carried out at the nearest Côte d’Ivoire embassy.
- Within a 3-month window from the date of hiring, the international employee must initiate the process for obtaining a work card issued under their name.
- The application for a residence permit card must be lodged with the National Office of Identification (ONI) within a maximum period of 10 weeks subsequent to entry into Côte d’Ivoire.
Other important considerations
If your company plans to send international employees to Côte d’Ivoire for a short period of time for business purposes, such as a conference or training seminar, the application process is somewhat different. These workers will need a short-term visa provided that the activities they intend to undertake align with the permissible business visitor activities.
They can complete an online application for a Côte d’Ivoire eVisa for business purposes. Applicants for an eVisa will receive an email confirmation of their approval, and their visa can be picked up upon arrival in Côte d’Ivoire.
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