Côte d'Ivoire: passenger data rules and border system records

Data protection law and authority

ARTCI lists Loi n°2013-450 of 19 June 2013 on the protection of personal data among the laws it applies ¹. Its data protection page says transfers of personal data outside Côte d'Ivoire are subject to restrictions and added safeguards, and that companies can face sanctions and fines ².

ARTCI lists "Autorité de protection des données personnelles" among its roles ². The Autorité de protection website says ARTCI was created by Ordonnance n°2012-293 of 21 March 2012 ³. It keeps registers of authorised companies and data protection correspondents and takes complaints ³. This page found no published Autorité decision on border, visa or passenger data ³.

The 2025 API and PNR decree

The Council of Ministers met on 30 July 2025 ⁷. On a report from the Ministry of Transport, with the Interior, Finance and Digital Transition ministries, it adopted a decree on systems for exchanging advance passenger information (RPCV) and passenger name record data (DDP) ⁷. The communiqué says the decree applies the Civil Aviation Code, Law n°2022-887, to flights to, from and through the country ⁷.

The stated purposes are the fight against terrorism and cross-border crime, international cooperation and flight and airport security ⁷. The communiqué does not say which body receives the data, how long it is kept or which data protection rules apply ⁷.

Securiport contract and the security fee

On 6 September 2017 the Council of Ministers approved by decree a contract concluded on 17 August 2017 between the state and Securiport SA and Securiport LLC ⁴. It covers an integrated system for traveller identification and control at Félix Houphouët-Boigny airport, land border controls and equipment on main roads to store and detect identity data ⁴. The communiqué gives no term, financing, fee or data holder ⁴. As reported by Adama Wade in Financial Afrik on 8 September 2017, the system covers identification, traveller control and immigration management at the borders ⁵.

As reported by Edwige Fiende in Connectionivoirienne on 17 January 2018, the government announced a security fee of 4,000 to 5,000 FCFA per passenger arriving at or leaving Abidjan airport, included in the ticket price ⁶. Domestic flights are excluded ⁶. Spokesperson Bruno Koné said the money would fund technology for border migration control and counterterrorism ⁶. The report names no collecting company ⁶. As reported by Timothée Manoke of Ecofin Agency on 7 November 2025, Securiport operates in several African countries, including Côte d'Ivoire, Sierra Leone, Senegal and The Gambia, where security fees range from US$20 to US$25 ⁹. The two reports give different figures and this page found no official fee schedule ^6,9.

E-visa and the DST

SNEDAI Groupe runs the e-visa site and says it is the only site approved by the state for visa applications (provider page) ⁸. The visa costs €73 including bank fees and is valid for three months with multiple entries ⁸. The Direction de la Surveillance du Territoire (DST) reviews and approves online requests ⁸. Approved travellers complete biometric enrolment of fingerprints and photo at the Visa aéroport area in Abidjan, where the visa is printed ⁸. Children under 12 give no fingerprints ⁸.

Official findings

This page found no Ivorian audit, court, parliamentary or Autorité de protection finding on the Securiport contract, the airport fee or passenger data systems as of 21 October 2026 ^3,4.