Ivory Coast Work Permit

A Work Permit is required for foreign nationals who intend to work in Ivory Coast (Côte d’Ivoire) for a period of three months or longer. Ivory Coast does not operate a separate short-term work permit category. In practice, work performed for up to 90 days is treated as a business activity and may be undertaken on a Business Visa, provided the stay does not exceed 90 consecutive days.

Work permits in Ivory Coast are issued by the Agence Emploi Jeunes (AEJ) and are linked to a specific role and specific employer. The permit applies to foreign employees and trainees and is generally issued for a validity period of one year, renewable annually.

Foreign nationals working in Ivory Coast must also obtain a residence permit. With the exception of ECOWAS nationals, any foreign national remaining in the country beyond three months must apply for residence authorisation through the National Office of Identification (ONI). This process requires the applicant’s physical presence for biometric enrolment.

Last Updated: 20/02/2026

Foreign nationals seeking authorisation to work in Ivory Coast must obtain a Work Permit issued by the Agence Emploi Jeunes (AEJ). Applications are employer-sponsored and must be supported by documentation from both the employer and the foreign national.

Core Application Requirements:

• Completed work permit application submitted to AEJ.
• Employment contract or job offer issued on the official AEJ form.
• Valid passport of the foreign national.

Supporting Employer Documentation:

• Company business registration documents.
• Tax registration documentation.
• Proof of lawful business operations in Ivory Coast.
• Justification for employing a foreign national.

Supporting Applicant Documentation:

• Curriculum Vitae (CV).
• Relevant academic or professional qualifications.
• Any additional supporting documents requested by AEJ.

Document Standards:

• All documents must be provided in French or accompanied by a translation completed by an accredited translator.
• Incomplete or inconsistent documentation may delay processing.

The work permit is issued in two copies once approved and is valid for one year, after which renewal is required if employment continues.

The processing timeline for a Work Permit in Ivory Coast is determined by administrative procedures carried out by the Agence Emploi Jeunes (AEJ) and the sequence of steps required before final issuance. While not all stages have fixed statutory timelines, several stages have known administrative benchmarks.

Known Processing Benchmarks:

• After submission of the work permit application, AEJ typically issues a payment notice within 5 to 10 working days.
• Once payment is completed and confirmed, the work permit is issued in two copies.
• Following commencement of employment, the foreign national must apply for a Work Card within three months, which is generally issued within 1 to 4 weeks after submission.

Estimated Total Work Authorisation Timeline:

• Work permit issuance (submission to approval): Estimated 2 to 4 weeks, assuming a complete application file and prompt payment.

Factors That May Affect Processing Time:

• Completeness and accuracy of submitted documentation.
• Verification of employer registration and tax status.
• Administrative workload at AEJ.
• Additional clarification requests by authorities.

The foreign national may only commence employment once the work permit has been issued. Delays may occur where documentation is incomplete or payment is not made promptly after issuance of the payment notice.

The government fee for a Work Permit in Ivory Coast is not fixed as a single standard amount. Instead, the fee is determined by the Agence Emploi Jeunes (AEJ) and varies according to specific employment factors relating to the foreign national and the employment contract.

Fee Determination Factors:

• Type of employment contract (fixed-term or permanent).
• Salary level of the foreign national.
• Country of origin of the applicant.

In practice, the work permit fee for foreign nationals from African countries is lower than for foreign nationals from non-African countries.

Payment Procedure:

• After submission of the application, AEJ issues a payment notice within 5 to 10 working days.
• The employer must pay the stated government fee following receipt of this notice.
• The work permit is issued only after payment has been confirmed.

Specific government fee amounts are not publicly standardised and are communicated directly to the employer during processing. Employers should budget for variable government fees and confirm the exact payable amount once the payment notice has been issued by AEJ.

Work permits in Ivory Coast are issued by the Agence Emploi Jeunes (AEJ) and must be obtained before a foreign national can legally work in the country. The process is employer-driven and requires coordination between the employer and the foreign employee.

Step 1: Confirm Eligibility and Employment Offer

The foreign national must first receive a valid job offer or employment contract from an employer established in Ivory Coast. The employment contract must be issued on the official AEJ template form.

Step 2: Prepare the Application File

The employer prepares the application dossier, including company registration documents, tax registration, and the employment contract. The foreign national must provide supporting documents such as passport copy, qualifications, and CV. All documents must be in French or translated by an accredited translator.

Step 3: Submit Application to AEJ

The completed application is submitted to the Agence Emploi Jeunes in Ivory Coast. The applicant is generally required to be in-country during the work authorisation process.

Step 4: Receive Payment Notice

Within approximately 5 to 10 working days after submission, AEJ issues a payment notice to the employer specifying the government fee payable for the work permit.

Step 5: Pay Government Fee

The employer must pay the fee stated in the payment notice. The work permit will not be issued until payment has been completed and confirmed.

Step 6: Obtain Issued Work Permit

Once approved, the work permit is issued in two copies and is valid for one year. The foreign national is only authorised to work once the permit has been issued.

Step 7: Apply for Work Card

Within three months of starting employment, the foreign national must apply for a Work Card, which authenticates the employment contract. This card is typically issued within 1 to 4 weeks after submission.

Step 8: Apply for Residence Permit

Following work authorisation, the foreign national must apply in person at the National Office of Identification (ONI) for a residence permit. This step requires biometric enrolment and supporting civil documents.

Disclaimer

At IBN Immigration Solutions, an Envoy Global company, we follow Google’s standards for transparency. The information provided on this page is based on the latest publicly available immigration laws, regulations, and official guidance relating to Côte d’Ivoire. This content is intended for general informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice, legal opinion, or official instruction.

IBN Immigration Solutions is a private immigration services firm and is not affiliated with the Government of Côte d’Ivoire, its immigration authorities, or any government department or agency. Immigration rules, requirements, and procedures may change without notice, and applicants are responsible for confirming current requirements with the relevant authorities.

Clients who engage our services do so for professional assistance in preparing and managing applications for visas, work authorisation, residence permits, and related immigration processes.