Disclaimer: An arrival card is not a visa. It cannot be used as a substitute for a visa and does not grant permission to enter any country. Travelers are responsible for obtaining the appropriate visa, if required, prior to arrival. The arrival card is for administrative purposes only and does not serve as a travel authorization or entry permit.
If you plan on going to the Ivory Coast, one of the questions you may have concerns the type of visa you are eligible for. Lucky for you, you can get an Ivory Coast visa on arrival, but not the way you may be accustomed to. The Government of the Ivory Coast asks citizens to apply for a pre-approval letter before departing so that they can pick up their biometric visa once they arrive at one of the airports in Abidjan.
How to obtain an Ivory Coast visa on arrival
The first thing you need to do is to choose a visa agent. iVisa is an excellent such service, and you can have your pre-approval letter in as little as 18 hours. However, you need to meet some requirements first. Even so, the list is concise and everything on it is accessible. Here is what you need to provide so that iVisa ca get the process started:
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Passport – if you wish to apply online, you need to have a passport. However, the passport needs to be valid for at least another 6 months from the date of arrival in Ivory Coast, and a blank page is required. Take a look at your passport to ensure it meets these requirements.
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E-mail address – iVisa will send you the pre-approval letter via e-mail, which is why you need a valid address. Do not forget to print a few copies before your departure.
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Means of payment – when you apply online, you need to make the payment during the application process. Lucky for you, iVisa provides several methods of payment. You can use a credit or debit card, but if you have an account on PayPal, Alipay, or WeChat, you can use one of them as well.
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Yellow Fever vaccination certification – before you leave for Ivory Coast, you need to have your inoculation against the Yellow Fever. A certification that attests the vaccine is required.
Once you check all those items off the list, you can fill in the application form. No need to worry because iVisa created a short and straightforward application form so that you can be done with it in 20 minutes or less. Plus, if you need any help with it, you can refer to iVisa’s support service that is available 24/7. The service is free of charge.
The first steps you need to complete could not be simpler. The first one consists of personal information and processing time. You need to fill in information about yourself, such as address, full name, passport info, and some details about your trip. The processing time you select at this point determines the cost of your visa.
The second step is about revision and payment. You can make the payment using one of the available methods mentioned above. As for revision, you need to be very careful about the accuracy and spelling of the information you provide. Any errors can render your visa invalid.
The last step is about documents upload. Since this is a step that is not the same for everyone, iVisa will let you know what you need to upload. After you finish, hit the submit button, and then wait for your approval letter to arrive via e-mail in PDF format.
Once the document arrives, you need to print it out and take it with you. When you arrive in the Ivory Coast at the airport, you will need the document to pick up your biometric visa. And that is pretty much it.
As you can see, getting an Ivory Coast visa on arrival is as easy as possible. The document allows you a 30-day stay, you can use it for a single entry, and it is valid for 90 days from the date of issue.