The 2017 decree and what MTN accepts
MTN Côte d'Ivoire's identification conditions say that, under decree number 2017-193 of 22 March 2017 on identifying subscribers of public telecommunications services, the operator must identify you before any subscription and re-identify you on interactions with its services. A personal subscriber confirms being over 18, and the conditions say that people under 16 are barred by law from subscribing.
The accepted documents are a valid national identity card, a biometric passport, a biometric national driving licence, a biometric enrolment certificate or identity attestation issued by the national identification office, and a biometric national identity card from another ECOWAS member state, with a consular card for Burkinabé nationals. The operator also records name, date and place of birth, document number and expiry, address, profession, a photo taken by the operator and a high-definition copy of the document. The conditions list a biometric passport and do not say whether a visitor's foreign passport qualifies or what a visitor without a listed document should do, so ask in an MTN agency before travelling.
Where fingerprints are taken, MTN says it is only for existing subscribers over 16 who lack one of the biometric documents, and they must then complete identification with one within twelve months of the decree or lose service.
MTN's eSIM: buy online, identify in an agency
MTN's eSIM page describes the eSIM as a virtual SIM activated with a QR code, usable by a single number across several devices and with several profiles. To buy one, you buy online at esim.mtn.ci and then go to an agency for identification, or go straight to an agency. The page lists service centres in Abidjan, including Deux Plateaux, Treichville, Yopougon, Abobo, Marcory, Cap Sud and Abidjan Mall, and in the interior, including Korhogo, San Pedro, Bouaké, Yamoussoukro, Abengourou, Daloa and Gagnoa.
The sequence matters for a visitor. Buying online first does not remove the identification step, so the eSIM is not usable until the agency visit is done, where an adviser provides a QR code to scan alongside the identification procedure. The page says the eSIM is free and comes with a 7-day starter allowance of 20 minutes of calls, 1 GB of data and 100 SMS. It says the QR code can be used 5 times, after which a new activation in an agency costs 1,000 francs, and it lists compatible handsets and suggests dialling *#06# to check your phone.
Moov's ePoster: a QR code in the airport
Moov Africa Côte d'Ivoire's eSIM page lists two ways to download a profile: scanning a public QR code displayed in a public place such as an airport or a hotel, which it calls the ePoster, or scanning an individual QR code handed over by an operator agent, called the voucher. It says that on an iPhone you can install up to eight eSIM profiles depending on the model.
Moov advertises a welcome plan of 500 FCFA that includes 1 GB of data, 20 minutes of calls and 100 SMS. The page does not say which public places carry the ePoster, so look for it at arrivals, and it does not describe the identification step, which the law requires. Assume the same identity check applies and carry the passport you entered with.
What ARTCI's second-quarter 2026 report shows
The telecommunications regulator, ARTCI, says in its report for the second quarter of 2026 that mobile internet subscriptions rose 13.6 per cent to 41.2 million, and fixed internet subscriptions rose 54.5 per cent to 938,067, helped by MTN and Orange offering internet access via satellite. It reports internet revenue of 205.2 billion FCFA, of which 173 billion came from mobile internet, and that the operators account for 97.7 per cent of Internet revenue.
These are subscription and revenue figures, not coverage measures, and the report summary we read does not give a population coverage percentage for 4G. For a trip beyond Abidjan, ask your host or driver about reception, and download maps before leaving the city.
The e-visa, vaccination and what to carry
The UK Foreign Office says a visa is needed and an e-visa should be applied for and paid for online at least 10 working days before travel, collected at Abidjan airport on approval. A passport must be valid for at least six months after arrival, and a yellow fever vaccination certificate is required. It also notes Ebola screening for travellers from affected regions with health questionnaires and monitoring of up to 21 days.
Rules differ by nationality, and ECOWAS citizens are treated differently, so check your own. Keep the approved e-visa, the yellow fever certificate and your accommodation address saved offline, since the airport may be the first place you need them.
Security notes and emergency numbers
The UK Foreign Office says photography is prohibited near sensitive installations including military sites, government buildings, airports and the Presidency, that violent crime is a risk in Abidjan and that ride-hailing apps are recommended over public transport at night. It also warns that crowds can gather quickly around elections and that roadblocks are common. A phone's camera in the wrong place can cause trouble, so avoid photographing official buildings.
It lists 185 for an ambulance, 180 for fire and 110, 111 or 170 for police. Our Ivory Coast plan page is an option for data before you fly.
Networks our Côte d’Ivoire plans use
These are the operators named on our plans for Côte d’Ivoire, taken from the plan data, so the list follows the catalogue.
- Orange4G
- Orange Cote d'Ivoire S.A4G
- Orange Côte d'Ivoire S.A4G