Western Africa · UN member
Côte d'Ivoire: Travel Guide & Requirements
Republic of Côte d'Ivoire
Côte d'Ivoire is a country in Western Africa with its capital in Yamoussoukro. It has a population of 32.7 million (#50 in the world) and covers 322,463 km². The official language is French. The currency is the West African CFA franc (XOF, Fr).
Where is Côte d'Ivoire? Map of Côte d'Ivoire
Western Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean, between Ghana and Liberia.
- Region
- Western Africa
- Coordinates
- 8° N, 5° W
- Neighbours
- 5 — see list
- Coastline
- 515 km
- Côte d'Ivoire
- Neighbours
- Capital
- Largest cities
Map of Côte d'Ivoire showing Yamoussoukro (capital) and the largest cities: Abidjan, Bouaké, Korhogo, Daloa, San-Pédro, Gagnoa, Sinfra and Man.
Travel requirements
What you need to travel to Côte d'Ivoire
- Passport
The government's 2018 visa guide lists a passport valid for six months minimum among the documents e-visa holders present at Abidjan airport.
- Visa or eTA
Depends on your passport: of 198 passports, 23 need no visa, 175 need an eVisa. Check yours or see Côte d'Ivoire entry requirements for every passport.
- Return or onward ticket
No official requirement. The government's 2018 visa guide lists a flight ticket booking among the three documents e-visa applicants upload when they pre-enrol.
- Proof of funds
No official requirement. The government's 2018 visa guide does not list it among the e-visa documents.
- Travel insurance
No official requirement. The government's 2018 visa guide lists the three documents e-visa applicants upload — the passport identity page, the flight ticket booking, and the invitation letter or accommodation certificate — and insurance is not …
- Vaccinations
The government's 2018 visa guide says yellow fever vaccination is compulsory to enter and stay in the country, and that vaccination records are checked on arrival.
- Customs allowance
The UK government says you can take up to 500,000 West African CFA francs in cash into Côte d'Ivoire and that you must declare any foreign currency.
- Travel advice
High risk — US and UK advice.
Entry rules: TravelRequirements.info — Entry Requirements Dataset (CC BY 4.0), each rule cited to an official government source. Always confirm with the airline and the official source before you travel.
Before you go
10 things to know before you travel to Côte d'Ivoire
- Safety: Travel to Côte d'Ivoire carries a high risk: the US State Department rates Côte d'Ivoire Level 2 (“Exercise Increased Caution”), and the UK Foreign Office advises against all travel to parts of the country.
- Best time to go: July to January — when daytime highs in Yamoussoukro are around 29–35°C.
- Money: the West African CFA franc (XOF) — 1 US dollar is about 584.5354 XOF.
- Plugs: type C and E, 230 V, 50 Hz — standard 220–240 V: devices from the US or Japan (110–120 V) need a converter unless they are dual voltage (100–240 V).
- Emergency numbers: Police 110 / 111 / 170, Ambulance 185, Fire 180.
- Language: French is official.
- Driving: on the right — speed limits are 70 km/h in built-up areas, 110 km/h outside built-up areas and 120 km/h on motorways.
- Time zone: UTC0 in Yamoussoukro.
- Capital: Yamoussoukro; the largest city is Abidjan. About 32.7 million people live in Côte d'Ivoire.
- Outdoors: 10 national parks.
Key facts
Côte d'Ivoire at a glance
Languages spoken: French (official), 60 native dialects of which Dioula is the most widely spoken
Geography & history
About Côte d'Ivoire
Various small kingdoms ruled the area of Cote d'Ivoire between the 15th and 19th centuries, when European explorers arrived and then began to expand their presence. In 1844, France established a protectorate. During this period, many of these kingdoms and tribes fought to maintain their cultural identities -- some well into the 20th century. For example, the Sanwi kingdom -- originally founded in the 17th century -- tried to break away from Cote d’Ivoire and establish an independent state in 1969. Cote d’Ivoire achieved independence from France in 1960 but has maintained close ties. Foreign investment and the export and production of cocoa drove economic growth that led Cote d’Ivoire to bec…
Read the full history
Various small kingdoms ruled the area of Cote d'Ivoire between the 15th and 19th centuries, when European explorers arrived and then began to expand their presence. In 1844, France established a protectorate. During this period, many of these kingdoms and tribes fought to maintain their cultural identities -- some well into the 20th century. For example, the Sanwi kingdom -- originally founded in the 17th century -- tried to break away from Cote d’Ivoire and establish an independent state in 1969. Cote d’Ivoire achieved independence from France in 1960 but has maintained close ties. Foreign investment and the export and production of cocoa drove economic growth that led Cote d’Ivoire to become one of the most prosperous states in West Africa. Then in 1999, a military coup overthrew the government, and a year later, junta leader Robert GUEI held rigged elections and declared himself the winner. Popular protests forced him to step aside, and Laurent GBAGBO was elected. Ivoirian dissidents and members of the military launched a failed coup in 2002 that developed into a civil war. In 2003, a cease-fire resulted in rebels holding the north, the government holding the south, and peacekeeping forces occupying a buffer zone in the middle. In 2007, President GBAGBO and former rebel leader Guillaume SORO signed an agreement in which SORO joined GBAGBO's government as prime minister. The two agreed to reunite the country by dismantling the buffer zone, integrating rebel forces into the national armed forces, and holding elections. In 2010, Alassane Dramane OUATTARA won the presidential election, but GBAGBO refused to hand over power, resulting in five months of violent conflict. Armed OUATTARA supporters and UN and French troops eventually forced GBAGBO to step down in 2011. OUATTARA won a second term in 2015 and a controversial third term in 2020 -- despite the two-term limit in the Ivoirian constitution -- in an election boycotted by the opposition. Through political compromise with OUATTARA, the opposition participated peacefully in 2021 legislative elections and won a substantial minority of seats. Also in 2021, the International Criminal Court in The Hague ruled on a final acquittal for GBAGBO, who was on trial for crimes against humanity, paving the way for GBAGBO’s return to Abidjan the same year. GBAGBO has publicly met with OUATTARA since his return as a demonstration of political reconciliation.
Location
Western Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean, between Ghana and Liberia
Climate
tropical along coast, semiarid in far north; three seasons - warm and dry (November to March), hot and dry (March to May), hot and wet (June to October)
Terrain
mostly flat to undulating plains; mountains in northwest
Highest point
Monts Nimba 1,752 m
Natural resources
petroleum, natural gas, diamonds, manganese, iron ore, cobalt, bauxite, copper, gold, nickel, tantalum, silica sand, clay, cocoa beans, coffee, palm oil, hydropower
Natural hazards
coast has heavy surf and no natural harbors; during the rainy season torrential flooding is possible
National symbols
elephant
Driving
Speed limits & road rules in Côte d'Ivoire
The default speed limits in Côte d'Ivoire are 70 km/h in built-up areas, 110 km/h outside built-up areas and 120 km/h on motorways. The legal alcohol limit for drivers is 0.8‰. Posted signs always take priority over these defaults.
- 7070 km/hBuilt-up areasTowns and cities
- 110110 km/hOutside built-up areasCountry roads
- 120120 km/hMotorwaysMotorways / freeways
- International Driving PermitRecognised: 1968 Vienna, 1949 GenevaCarry the IDP together with your national licence
- Driving sideDrive on the rightOvertake on the left
- Alcohol limit0.8‰ blood alcohol (0.08% BAC)
- Seat beltsRequired by law
- Child seatsNo national child-restraint law
- Motorcycle helmetsRequired for riders
- Road deaths (2021)20.6 per 100,000 peopleHigher than most countries (median 12.4)
Speed limits: OpenStreetMap wiki — Default speed limits (CC BY-SA 2.0). Road-safety laws: WHO Global Health Observatory. Compare speed limits and alcohol limits by country. Defaults for cars; local signs, weather and vehicle type can lower them.
Safety
Is Côte d'Ivoire safe to visit?
Travel to Côte d'Ivoire carries a high risk: the US State Department rates Côte d'Ivoire Level 2 (“Exercise Increased Caution”), and the UK Foreign Office advises against all travel to parts of the country.
US State Department
UK Foreign Office (FCDO)Latest update: Addition of information about heightened health screening measures for those entering Côte d'Ivoire from Ebola-affected regions ('Entry requirements' page).
Updated 29 May 2026 · Full travel advice
Sources: US Department of State travel advisories (public domain) and UK FCDO foreign travel advice (contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0). Checked daily. Advice can change quickly — always read the official page before you travel.
Weather
Best time to visit Côte d'Ivoire
The best time to visit Côte d'Ivoire is July to January, when daytime highs in Yamoussoukro are around 29–35°C. February is the warmest month (35°C by day), January the coldest (20°C at night), and June the wettest with about 197 mm of rain.
- Jan35°C20°C
- Feb35°C23°C
- Mar33°C23°C
- Apr32°C23°C
- May31°C23°C
- Jun29°C22°C
- Jul29°C21°C
- Aug30°C21°C
- Sep30°C22°C
- Oct30°C22°C
- Nov31°C22°C
- Dec33°C20°C
Best time Good Less ideal
Before you go
Plugs, voltage & emergency numbers in Côte d'Ivoire
Plugs & sockets
230 V, 50 Hz · Standard 220–240 V: devices from the US or Japan (110–120 V) need a converter unless they are dual voltage (100–240 V).
Sources: Wikipedia — Mains electricity by country and List of emergency telephone numbers (CC BY-SA 4.0).
National parks
10 national parks in Côte d'Ivoire
- 36,622 km² protected
- oldest from 1953
Largest: Assagny National Park · Comoé National Park · Taï National Park
Currency · 26 October 2026
West African CFA franc exchange rates today
Côte d'Ivoire uses the West African CFA franc (XOF, Fr). One US dollar buys 584.5354 XOF; over the last 30 days the XOF has lost 1.5% against the dollar.
What other currencies cost in XOF
Currency converter
Daily reference rates from the open-source currency-api (CC0), 26 Oct 2026. Banks and exchange offices add a margin.
World rankings
Where Côte d'Ivoire ranks
How Côte d'Ivoire compares with the rest of the world — open any card for the full ranking.
Airports
Airports in Côte d'Ivoire
30 airports and airfields — 2 large, 5 medium and 22 small, plus 1 heliports. 4 have scheduled passenger flights.
Borders
Neighbouring countries
Côte d'Ivoire borders 5 countries along 3,458 km of land borders. Coastline: 515 km.
Military
Ivoirian armed forces
Côte d'Ivoire ranks #105 of 145 in the Global Firepower military strength ranking, with a defence budget of $759 million (2025).
People
Population & society
Religion
Largest cities: Yamoussoukro (231,000), Abidjan (5.7 million)
Economy
Economy
Main industries
foodstuffs, beverages; wood products, oil refining, gold mining, truck and bus assembly, textiles, fertilizer, building materials, electricity
Export partners
Switzerland 17%, Netherlands 9%, Mali 7%, USA 5%, Malaysia 4% (2023)
Top exports
gold, cocoa beans, rubber, refined petroleum, coconuts/brazil nuts/cashews (2023)
Travel tools
Handy before every trip to Côte d'Ivoire
Next public holiday
All Saints Day — Sunday, 1 November 2026. Then National Peace Day (15 Nov).
Ivoirian passport
Ranked #149: 28 countries visa-free, 24 with visa on arrival, 2 with an eTA and 46 with an eVisa.
Ivoirian passport photo
Exact size, head position and background for Côte d'Ivoire's passport and visa photos — make one free with AI checks.
Calling Côte d'Ivoire
Dial +225 before the local number. Internet domain .ci.
Climate footprint
14.8 million tonnes of CO₂ in 2024 — 0.46 t per person.
Entry requirements
Visa rules for every passport visiting Côte d'Ivoire: visa-free stays, eVisas, visas on arrival and documents to bring.
News
Latest travel news about Côte d'Ivoire
Ethiopian passport places 169th worldwide in Passport Reports mobility index
Passport Reports' 18 October 2026 update ranks the Ethiopian passport 169th globally, with a mobility score of 39. Ethiopia places 50th of 199 destin…
Guinea-Bissau Travellers Holding Nigerian Passports Get 24 Visa-Free Entries
Nigerian passport holders can enter 24 destinations without arranging a visa in advance, according to the IziVisa Passport Ranking Index, which ranks…
Without a passport, deported Iowa mother trapped in Sierra Leone hotel until Oct. 26
Fatou Traore, an Iowa mother of four U.S. citizen children deported to Sierra Leone on Oct. 13, says she is confined to a hotel without a passport an…
Frequently asked questions about Côte d'Ivoire
What do I need to travel to Côte d'Ivoire?
How long must my passport be valid for Côte d'Ivoire?
Where is Côte d'Ivoire?
What is Côte d'Ivoire known for?
What is the capital of Côte d'Ivoire?
What language is spoken in Côte d'Ivoire?
What currency does Côte d'Ivoire use?
What is the calling code of Côte d'Ivoire?
Which countries border Côte d'Ivoire?
How strong is the Ivoirian passport?
What is the speed limit in Côte d'Ivoire?
Is Côte d'Ivoire safe to visit?
When is the best time to visit Côte d'Ivoire?
What plug type does Côte d'Ivoire use?
How many airports does Côte d'Ivoire have?
Sources: CIA World Factbook (public domain); World Bank Open Data (CC BY 4.0); names, languages and currencies: mledoze/countries (ODbL); flag: flag-icons (MIT); coat of arms: Wikimedia Commons (file page); exchange rates: Daily reference rates from the open-source currency-api (CC0); airports: OurAirports.