canivisit.com
Beta — verify with official sources⌘K
Home/from/gb/to/ci
🇬🇧UNITED KINGDOM
🏳CIGB-CI

Do United Kingdom passport holders need a visa to visit CI?

UK ordinary passport holders need a visa for Côte d'Ivoire. The standard route for a short tourist visit is the e-visa: apply and pay online via the official SNEDAI portal before travel, then collect the visa sticker on arrival at Abidjan (Port Bouët) Airport. You must enter through Abidjan airport, and a yellow fever vaccination certificate is mandatory. British (GB) citizens are not visa-exempt for Côte d'Ivoire and must hold a visa for tourism. The practical option is the e-visa administered by SNEDAI (snedai.com), the government-mandated operator. Travelers complete and pay for the application online (UK GOV.UK advises applying at least 10 working days before departure), receive a pre-approval confirmation, and must arrive via Abidjan Félix-Houphouët-Boigny International Airport, where biometrics are captured and the physical visa is affixed in the passport. The e-visa is typically valid for a 90-day period and authorizes a short stay (up to about 90 days), single entry. The standard fee is around EUR 73. The passport must be valid for at least 6 months beyond arrival, and proof of yellow fever vaccination is compulsory for entry. This is not a true visa-on-arrival channel: non-ECOWAS nationals must have the e-visa approved before boarding. Côte d'Ivoire is not in the Schengen area, so Schengen 90/180 and ETIAS rules do not apply.
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.
United Kingdom (ILR)Living in United Kingdom as a permanent resident? See PR-specific guidance
/01 — The numbers

Key facts

Last verified 2026-05-30
Visa type
e-Visa (pre-approved online, collected on arrival at Abidjan airport)
Maximum stay
Up to 90 days
per entry
Entries
Single entry
from issue date
Visa fee
Approx. EUR 73 (e-visa service fee)
consular fee only
Processing time
Typically 48 hours to 3 business days; apply at least 10 working days before travel
standard track
Validity
90 days from issue
from issue date
/02 — The process

How to apply

/01
Confirm passport and yellow fever requirements
Ensure your UK passport is valid for at least 6 months beyond your arrival date and has blank pages. Get a yellow fever vaccination and keep the International Certificate of Vaccination, which is mandatory at entry.
· 6 months validity· Yellow fever certificate
/02
Apply online via the official SNEDAI portal
Go to the official e-visa site snedai.com. The Embassy does not enroll applicants; all applications are handled online. Create your application for a tourist (short stay) visa.
· snedai.com· Tourism category
/03
Upload documents and pay the fee
Provide a passport bio-page scan, a recent passport photo (white background), return flight itinerary, proof of accommodation, and pay the e-visa fee (approx. EUR 73) by card.
· Card payment· EUR 73
/04
Apply early and await pre-approval
UK GOV.UK advises applying at least 10 working days before travel. Processing is usually 48 hours to 3 business days. You will receive an electronic pre-approval confirmation slip.
· Apply 10 working days ahead
/05
Travel via Abidjan airport
You must enter Côte d'Ivoire through Abidjan Félix-Houphouët-Boigny International Airport (Port Bouët). Carry a printed copy of your e-visa confirmation.
· Abidjan airport only
/06
Collect the visa on arrival
At the airport e-visa desk, present your confirmation slip and passport. Officers capture your fingerprints (biometrics) and affix the physical visa into your passport.
· Biometrics taken· Visa sticker issued
/03 — The paperwork

Required materials

10 items
Personalized checklist
0 / 10 complete
UK passport valid 6+ months beyond arrival with blank pages
required
Approved SNEDAI e-visa confirmation slip (printed)
required
Yellow fever vaccination certificate
required
Recent passport-size photo (white background)
required
Return or onward flight itinerary
required
Proof of accommodation (hotel booking or host details)
required
Proof of sufficient funds for the stay
recommended
Travel/health insurance covering the trip
recommended
Confirmation that arrival is via Abidjan airport
required
Payment card for the e-visa fee
required
Track your progress · save & email a copy
/04 — The cost

Fee breakdown

All-in estimate
Line itemAmountSource
e-Visa fee (SNEDAI)EUR 73Standard online tourist e-visa fee, paid at application
Yellow fever vaccinationGBP 60-90Approximate UK private clinic cost; mandatory for entry
Passport photoGBP 5-10If a digital photo is needed for the application
Total estimateEUR 73EUR 73 + GBP 100incl. all
/05 — The wait

Processing time

Recommended buffer (GOV.UK)
At least 10 working days before travel
UK government advice: apply well ahead to allow for any delays before departure.
/06 — The risks

Common refusal reasons

by frequency
/01
Côte d'Ivoire requires a visa for UK citizens
British nationals are not on the visa-exempt list, so a visa is mandatory for any tourist visit.
High
/02
e-Visa is the standard channel
Applications are handled online through SNEDAI; the embassy does not enroll applicants directly.
High
/03
Must arrive via Abidjan airport
The e-visa is collected only at Abidjan Félix-Houphouët-Boigny Airport, where biometrics are captured.
Medium
/04
Yellow fever vaccination is compulsory
Travelers must show a valid yellow fever certificate on entry.
High
/05
Pre-approval needed before boarding
Non-ECOWAS nationals cannot rely on processing at the airport; the e-visa must be approved before departure.
Medium
/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
United Kingdom to Côte d'Ivoire route verified
Confirmed e-visa requirement for UK ordinary passports against GOV.UK entry requirements and the official Ivorian Embassy (UK) page. e-Visa via SNEDAI, ~EUR 73, 90-day validity, single entry, collected at Abidjan airport; yellow fever certificate mandatory.
/09 — The questions

Frequently asked

Do UK citizens need a visa for Côte d'Ivoire?
Yes. British ordinary passport holders must obtain a visa. The standard option for tourism is the e-visa applied for online via SNEDAI and collected at Abidjan airport.
Is this a true visa-on-arrival?+
How much does the e-visa cost?+
How long does processing take?+
Do I need a yellow fever vaccination?+
Can I enter through any airport or land border?+
/11 — Passport tools

Tools for the United Kingdom passport

See something wrong on this page?
Policies change. If something looks off, tell us — we review every report within 48 hours.