Due to the introduction of a new biometric residence card system, on or after August 14, 2017, foreign nationals in the Ivory Coast must apply for a biometric residence card to replace their temporary residence cards. The new card will have a five-year validity period. The prescribed fees are as follows:

• Biometric residence card (non-Economic Community of West African States  nationals): FCFA 300,000
• French nationals: FCFA 150,000

The new cards are meant to facilitate the identification of foreign nationals and to prevent counterfeiting of such documents.

What This Means for Employers and Foreign Nationals
Employers should ensure that their foreign employees who hold temporary residence cards schedule appointments and obtain new biometric residence cards on or after August 14, 2017.
The exact requirements for applying for biometric cards and the penalties for non-compliance have not yet been released.

This alert is for informational purposes only. If you have any questions, please contact the global immigration professional with whom you work at Fragomen or send an email to africainfo@fragomen.com.

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