Expatriate Work Contract Visa (Visa de Contrat de Travail Expatrié)

The Expatriate Work Contract Visa (Visa de Contrat de Travail Expatrié) is a specialized long-stay authorization established under Ivorian labor and immigration regulations to facilitate the legal entry and residence of foreign professionals. It fills the critical gap for multinational companies and local entities requiring specific expertise not readily available in the domestic labor market. By linking the visa directly to a formal, government-sanctioned employment contract, the state ensures that foreign labor is integrated in a regulated manner, providing a clear legal framework for both the employer and the employee to operate within the country's economic landscape for a fixed duration.

This visa is designed for foreign nationals who have secured a job offer or transfer to a company based in Côte d'Ivoire. It is ideal for skilled professionals, technical experts, and corporate managers moving for long-term assignments. What makes this visa distinctive is its requirement for the employment contract to be vetted and approved by the national labor authorities (AGEPE) before the visa is issued. This process ensures that the position has been properly managed, often requiring proof that the role could not be filled by a local candidate, thereby balancing the need for international talent with the protection of the local workforce.