Home/Law firms/Cote d'Ivoire/Doing business
Doing business
Doing business in Cote d'Ivoire
The official bodies a foreign company, investor or professional deals with in Cote d'Ivoire – linked to their own websites – plus the treaties that matter for contracts and disputes, and law firms there that list business work.
Key facts
Key facts for business in Cote d'Ivoire
The short answer
Company registry in Cote d'Ivoire: Guichet Unique des Formalités d'Entreprise – CEPICI. Tax authority: Direction Générale des Impôts (DGI). Requirements, fees and timelines change – confirm them with the body concerned and a lawyer admitted in Cote d'Ivoire before you act.
| Legal system | Civil law |
|---|---|
| Official languages | French |
| Currency | West African CFA franc (XOF) |
| Regional blocs | ECOWAS, UEMOA (WAEMU) |
| OHADA business law | Yes – the OHADA Uniform Acts apply |
| AfCFTA (continental free trade) | Ratified (instrument deposited) |
| New York Convention (arbitral awards) | Party – in force since 1991 |
| ICSID Convention (investment disputes) | Contracting state – in force since 1966 |
| Apostille Convention (public documents) | Not a party – documents usually need legalization |
Treaty status from the official depositary records (UNCITRAL, ICSID, HCCH), regional blocs from their own websites, AfCFTA from tralac – checked October 2026. Not legal advice.
Official bodies
Who does what in Cote d'Ivoire
| What for | Official body | Website |
|---|---|---|
| Registering a company | Guichet Unique des Formalités d'Entreprise – CEPICI | cepici.ci |
| Investment promotion | Centre de Promotion des Investissements en Côte d'Ivoire (CEPICI) – Investment Promotion Centre of Côte d'Ivoire | cepici.ci |
| Tax | Direction Générale des Impôts (DGI) – Directorate General of Taxes | dgi.gouv.ci |
| Central bank, currency and foreign exchange | Banque Centrale des Etats de l'Afrique de l'Ouest (BCEAO) – Central Bank of West African States | bceao.int |
| Work and residence permits | Office National de l'Etat Civil et de l'Identification (ONECI) – National Office of Civil Registration and Identification | oneci.ci |
| Courts and justice | Cour de Cassation de Côte d'Ivoire – Court of Cassation of Côte d'Ivoire | courdecassation.ci |
| Official business procedures portal | eRegulations Côte d'Ivoire | cotedivoire.eregulations.org |
Each link was opened and checked as the body’s own website in October 2026. Links to official sites only – never to agents or look-alike sites.
Getting started
What foreign businesses usually sort out first
- Choose how you will operate. A subsidiary, a branch, a representative office, or working through a local partner or distributor. The options and their conditions are set by the OHADA Uniform Act on commercial companies and national rules.
- Register the business. Company registration: Guichet Unique des Formalités d'Entreprise – CEPICI.
- Register for tax. Tax registration: Direction Générale des Impôts (DGI).
- Check investment rules and incentives. Some sectors have licensing, local-ownership or registration rules, and some investors qualify for incentives. Investment agency: Centre de Promotion des Investissements en Côte d'Ivoire (CEPICI).
- Permits for foreign staff. Work and residence permits: Office National de l'Etat Civil et de l'Identification (ONECI).
- Banking and foreign exchange. Rules on accounts, moving money in and out and paying dividends abroad come from the central bank (Banque Centrale des Etats de l'Afrique de l'Ouest (BCEAO)) and the banks.
- Contracts and disputes. Agree the governing law, the courts or arbitration seat, and the language. Cote d'Ivoire is a party to the New York Convention, so arbitral awards made in other member states can be recognized there under it.
A general checklist, not legal advice. What applies to you depends on your sector, structure and nationality.
Law firms
Law firms in Cote d'Ivoire for business matters
ADNA (Abidjan office)
Abidjan
Bilé-Aka, Brizoua-Bi & Associés
Abidjan
Cabinet Binta Nany Bakayoko
Abidjan
Cabinet Chauveau Avocats
Abidjan
Cabinet Ouattara-Bogui et Associés
Abidjan
CLK Avocats (Abidjan office)
Abidjan
KSK Société d'Avocats
Abidjan
Lex Ways
Abidjan
SCPA Sakho-Yapobi-Fofana & Associés (SY&F)
Abidjan
Thiam & Associés (Abidjan office)
Abidjan
10 firms in Cote d'Ivoire list corporate, tax, employment or other business work on their own websites. See every firm in Cote d'Ivoire.
Checking a lawyer in Cote d'Ivoire
Who admits lawyers: Ordre des Avocats du Barreau de Côte d'Ivoire
Professional title: Avocat
Official roll: app.ordredesavocats-ci.net
Look the lawyer up in the Bar's online annuaire (linked from ordredesavocats.ci as 'Annuaire').
Sources: web.ordredesavocats.ci. Checked October 2026. Not legal advice.
Questions
Doing business in Cote d'Ivoire: questions
Where do you register a company in Cote d'Ivoire?
With Guichet Unique des Formalités d'Entreprise – CEPICI (cepici.ci). Requirements change, so confirm them with the registry and a lawyer admitted in Cote d'Ivoire.
Is Cote d'Ivoire a party to the New York Convention?
Yes – in force since 1991 (UNCITRAL status table, checked October 2026).
Does Cote d'Ivoire accept apostilles?
Cote d'Ivoire is not a party to the Apostille Convention (HCCH status table, checked October 2026), so foreign public documents usually need legalization – typically through the issuing country’s foreign ministry and Cote d'Ivoire’s embassy or consulate. Confirm with the authority that will receive the document.
What currency is used in Cote d'Ivoire?
West African CFA franc (XOF).