Ivory Coast: travel laws for tourists, topic by topic
Extreme
Overall verdict for Ivory Coast: Extreme. Below, the risk level of each of the 23 topics that get travellers fined or arrested. The exact rule, thresholds and penalties are in the LawsTravels app.
Ivory Coast: read the 3 riskiest rules free →
🎁 Free, no account: Drugs, Sex & dating, Driving
The 23 topics at a glance
Banned or serious riskAllowed, with limitsRelaxed
💊Drugs🎁 FreeBanned or serious risk
💉MedicinesAllowed, with limits
🛡️Theft & scamsAllowed, with limits
🐾AnimalsAllowed, with limits
🚬SmokingAllowed, with limits
🍺AlcoholRelaxed
❤️Sex & dating🎁 FreeBanned or serious risk
👕Dress codeRelaxed
🕌ReligionRelaxed
🚗Driving🎁 FreeBanned or serious risk
📷Photo & videoBanned or serious risk
🔪WeaponsBanned or serious risk
💶FinesAllowed, with limits
🛂Visa & customsAllowed, with limits
🤝BehaviorRelaxed
⛓️Jail riskBanned or serious risk
⚖️ExtraditionAllowed, with limits
📡Internet & VPNRelaxed
🚁DronesBanned or serious risk
💵Cash & currencyAllowed, with limits
🩺Vaccines & healthBanned or serious risk
💻Remote workAllowed, with limits
🗣️Politics & protestAllowed, with limits
How Ivory Coast compares
With 8 of 23 topics flagged red, Ivory Coast is stricter than 26 of the 41 other countries in Sub-Saharan Africa (regional average: 7.3). Worldwide, Ivory Coast ranks #28 of 148 for strictness (tied with 8 other countries).
What sets it apart
- Vaccines & health: flagged red here, while only 32 of 148 countries are this strict.
What to watch most in Ivory Coast
- Military sites, police, airports, borders, ports and government buildings — this is the classic espionage accusation.
- People without asking, especially children, and above all in indigenous or religious communities.
- Protests and police operations: your phone can be seized and its contents searched.
- The age of consent is the first thing to check, and it varies from 13 to 21 depending on the country and sometimes the region.
- Some countries criminalise sex outside marriage, which can affect an unmarried couple sharing a hotel room.
- Same-sex relations remain a criminal offence in around 60 countries, with sentences up to life in a handful.
Ivory Coast at a glance
CapitalYamoussoukro
CurrencyWest African CFA Franc (XOF)
LanguageFrench
Emergency number110
Driving sideRight
Mains voltage230 V
Calling code+225
Time zoneUTC+00:00
Plug typesC · E
Frequently asked questions
Is Ivory Coast strict with tourists?
Overall verdict: Extreme. 8 of 23 topics are flagged as banned or a serious risk (Drugs, Sex & dating, Driving, Photo & video, Weapons, Jail risk, Drones, Vaccines & health), 10 require caution.
What can get me fined or arrested in Ivory Coast?
The strictest topics for travellers in Ivory Coast are: Drugs, Sex & dating, Driving, Photo & video, Weapons, Jail risk, Drones, Vaccines & health. Each has specific thresholds and penalties, detailed in the app.
Where do I find the exact rules for Ivory Coast?
In LawsTravels: open Ivory Coast, each topic shows the level, the rule, the thresholds and what to do at customs, offline. 3 topics are free on every country; the other 20 unlock for the price of a coffee.
What is the emergency number in Ivory Coast?
In Ivory Coast, dial 110. Capital: Yamoussoukro. Currency: West African CFA Franc (XOF). Main language: French.
Which side of the road do they drive on in Ivory Coast?
In Ivory Coast, traffic drives on the right. Mains voltage: 230 V. Calling code: +225. Time zone: UTC+00:00. Plug types: C · E.
Countries with the closest profile
Levels summarise publicly available legal information for travellers and are not legal advice. Laws change and enforcement varies: confirm with the embassy or consulate of your destination.
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