How to Apply for an Ivory Coast Visa in New York

New York is America’s most-populous city, and its metropolitan area has over 20 million people.  Known as “The Big Apple”, New York City contains the five boroughs of Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens, Staten Island, and the Bronx.  The New York metro area includes New York City, Long Island, and the Mid and Lower Hudson Valley.  It also includes cities in New Jersey such as Newark, Edison, Elizabeth, Paterson, Jersey City, and Hoboken, along with cities in Connecticut such as New Haven, Bridgeport, and Stamford.  New York is not only one of the most important economic regions in the world but is also considered “Capital of the World” because of its cultural and ethnic diversity.  The city is home to several ethnic neighborhoods such as “Le Petit Senegal” in Harlem, which acts as a cultural hub for West African immigrants in New York, particularly for those from Francophone African countries such as Ivory Coast.  There are a few thousand New Yorkers who immigrated from Ivory Coast, many of whom work in restaurants and beauty salons, or drive taxis.  New York is one of the few cities in America that has authentic Ivorian restaurants—all of which  are great spots to network with Ivorian Americans.  New York is also home to Masjid Aqsa-Salam, a mosque founded by immigrants from Ivory Coast.  

Ivory Coast is a West African nation with a population of 27.5 million residents located along the Gulf of Guinea, with Ghana to its east and Liberia and Guinea to its west.  Better known as Côte d’Ivoire to French speakers, Ivory Coast was a colony of France until 1960, when it gained independence.  France and the Ivory Coast still maintain close economic ties and there are nearly 700 French companies operating in the country.  Although struggling recently due to the pandemic, Ivory Coast has been one of Africa's fastest growing economies and is the eighth-largest economy in Sub-Saharan Africa.  It is the largest exporter of cocoa beans in the world and is also a top exporter of coffee and palm oil.  Abidjan, the country’s largest city, and likely the primary destination for New York visitors, is considered one of West Africa’s most developed and livable cities.  Known as the “Paris of West Africa”, Abidjan is the second-largest French speaking city in the world.  It is a business-friendly city that has large supermarkets, luxury hotels, and many fine dining options, along with some of the best nightlife in Africa.  Ivory Coast is well known by French-speaking Europeans as a tourist destination and has resort towns like Grand-Bassam, Assinie-Mafia, and Jaqueville within driving distance from Abidjan. 

Obtaining an Ivory Coast Visa from New York

Visas for the Ivory Coast are issued by the Ivorian government in the United States.  The government of Ivory Coast is represented by their embassy in Washington, D.C. and a consulate in New York City.  To apply for an Ivory Coast visa from New York, you will fill out the visa application and send your original passport and supporting documents to their consulate by US Mail, FedEx, or UPS.  Here is the address:

Consulate of Ivory Coast
800 2nd Avenue 5th Floor
New York, NY 10017

It is important to review the requirements for visas on the Ivory Coast consulate website and ensure your application and all supporting documents are accurate.  Here is the link to their website with detailed information: https://consulatci-newyork.org/Site/Rubriques?id=27-96751c8b-c625-4ebb-a7fd-0664091279ef.

You should include a self-addressed USPS (US Postal Service Express Mail or Priority Mail), FedEx, or UPS prepaid envelope (please make note of the tracking number) so the consulate can return your passport and visa to your home or office. 

The government fee for the visa is $150 and the processing time is usually just a few days plus transit time. We recommend applying for the visa at least 4 weeks before your departure.  If you need the visa faster, please contact our company to inquire about expedited services.

Other things to consider:

  • U.S. citizens must have a valid visa and a passport that does not expire within six months of your date of entry into Ivory Coast.
  • All visitors to Ivory Coast are required to have a valid World Health Organization (WHO) card with yellow fever vaccination. The vaccination should be taken at least ten 10 days before your date of departure.  Please use the following link from the Center for Disease Control website to find the nearest clinic offering the yellow fever vaccine: Search for Stamaril yellow fever vaccination clinics | Travelers' Health | CDC
  • Visas for Ivory Coast may be issued on arrival at Félix-Houphouët-Boigny International Airport (Abidjan), however, they must be requested online prior to arrival through the following website: https://snedai.com/e-visa/visitors.  Visa Supply recommends obtaining the visa from the consulate in New York before starting your journey to the Ivory Coast.
  • Please read the latest COVID-19 policies and procedures for the Ivory Coast on the U.S. embassy website: https://ci.usembassy.gov/covid-19-information/.   
  • It is recommended to purchase travel insurance before any international trip in case of medical emergencies.  We advise getting the Geo Blue Voyager Single Trip Plan.

Emergency Assistance for Citizens of Ivory Coast in New York  

If you are a citizen of Ivory Coast living in the New York area with an emergency or require urgent assistance, you can reach the consulate in Manhattan by calling 917-392-2797.  The number for general inquiries is 646-476-7614.  The consulate’s email address is consulat.ci.newyork@gmail.com.  If you need to renew your Ivorian passport, you will make payment of 105 Euros online and appear in person at the consulate with all the necessary documents.  More information can be found using this link: https://consulatci-newyork.org/Site/Rubriques?id=23-8ecb1697-6cb9-42b0-b6db-fb8fcb2f5a04. 

We Can Help if You Need Assistance

If you live in New York City or anywhere in the state of New York or New Jersey and have difficulty applying for an Ivory Coast visa, or require assistance with any part of the visa process, please give our office a call at 404-682-5445 or schedule an appointment with our company.  We are a private agency in Atlanta providing Ivory Coast visa services for Americans and other U.S.-based residents.  Our number one goal is to ensure your application documents for a visa are submitted accurately to the Ivorian government.  Our services eliminate delays and give you the peace of mind to focus on your travel plans. 

We provide the following Ivory Coast visa services for our customers in New York:

  • Ivory Coast Tourist Visa
  • Ivory Coast Business Visa
  • Ivory Coast Visitor Visa
  • Ivory Coast Official Visa
  • Ivory Coast Missionary Visa
  • Ivory Coast Work Visa
  • Ivory Coast Hotel Accommodations