The Ivorian authorities have taken further steps to formalise an agreement signed between Ivory Coast and France, which aims at facilitating travel for passport holders of the two countries.
According to local media, the Ivorian Council of Ministers has passed a decree ratifying the Agreement, which will allow diplomatic passport holders of the two countries to travel visa-free, Schengen.News reports.
Signed in January 2025, this agreement establishes a reciprocal exemption from short-stay visas for French and Ivorian nationals holding a diplomatic passport valid for at least three months, with a view to consolidating the bonds of friendship and cooperation between the two countries.
The agreement that was signed in January and the announcement of its ratification came one month later, on February 26.
Agreement to Facilitate Travel for French & Ivorian Diplomats
Once the agreement comes into effect, diplomats and public officials of France and Ivory Coast will be allowed to stay in either one of the countries without a visa requirement, if they are using the diplomatic passport. This document usually has a validity period of at least three months.
This measure is part of the two countries’ efforts to improve their relations and aims to simplify administrative procedures for the diplomatic passport holders.
According to Coulibaly, in addition to diplomatic staff, the agreement covers their family members, as well as agents of other public services holding valid diplomatic passports.
France Received 76% of Ivorians’ Schengen Visa Applications in 2023
France is the most popular destination for applicants from Ivory Coast to file their Schengen visa applications. According to statistics published by SchengenVisaInfo, Ivorians filed 71,414 Schengen visa applications in 2023, 54,283 or 76 per cent of which were submitted to French authorities.
Spain, Italy and Belgium are the other three countries that received the most applications – 4,591, 3,647 and 3,464. Together with France, the four countries have received 92.3 per cent of all applications that Ivorians made for the year.
However, these countries had different approval rates for Ivorian visa applicants. For example, Italy holds the highest visa approval rates for Ivorians as 80.6 per cent of visa applications this country received in 2023, issued a positive decision. Switzerland and Spain also had high approval rates – about 80.6 and 70.4 per cent respectively.
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