How to Get Côte d'Ivoire CitizenshipKey facts
- Residence for naturalisation
- 5 years
- Language
- None
- Dual citizenship
- New citizens only
- Civic test
- No civic knowledge requirement
- Criminal record
- A criminal record or good character condition applies
- Income condition
- Income or economic resources must be shown
- Dual citizenship in detail
- Partly accepted: for new citizens onlyNew citizens do not have to give up their previous citizenship.Citizens who naturalise abroad lose their citizenship automatically.
- Available routes
- Region
- Africa
- Law in force as of
- 1 January 2024
- Last checked
- Not yet checked by our team
The rule text in the sections below was coded for the law on 1 January 2024. A November 2026 search found no later change for this country, but this has not been verified.
Naturalisation (residence)
For foreign nationals living in Côte d'Ivoire, this is the ordinary route based on residence. Côte d'Ivoire allows authorities to refuse an application, even where conditions have been met.
- Residence
- 5 years
Person has been habitually and legally resident in Cote d'Ivoire for 5 years.
- Previous citizenship
- New citizens do not have to give up their previous citizenship
- Language
- No language requirement
- Civic knowledge
- No civic knowledge requirement
- Criminal record
- A criminal record or good character condition applies
Person is of good conduct. Any expulsion or house arrest must have been annulled, and house arrest or period of imprisonment does not count towards residence period.
- Income or economic resources
- Income or economic resources must be shown
Person has sound mental health and physical health, would not make a burden or danger to the public.
Marriage or civil partnership
For spouses of citizens of Côte d'Ivoire, the rules below set out what this route requires. Côte d'Ivoire requires an application, after which citizenship must be granted if conditions are fulfilled.
Person marries a citizen, unless s/he declares in advance that s/he declines citizenship. Government may oppose within 6 months.
Descent (citizen parent)
This route covers children of a citizen of Côte d'Ivoire, subject to the conditions below. No authority decides this matter, since citizenship follows directly from the law of Côte d'Ivoire.
Descent (born in country)
Person is born in Cote d'Ivoire in wedlock or descent to a citizen is established (unless descent is established to one or both parents who are foreigners).
Descent (born abroad)
Person born abroad to a citizen in wedlock, or out of wedlock and descent is established to a parent who is a citizen.
Birth in the country
Birth in Côte d'Ivoire is the starting point of this route, together with the conditions below. Côte d'Ivoire allows authorities to refuse an application, even where conditions have been met.
Person is born in Cote d'Ivoire. Other conditions: see the rules for ordinary naturalisation (except that residence period is reduced to 2 years).
Child of a new citizen
A parent acquiring citizenship of Côte d'Ivoire is the basis of this route.
Person is a minor whose father (or mother if a widow) or parent to whom descent is established when born out of wedlock is acquiring citizenship by naturalisation.
Person is a minor child born abroad if one parent is acquiring citizenship from the other while alive, and person does not meet the conditions for automatic acquisition (eg because the child is married), or person is adult child of a person who is acquiring citizenship. Other conditions: see the rules for ordinary naturalisation (except residence requirement).
Adoption
This route covers people adopted by a citizen of Côte d'Ivoire, subject to the conditions below. No authority decides this matter, since citizenship follows directly from the law of Côte d'Ivoire.
Person is a minor who is adopted by a citizen.
Other family members of citizens
A family tie to a citizen, former citizen or new citizen of Côte d'Ivoire is the basis of this route. Côte d'Ivoire allows authorities to refuse an application, even where conditions have been met.
Person is the wife of a person who is acquiring citizenship. Other conditions: see the rules for ordinary naturalisation (except residence requirement).
Former citizens (reacquisition)
Earlier citizenship of Côte d'Ivoire is the basis of this route. Côte d'Ivoire allows authorities to refuse an application, even where conditions have been met.
Person is a former citizen who is habitually resident in Cote d'Ivoire. Reacquisition is granted by decree. Not available if citizenship was withdrawn under IVO 54 (on grounds of crime against security of state or ordinary crime) unless person rendered exceptional services to Cote d'Ivoire.
Special achievements
This route covers people recognised for special achievements or for contributions to Côte d'Ivoire, subject to the conditions below. Côte d'Ivoire allows authorities to refuse an application, even where conditions have been met.
Person renders 'important services' of an artistic, scientific or literary nature, or introduces a useful industry or invention. Other conditions: see the rules for ordinary naturalisation (period of habitual residence is reduced to 2 years). Residence requirement is waived altogether for person who has rendered 'exceptional services' or whose naturalisation represents an 'exceptional interest' for the country. Other conditions: see the rules for ordinary naturalisation (residence period may be waived).
Not available in Côte d'Ivoire: Citizens of specific countries, Ethnic or cultural affinity, Residence during childhood, Very long residence, Refugees, Stateless persons, Public or military service, Investment. Based on the GLOBALCIT coding of the law, updated with in-force changes.
Dual citizenship
Côte d'Ivoire accepts dual citizenship in one direction: new citizens.
- New citizens
- New citizens do not have to give up their previous citizenship
- Citizens who naturalise abroad
- Citizens who naturalise abroad lose their citizenship automatically
Person acquires citizenship of another country. Loss is subordinated to authorisation of government during 15 period following inscription on lists for military service (these lists were never established).
Compare with neighbours
Under the law of Côte d'Ivoire, 5 years applies, in line with the usual requirement across Western Africa.
Compare Côte d'Ivoire with all countries in the residence ranking
| Country | Residence | Language | Dual citizenship |
|---|---|---|---|
 Benin | 5 years | Assimilation only | Accepted |
 Cabo Verde | 5 years | None | Accepted |
 Ghana | 5 years | Required, no test | Accepted |
 Guinea | 5 years | Required, no test | Accepted |
 Senegal | 5 years | None | New citizens only |
 Togo | 5 years | Required, no test | Not accepted |
Official sources
This page was located by search and has not yet been checked by our team.
Naturalisation provisions: Nationality law: Art. 24-33, 39-41.
Cite this page
TravelDecl. (n.d.). How to Get Côte d'Ivoire Citizenship. Retrieved November 5, 2026, from https://traveldecl.com/citizenship/cote-divoire/
<a href="https://traveldecl.com/citizenship/cote-divoire/">How to Get Côte d'Ivoire Citizenship</a> (TravelDecl, retrieved 5 November 2026)
Sources and licence
Vink, van der Baaren, Bauböck, Džankić, Honohan, Manby (2025). GLOBALCIT Citizenship Law Dataset v3.1. Global Citizenship Observatory, https://hdl.handle.net/1814/73190. CC BY 4.0. Modified by TravelDecl.
Modified by TravelDecl: updated with changes after 1 January 2024.
GLOBALCIT codes the law as written. Fees, processing times, quotas and how officials apply the rules in practice are not in this dataset: check them with the official authority.
FAQ
How many years to become an Ivorian citizen?
5 years of residence, under the ordinary naturalisation route. The conditions that come with it are listed on this page.
Does Côte d'Ivoire allow dual citizenship?
In part. The law of Côte d'Ivoire accepts dual citizenship for new citizens, not generally for citizens who naturalise abroad.
Do I need a language test for Ivorian citizenship?
Côte d'Ivoire does not impose a language requirement for naturalisation.
Is there a civic knowledge test for Ivorian citizenship?
Côte d'Ivoire does not require applicants to pass a civic knowledge test.
Do I have to give up my current citizenship to get Ivorian citizenship?
Côte d'Ivoire does not require you to give up your current citizenship for Ivorian citizenship. The law of your current country may have its own rules on this.
Can I get Côte d'Ivoire citizenship by marriage?
Yes, the law of Côte d'Ivoire has a route for spouses. Procedure: entitlement.
Can I get Côte d'Ivoire citizenship by descent?
Yes. A child of a citizen can acquire citizenship of Côte d'Ivoire by descent. Procedure: automatic.
Can I get Côte d'Ivoire citizenship by investment?
No investment route is coded in the law of Côte d'Ivoire.
Related pages
Also see: Côte d'Ivoire passport, visa-free access and entry rules. Latest law changes.
Corrections to this page are handled by Sarah Kim, Fact-Checker.