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CÔTE D'IVOIRE - 1 February 2018 Deadline for Converting to New Biometric Residence Cards

Nationals of non-ECOWAS (Economic Community of West African States) countries holding temporary residence permit cards in Côte d'Ivoire (Ivory Coast) have until 1 February 2018 to exchange their old cards for a new biometric residence card ("Carte de Résident").

All unconverted temporary residence permits will become invalid on 1 February 2018 - previously this deadline was set at 31 December 2017. After this date, any non-ECOWAS national resident in Côte d'Ivoire without a biometric resident card will be subject to a penalty.

Background

Côte d'Ivoire has been in the process of transitioning over to a national biometric identification card system for its citizens over the past two years. See our previous alerts here and here. Since 14 August 2017, applicants for new residence permits receive the new biometric cards, which have a five-year validity period (the old format card was valid for only one year).

Action Points

  • Ensure that temporary residence permit holders obtain a new biometric residence card from the Office Nationale d’Identification (ONI) before 1 February 2018.

This news alert was prepared using information provided by Africa Relocation Services.

DISCLAIMER: The information contained in this immigration alert has been abridged from laws, court decisions, and administrative rulings and should not be construed or relied upon as legal advice. If you have specific questions regarding the applicability of this information, please contact Peregrine © 2019 Peregrine Immigration Management Ltd.