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Do China passport holders need a visa to visit CI?

Chinese ordinary passport holders need a visa for Côte d'Ivoire, obtained as a pre-arrival e-Visa through the official SNEDAI portal. You apply and pay online before departure (at least 48 hours ahead), receive an approval/confirmation by email, and the biometric visa is finalized and collected on arrival at Abidjan Port-Bouët Airport. A yellow fever vaccination certificate is mandatory. Côte d'Ivoire does not grant visa-free entry to ordinary Chinese passport holders; only Chinese diplomatic and service passport holders are visa-exempt. The standard route for tourists is the official Ivorian e-Visa run by SNEDAI (snedai.com/e-visa). The applicant completes the form online, uploads a passport scan and photo, pays the fee (EUR 73) by card, and must submit at least 48 hours before the flight. After approval an email/pre-enrollment confirmation is issued, which is printed and presented on arrival at Abidjan; biometrics (fingerprints/photo) are then captured and the physical visa sticker is issued at the airport. The visa is valid for up to 90 days and typically allows a stay of up to 90 days. Because the e-Visa must be requested and approved online before boarding, this is an e-Visa scheme rather than a true visa-on-arrival. A passport valid at least 6 months, onward/return ticket, proof of accommodation, and a valid yellow fever vaccination certificate are required. Travelers should always reconfirm on the official SNEDAI portal as fees and procedures can change.
VISA REQUIREDTOURISMSINGLE ENTRYLast verified 2026-05-30
For guidance only — visa rules change with little notice. Always confirm directly with the destination's embassy or foreign ministry before booking non-refundable travel. Information here applies to ordinary (non-diplomatic) passports unless noted.
/01 — The numbers

Key facts

Last verified 2026-05-30
Visa type
e-Visa (pre-arrival online approval, biometric visa collected at Abidjan airport)
Maximum stay
Up to 90 days
per entry
Entries
Single entry
from issue date
Visa fee
EUR 73 (visa fee; card payment online)
consular fee only
Processing time
Apply at least 48 hours before departure; e-Visa typically issued within 48 hours
standard track
Validity
90 days from issue
from issue date
/02 — The process

How to apply

/01
Confirm eligibility and prepare documents
Ensure your Chinese ordinary passport is valid for at least 6 months with blank pages, and obtain a yellow fever vaccination certificate, which is mandatory for entry to Côte d'Ivoire.
· Passport 6+ months· Yellow fever certificate
/02
Open the official SNEDAI e-Visa portal
Go to the official Ivorian government e-Visa site at snedai.com/e-visa. The embassy does not enroll applicants directly; all e-Visa requests are handled through SNEDAI.
· snedai.com/e-visa
/03
Complete the online application
Fill in personal and travel details, upload a scanned passport bio-data page and a recent passport photo, and provide your travel dates, accommodation, and onward/return ticket information.
· Passport scan· Recent photo
/04
Pay the visa fee online
Pay the EUR 73 fee by credit/debit card. The fee is non-refundable, so verify all details before submitting.
· EUR 73· Non-refundable
/05
Receive pre-approval and print confirmation
Submit at least 48 hours before your flight. After processing you receive an email confirmation/pre-enrollment notice; print it to present at the airport.
· Apply 48h+ ahead· Print confirmation
/06
Collect the biometric visa on arrival in Abidjan
At Abidjan Port-Bouët Airport, present your confirmation; immigration captures your biometrics (fingerprints and photo) and issues the physical visa sticker.
· Abidjan airport· Biometrics taken
/03 — The paperwork

Required materials

10 items
Personalized checklist
0 / 10 complete
Chinese ordinary passport valid 6+ months with blank pages
required
Approved e-Visa confirmation / pre-enrollment printout from SNEDAI
required
Valid yellow fever vaccination certificate
required
Recent passport-style photo (digital upload and printed copy)
required
Confirmed return or onward flight ticket
required
Proof of accommodation (hotel booking or host letter)
required
Credit/debit card for the EUR 73 online payment
required
Proof of sufficient funds for the stay
recommended
Travel/medical insurance covering the trip
recommended
Copies of bookings and documents stored offline and on phone
recommended
Track your progress · save & email a copy
/04 — The cost

Fee breakdown

All-in estimate
Line itemAmountSource
e-Visa feeEUR 73Paid online to SNEDAI by card; non-refundable
Yellow fever vaccinationVaries (clinic-dependent)Required certificate; cost depends on local clinic
Optional service/agency feeEUR 0-50+Only if using a third-party agent instead of the official portal
Total estimateEUR 73EUR 130incl. all
/05 — The wait

Processing time

Ivorian embassy/consulate visa
Several business days
Traditional sticker visa via an embassy; used for visa types not covered by the e-Visa or where pre-arrival collection is not desired.
/06 — The risks

Common refusal reasons

by frequency
/01
No visa-free agreement for ordinary passports
China and Côte d'Ivoire have no visa-waiver for ordinary passports; only diplomatic and service passport holders are exempt, so ordinary travelers must obtain a visa.
High
/02
Missing yellow fever certificate
A yellow fever vaccination certificate is mandatory for entry; arriving without it can lead to denied entry or forced vaccination.
High
/03
Not applying before the flight
The e-Visa must be requested and approved online at least 48 hours before departure; airlines may deny boarding without the confirmation.
Medium
/04
Insufficient passport validity
Passports with less than 6 months validity or no blank pages are commonly refused.
Medium
/05
Incomplete supporting documents
Lack of return ticket or proof of accommodation can cause application rejection or issues at the border.
Low
/07 — On arrival

After you land

/01
Immigration
Keep your passport, visa or exemption proof, return ticket, and accommodation details ready for border inspection.
/02
Customs
Review the destination's customs rules before travel and declare restricted goods or large cash amounts when required.
/03
Connectivity
Check whether airport SIMs, eSIMs, or roaming are the best option for your route before arrival.
/08 — The history

Policy changelog

since 2024
2026-05-30
China to Côte d'Ivoire route verified
Confirmed via Wikipedia visa policy, the official SNEDAI e-Visa portal, the Ivorian embassy visa page, and Abidjan airport guidance that Chinese ordinary passport holders require a pre-arrival e-Visa (EUR 73, 90-day validity, ~48h processing) with biometric collection at Abidjan and a mandatory yellow fever certificate.
/09 — The questions

Frequently asked

Do Chinese citizens need a visa for Côte d'Ivoire?
Yes. Ordinary Chinese passport holders need a visa. The standard option is the official e-Visa applied for online through SNEDAI before travel. Only Chinese diplomatic and service passport holders are visa-exempt.
Is it a visa-on-arrival or an e-Visa?+
How much does the e-Visa cost?+
How long can I stay and how long is the visa valid?+
Is a yellow fever vaccination required?+
Where should I apply to avoid scams?+
/11 — Passport tools

Tools for the China passport

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