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Settling in

Settling in Abidjan

In Abidjan, language will never be an obstacle: everything happens in French. What takes organisation is the order of the paperwork (visa, residence card, consulate), choosing a neighbourhood around the school and the traffic, then daily life, where much is still paid in cash and by mobile money. Here is what we would have liked to know before arriving, checked against official sources and with Abidjan Accueil.

Verified on 31 October 2026

Arrival and first steps

Every family member, children included, enters Côte d'Ivoire with a visa and an up-to-date vaccination record. Once there, the residence card takes over from the visa, and consular registration is done online.

Good to know

  • French nationals, children included, need a biometric visa: either from the Côte d'Ivoire consulate in Paris, or as an e-visa on the official SNEDAI website, the visa then being issued on arrival at Abidjan airport. Source
  • Be careful with the e-visa: only board with the pre-enrolment document received after approval. The payment receipt alone is not enough and you may be turned back at the border. Source
  • Yellow fever vaccination is mandatory to enter and stay in the country, and vaccination records are systematically checked on arrival, including for babies from 9 months. Source
  • The initial visa is valid for three months. To stay, each adult then applies to ONECI for a biometric residence card, valid five years and renewable, which allows you to enter and leave the country without a visa. Source
  • Foreign children under 16 also get their own residence card, with a dedicated file: parental authorisation certified at the town hall, school certificate and a copy of the parent's residence card. Source
  • Registration with the French consular register is free, valid 5 years and done online on service-public.fr: French ID or passport, proof of residence in Côte d'Ivoire and a recent photo. It is not compulsory, but strongly recommended. Source
  • Week 1, in order: consular register and the consulate's security bulletin, choosing a GP or paediatrician, opening a bank account, a local SIM card and mobile money, then the residence card file before the visa's three months run out. Source

Addresses

  • Consulat général de France à Abidjan

    Consulate

    17 rue Lecoeur, Plateau

    Open to the public Monday to Thursday, 7.30am to 12.30pm and 1.30 to 4.30pm, and Friday morning. ID documents are applied for by appointment. The consulate does not answer visa questions.

    Website Source

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Neighbourhoods and housing

The right neighbourhood is first of all the one close to the school: rush-hour traffic at drop-off time can turn a short trip into an hour on the road. House-hunting happens on the spot, and properties go fast.

Good to know

  • Families choose a neighbourhood based on the children's school, the area's safety and the employer's recommendations. Test the commute at school drop-off and pick-up times before signing. Source
  • The norm is unfurnished, one-year leases. At signing, expect usually one month's agency fee, two months' deposit, one month's rent in advance and the lease registration duties. Source
  • The deposit is capped at two months' rent and all upfront payments (agency, advance, deposit, registration) must not exceed six months' rent. Source
  • The lease is registered with the tax office within a month, then certified at your commune's town hall: this document lets you open water (SODECI) and electricity (CIE) accounts. Source
  • Watch out for informal agents: viewings are free, and a go-between who asks for money to show you a property is not serious. Read the lease, as an automatic 5% yearly increase clause is often slipped in although it is illegal. Source
  • A brand-new, never-lived-in house sometimes hides surprises (waterproofing, plumbing, wiring). Some areas have water or power cuts: a water tank and generator then help, and a guard is recommended for a villa. Source

Addresses

  • Cocody Ambassades et Cocody Danga

    Neighbourhood

    In the heart of Cocody, a stone's throw from the Lycée international Jean-Mermoz. Sought-after villas and residences, embassies, PISAM.

    Source

  • Riviera Golf et II Plateaux-Vallons

    Neighbourhood

    Residential areas close to Jean-Mermoz, with villas and gardens. The II Plateaux area has plenty of shops, restaurants and schools.

    Source

  • Riviera 3, Riviera 4 et Riviera M'Badon

    Neighbourhood

    The area around Lycée Blaise-Pascal (Cocody campus) and the Jacques-Prévert primary school. Very family-oriented, with many French-speaking nurseries.

    Source

  • Riviera Faya, Abatta et Bingerville

    Neighbourhood

    Further east, on the Bingerville road, near the École internationale Jules-Verne. More space and greenery, longer trips into town.

    Source

  • Zone 4, Biétry et Marcory résidentiel

    Neighbourhood

    Abidjan South, home to many expats: close to businesses, restaurants and the airport, Cours Sévigné, the Paul-Langevin school and Blaise-Pascal's Marcory campus.

    Source

  • Plateau

    Neighbourhood

    The business and government district, with the consulate and the Institut français. High-rise flats, busy on weekdays, quiet at weekends; rarely chosen by families.

    Source

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Phone and insurance

Three mobile operators, Orange, MTN and Moov, and no home mail delivery: you will soon need a PO box. As for insurance, health cover is essential, including medical repatriation.

Good to know

  • There is no home mail delivery: to receive letters and parcels, open a PO box at La Poste with your ID and a CIE or SODECI bill. Source
  • Health insurance is essential: clinics ask for payment or a deposit before treatment, and the embassy covers no costs. Also check that your policy covers medical repatriation. Source
  • SIM cards may only be bought from an operator's branch or approved outlet (Orange, MTN or Moov), where the line is registered in your name: avoid street sellers. The same line is then used for mobile money. Source

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Banking and money

The CFA franc is pegged to the euro at a fixed rate, which makes budgeting easier. Day to day, you juggle cash, mobile money and bank cards, and opening a bank account takes a little patience.

Good to know

  • For a current account, banks usually ask for ID photos, your residence permit, a CIE or SODECI utility bill in your name (or a declaration of address), a recent payslip and a letter from your employer. Each bank has its own list: ask for it before the appointment. Source
  • Allow about six weeks after opening the account to receive your card and chequebook: keep your French card for the first weeks, it works in large supermarkets, hotels and restaurants. Source
  • The CFA franc is pegged to the euro: €1 = 655.957 FCFA. To convert in your head, drop three zeros and add half (12,000 FCFA is about €18). Some banks offer euro accounts, but they are tightly regulated for residents. Source
  • Day to day, cash and mobile money dominate; cards work in large supermarkets, hotels and restaurants, but connection problems are common. Change is often short: keep small notes and a little cash at home for emergencies. Source
  • Mobile money (Orange Money, MTN MoMo, Moov Money, Wave) is used to pay water and electricity bills, the HKB bridge toll and to send or receive money, including from abroad: it soon becomes essential. Source
  • Since 30 September 2025, the BCEAO's PI-SPI platform lets you send money instantly, around the clock, between banks, e-money issuers and microfinance institutions, and pay merchants with a standard QR code; it is free for individuals. Not every institution is connected yet: check with yours. Source
  • Keep your French account, which is useful for direct debits and euro transfers, but tell your bank you are leaving: some products, such as the LEP or LDDS savings accounts, cannot be held by a non-resident. Source

Addresses

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Getting set up

There is no IKEA in Abidjan: people furnish their homes at Orca Déco, in the Carrefour, Auchan and Prosuma group hypermarkets, and online on Jumia. Imported goods cost more on average than in Europe; for second-hand items, try CoinAfrique and expat groups.

Addresses

  • Orca Déco

    Furniture and home

    Home and decor chain: lighting, linen, kitchenware, small and large appliances, with an online shop.

    Website Source

  • Roche Bobois Abidjan

    Furniture and home

    Showroom of the French high-end furniture brand.

    Website Source

  • Carrefour Côte d'Ivoire

    Supermarket

    Hypermarkets at PlaYce Marcory, PlaYce Palmeraie and Cosmos Yopougon, plus a number of Carrefour Market stores across the city (CFAO group).

    Website Source

  • Auchan Côte d'Ivoire

    Supermarket

    Supermarkets in many districts of Abidjan, including Zone 4, Treichville, Koumassi, Angré and Yopougon.

    Website Source

  • Groupe Prosuma (Hyper U, Casino, Sococé)

    Supermarket

    The group describes itself as the leading Ivorian retailer: Hyper U and Hyper Casino hypermarkets, Casino, Super U and Sococé supermarkets, and the Cap Sud shopping centre.

    Website Source

  • PlaYce Marcory

    Shopping mall

    Boulevard Valéry Giscard d'Estaing, Marcory

    A CFAO group shopping centre, with a Carrefour hypermarket, shops and a food court.

    Website Source

  • PlaYce Palmeraie

    Shopping mall

    Boulevard François Mitterrand, Cocody

    Abidjan's second PlaYce, in Cocody, with a Carrefour Market and a food court.

    Website Source

  • Cap Sud

    Shopping mall

    Boulevard Valéry Giscard d'Estaing

    A Prosuma group shopping centre, one of the oldest in the city.

    Website Source

  • Jumia Côte d'Ivoire

    Appliances

    Online marketplace, in Côte d'Ivoire since 2012: appliances, homeware, home delivery.

    Website Source

  • CoinAfrique

    Second-hand

    Classifieds site and app: furniture, appliances, baby gear, cars.

    Website Source

  • Abidjan Accueil

    Second-hand

    The welcome association for French speakers: tips and recommendations circulate in its publications and in expat Facebook or WhatsApp groups.

    Website Source

Getting around with children

Abidjan is a car city: heat, scarce pavements and heavy traffic make walking and cycling impractical. Families usually opt for a car, with or without a driver, plus ride-hailing apps.

Good to know

  • A French licence is enough for stays under six months. Beyond that, it must be converted into an Ivorian licence. Source
  • For the exchange, first have your licence authenticated by the French préfecture that issued it, then bring this certificate and your passport to the DGTTC (Cité administrative, Plateau); the Ivorian licence is then issued by a Centre de gestion intégrée. Source
  • SOTRA buses cover the whole city but are often crowded and slow; few expats use them. On the lagoon, SOTRA and private companies (STL, Citrans) run boats between Plateau, Treichville, Cocody and Marcory, and STL offers lagoon cruises at weekends. Source
  • The Abidjan metro (line 1, north-south) is under construction; it is scheduled to open between late 2028 and 2029. Source
  • Ride-hailing apps (Yango, Uber, Heetch) offer recent cars booked through the app; orange metered taxis are hailed in the street. Gbaka minibuses and wôro-wôro shared taxis are not recommended for safety reasons, and you will need to bring your own car seat. Source
  • New cars are expensive because of taxes: many families buy a car from departing expats, after a check by a mechanic. Once a year: roadworthiness test and road-tax sticker. Source

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Admin, taxes and the consulate

Admin life goes through three counters: ONECI for the residence card, CNPS for employees' social security and CNAM for universal health cover. The consulate deals with your life as a French citizen.

Good to know

  • A parent on a local contract is registered by their employer with CNPS, the Ivorian social security fund, which pays maternity benefits among others. Source
  • Universal health cover (CMU), run by CNAM, is applied for at an enrolment centre: enrolment and card are free, the contribution is 1,000 FCFA per person per month, and rights start after one month of contributions. Source
  • If you employ household staff, declare them: they must register for CMU. The legal minimum wage comes with a mandatory transport allowance and a year-end bonus. Source
  • On taxes, France and Côte d'Ivoire have a tax treaty that prevents double taxation: check your situation before leaving. Source
  • The consulate issues passports and ID cards, keeps civil records (births, marriages), handles nationality, social affairs and voting proxies. It does not answer visa questions, and the embassy pays no medical costs. Source
  • In a genuine emergency (hospitalisation, arrest, death of a French national) outside opening hours, the consulate runs an on-call line: +225 07 07 07 05 21. Source

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Budget: what costs more, what costs less

Abidjan is one of Africa's most expensive cities for expats: the budget mostly depends on housing, school and how many imported products end up in the basket.

Good to know

  • In Mercer's 2023 expat cost-of-living survey, Abidjan ranked among Africa's ten most expensive cities. Source
  • Rents for family villas in sought-after areas are comparable to, or higher than, those of a large French city, and the upfront payment can reach several months. Source
  • Imported, taxed products (cheese, European groceries, brand-name clothing) cost much more than in Europe; markets and local produce are cheap. Source
  • Electricity weighs heavily with air conditioning and a pool, whereas water is fairly cheap. Source
  • New cars are pricier than in France because of taxes; household staff, childcare and small repairs, on the other hand, are much more affordable. Source
  • Fees at the French lycées are a major item: compare them on our School fees page and check what your employer covers.

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A place has closed, something has changed? Tell us: the mums of Abidjan will thank you.

Sources for this page

The public pages these landmarks come from. The official website always prevails.

  1. 1 Consulat général de France à Abidjan
  2. 2 France Diplomatie, Côte d'Ivoire, entrée et séjour
  3. 3 France Diplomatie, Côte d'Ivoire, informations utiles
  4. 4 Abidjan Accueil, s'installer à Abidjan
  5. 5 lepetitjournal.com Abidjan, se loger à Abidjan
  6. 6 CNAM Côte d'Ivoire, enrôlement CMU
  7. 7 Service public de Côte d'Ivoire, carte de résident d'un mineur
  8. 8 BCEAO, lancement de la plateforme de paiement instantané PI-SPI

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