Rabat – Cote d’Ivoire Reinstates Temporary Visa Requirement for Ivorian Passport Holders.
Cote d’Ivoire has announced the reintroduction of temporary visa requirements for all holders of ordinary Ivorian passports, effective September 1. The country’s Foreign Affairs Ministry confirmed that this decision, coordinated with Moroccan authorities, will be in place for a trial period of two years.
This move responds to a significant increase in African migrants attempting to reach Mediterranean shores, with transit points in North Africa, including Morocco, according to the ministry’s statement.
The statement highlighted that recent profiling by host countries and Ivorian embassies revealed many irregular migrants falsely claiming Ivorian citizenship. It noted that of the 14,800 migrants who arrived in Lampedusa claiming to be Ivorian, only a few dozen were actually confirmed as nationals of Cote d’Ivoire.
The ministry clarified that this measure is a temporary suspension of visa exemption and not a permanent change. It will not affect Moroccan citizens traveling to Cote d’Ivoire or Ivorians with diplomatic or service passports. Additionally, the requirement does not apply to individuals with Moroccan residence permits or those holding Schengen visas, or visas from the UAE, US, or Canada.