Responses to Information Requests

Research Directorate, Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada, Ottawa

1. National Identity Card (CNI)
1.1 Overview

According to its Internet site, the National Identification Office (Office national d’identification, ONI), the public institution that since 2001 has issued identity documents to Ivorians and foreigners in Côte d’Ivoire, issues the CNI (Côte d’Ivoire n.d.a).

The same source indicates that Decision No. 2005-05/PR from 15 July 2005 is the most recent legislation that has come into force with respect to the identification of persons and foreigners staying in Côte d’Ivoire (ibid. n.d.b). Article 3 of Decision No. 2005-05/PR from 15 July 2005 on the identification of persons and on foreigners staying in Cote d’Ivoire (Décision n° 2005-05/PR du 15 juillet 2005 relative à l’identification des personnes et au séjour des étrangers en Côte d’Ivoire) states that the CNI establishes [translation] “the identity of nationals” (ibid. 2005, Art. 3). The ONI states that the CNI [translation] “is issued to person who are sixteen (16) years of age and older” and is valid for 10 years (ibid. n.d.c).

Sources state that in 2014, the CNIs resumed being issued after a fiveyear hiatus (Notre Voie 7 July 2014; Fraternité matin 24 Feb. 2015).

Sources cite a circular from Côte d’Ivoire’s Minister of the Interior and Security, which states that, since 1 March 2015, the CNI is required in order to obtain any civil or administrative document (ibid.; L’Expression 25 Feb. 2015). Expression, an Ivorian daily, provides a list of the processes that require the CNI:

[translation]

[e]nrolling in the business registry; subscribing to water, gas, electricity, telephone and a mailbox; opening a bank account or postal cheque account; issuing and receiving orders of any kind; applying to obtain and renew a driver’s licence; entering into a contract of intercity carriage …; signing an employment contract; collecting family-related benefits; enrolling in an educational institution, for parents of minor children; and obtaining marriage, adoption and child filiation documents. (ibid.)

1.2 Procedure to Obtain the CNI Within the Country

The Internet site of the ONI provides the following information about the documents required to obtain a CNI:

[translation]

A copy of the birth certificate, a birth certificate extract or a judgment in lieu of birth certificate (original);

[a] new format certificate of nationality (original);

[and] [a] receipt for (5,000) francs (payable at the cash of the National Identification Office and in the Treasury offices). (Côte d’Ivoire n.d.c)

Article 5 of Decree No. 2014-319 from 4 June 2014 on conditions for the establishment, receipt and format of the national identity card (Décret n° 2014-319 du 4 juin 2014 portant conditions d’établissement, d’obtention et de forme de la carte nationale d’identité), a copy of which is attached to this Response (attachment 1), states [translation] “[t]hat in the case of loss or theft of a [CNI], the holder obtains a duplicate upon presentation of a certificate of loss issued by the competent authorities” (ibid. 2014).

1.3 Content of the CNI

Article 3 of Decision No. 2005-05/PR from 15 July 2005 on the identification of people and on foreigners staying in Côte d’Ivoire states the following:

[t]he [CNI] will indicate, at the very least, the following:

the official reference to the Republic of Côte d’Ivoire;

the title “national identity card” followed by the registration number and any other identification number required;

the nature of the identity card (original or duplicate document);

the date and place of establishment, as well as the validity period of the certificate;

the surname and given names of the applicant;

the date and place of birth;

the gender (sex);

the height;

the full filiation of the applicant;

the full address of the applicant;

the profession of the applicant;

the fingerprint of the applicant;

the photograph of the applicant;

the signature of the applicant, or any other form of authentication required;

the signature of the competent authority.

Any other markings are determined by decree by the Council of the Ministers.

The conditions for the establishment, receipt and format of the national identity card are determined by decree by the Council of the Ministers. (ibid. 2005)

Decree No. 2014-319 from 4 June 2014 on the conditions for the establishment, receipt and format the national identity card provides specifications concerning the information contained on the CNI, as well as information about the security features of the document (ibid. 2014).

A sample of the CNI, taken from the Electronic Document Information System on Network, EDISON TD), is attached to this Response (attachment 2).

Information on the possibility of obtaining an Ivorian CNI outside the country could not be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate within the time constraints of this Response.

2. Birth Certificate Extract

The Internet site “eRegulations,” belonging to the Government of Côte d’Ivoire, states that the birth certificate extract is a [translation] “document that determines an individual’s filiation” (Côte d’Ivoire n.d.d). In correspondence with the Research Directorate, the Chief of the Child Protection Section at the Abidjan office of UNICEF stated that obtaining the birth certificate extract is subject to the registration of the applicant with the Ivorian civil status (UN 5 Feb. 2015). Sources state that, in Côte d’Ivoire, a birth must be declared within three months of the birth (ibid.; Côte d’Ivoire [2015], 31).

2.1 Procedure to Obtain a Birth Certificate Extract

According to the Chief of the Child Protection Section, the individual seeking to obtain a birth certificate extract, or a person representing them, [translation] “must go in person to the civil status centre where the birth was registered (no applications may be made from a distance)” (UN 5 Feb. 2016). Similarly, the eRegulations Internet site states that [translation] “establishing the birth certificate extract may only be done in the city hall of the [applicant’s] place of birth” (Côte d’Ivoire n.d.d).

According to that same source, the procedure to obtain a birth certificate extract has three steps: [translation] “[p]urchasing a municipal stamp, submitting the application for the birth certificate extract and collecting the birth certificate extract” (ibid. n.d.e). The Chief of the Child Protection Section stated that the issuance of a birth certificate extract requires [translation] “the payment of a revenue stamp of 500 CFA francs [about C$1.20]” (UN 5 Feb. 2016). According to the eRegulations Internet site, the 500 CFA francs correspond to the full amount that a person must pay to obtain a birth certificate extract (Côte d’Ivoire n.d.e).

According to that same source, it takes between one and three days to obtain a birth certificate (ibid.). However, the Chief of the Child Protection Section stated that, if the birth extract is not delivered within 15 days, the applicant may contact the judicial authorities for a followup with the civil status office concerned (UN 5 Feb. 2016). Corroborating information could not be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate within the time constraints of this Response.

According to the Chief of the Child Protection Section, an Ivorian born in Côte d’Ivoire and living abroad must make an application for a birth certificate extract at the civil status centre of the district of their place of birth (ibid.). According to information on its Internet site, the Embassy of the Côte d’Ivoire in Belgium will issue a birth certificate extract to [translation] “Ivorian nationals born in the consular district and whose birth has been transcribed in the civil status registries of the embassy’s consular service” (Côte d’Ivoire n.d.f). According to that same source, a consular identity card and an identity document are the supporting documentation to provide in support of an application for a birth certificate extract to the embassy (ibid.).

2.2 Characteristics and Content of a Birth Certificate Extract

The Chief of the Child Protection Service stated the following: [translation] “there is no official national form. Each commune edits the extract form, on which it may even affix its own emblem as a header” (UN 5 Feb. 2016). Corroborating information could not be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate within the time constraints of this Response.

According to that same source, under legislation, a birth certificate extract must have the following information:

[translation]

the year, month, day, time and place of birth, the gender of the child and the given names;

[t]he given names, surnames, ages, nationality, professions and domicile of the father and mother and, if applicable, of the applicant. (ibid.)

Article 42 of Law No. 99-691 of 14 December 1999 on the Amendment of Law No. 64-374 of 7 October 1964 on Civil Status (Loi no 99-691 du 14 décembre 1999 portant modification de la Loi n 64-374 du 7 octobre 1964 relative à l’état civil) states that the birth certificate contains this same information (Côte d’Ivoire 1999).

3. Certificate of Nationality

Sources state that in January 2015, [translation] “secure legal documents” were introduced in Côte d’Ivoire to prevent fraud (Le Patriote 24 Jan. 2015; AIP 23 Jan. 2015). The Ivorian newspaper Notre Voie states that [translation] “secure” certificates of nationality are among the 69 documents concerned (Notre Voie 25 Jan. 2015).

3.1. Procedure to Obtain a Birth Certificate

The portal of the Ivorian administration posts the following information about the procedure to obtain an Ivorian certificate of nationality:

[translation]

This procedure may be carried out by any Ivorian.

What forms should be provided?

The documents to provide for this procedure are the following:

1. the original birth certificate extract of the applicant;
2. a photograph of the CNI of one of the Ivorian parents;
3. a handwritten application addressed to the president of the court;

…

This procedure costs 1,500 FCFA [about C$3.50].

…

The issuing delay is six days.

…

In case of loss, you must restart the procedure.

…

[The application must be addressed to head office or registry of any of the courts. (Côte d’Ivoire n.d.g)

However, in March 2015, sources stated that the fee of the certificate of nationality had increased to about 3,000 FCFA (Soir info 10 Mar. 2015; Akody.com 8 Mar. 2015). Notre Voie states that those who have obtained the secure certificate of nationality since the new legislation came into force, in January 2015, may make any subsequent application for a certificate of nationality from the jurisdiction of their place of residence, which is a new development (25 Jan. 2015).

An interdepartmental circular from March 2014 concerning the implementation of Law No. 2013-653 from 13 September 2013 with specific provisions on acquiring Ivorian nationality by declaration (Loi no 2013-653 du 13 septembre 2013 portant dispositions particulières en matière d’acquisition de la nationalité ivoirienne par declaration) states that [translation] “only the Minister of Justice or the person delegated by the Minister” is responsible for issuing the first certificate of nationality to the person concerned; and subsequent certificates come under the courts (Côte d’Ivoire 27 Mar. 2014, c. III). Further information on the procedure for obtaining a certificate of nationality in Côte d’Ivoire could not be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate within the time constraints of this Response.

3.2 Content of the Certificate of Nationality

Information on the content of the certificate of nationality in Côte d’Ivoire could not be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate within the time constraints of this Response.

This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the Research Directorate within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim for refugee protection. Please find below the list of sources consulted in researching this Information Request.

References

Agence ivoirienne de presse (AIP). 23 January 2015. “Lancement des actes de justice sécurisés : les populations invitées à tourner le dos aux intermédiaires.” [Accessed 8 Feb. 2016]

Akody.com. 8 March 2015. Bertin Mambo. “Actes de justice : Voici le nouveau prix du casier judiciaire et du certificat de nationalité ivoirienne.” [Accessed 8 Feb. 2016]

Côte d’Ivoire. [2015]. Commission nationale des droits de l’homme de Côte d’Ivoire (CNDHCI). Rapport annuel 2014 : l’état des droits de l’homme en Côte d’Ivoire. [Accessed 5 Feb. 2016]

Côte d’Ivoire. 27 March 2014. Ministère de la Justice, des Droits de l’homme et des Libertés publiques et ministère d’État, de l’Intérieur et de la Sécurité. Circulaire interministérielle no 06 MJDHLP/MEMIS du 27 Mar. 2014, mise en œuvre de la Loi no 2013-653 du 13 septembre 2013 portant dispositions particulières en matière d’acquisition de la nationalité ivoirienne par déclaration. [Accessed 5 Feb. 2016]

Côte d’Ivoire. 2014. Décret no 2014-319 du 4 juin 2014 portant conditions d’établissement, d’obtention et de forme de la carte nationale d’identité. Sent to the Research Directorate by the US Library of Congress, 9 February 2016.

Côte d’Ivoire. 2005. Décision n° 2005-05/PR du 15 juillet 2005 relative à l’identification des personnes et au séjour des étrangers en Côte d’Ivoire. [Accessed 8 Feb. 2016]

Côte d’Ivoire. 1999. Loi n° 99-691 du 14 décembre 1999 portant modification de la Loi n° 64-374 du 7 octobre 1964 relative à l’état civil. [Accessed 5 Feb. 2016]

Côte d’Ivoire. N.d.a. Office national d’identification (ONI). “À propos de l’ONI.” [Accessed 29 Jan. 2016]

Côte d’Ivoire. N.d.b. Office national d’identification (ONI). “Historique.” [Accessed 8 Feb. 2016]

Côte d’Ivoire. N.d.c. Office national d’identification (ONI). “Carte nationale d’identité.” [Accessed 29 Jan. 2016]

Côte d’Ivoire. N.d.d. eRegulations. “Actes d’état civil et de justice.” [Accessed 29 Jan. 2016]

Côte d’Ivoire. N.d.e. eRegulations. “Actes d’état civil et de justice – Obtention de l’extrait de naissance.” [Accessed 29 Jan. 2016]

Côte d’Ivoire. N.d.f. Portail de l’Administration ivoirienne. “Demander un certificat de nationalité ivoirienne.” [Accessed 29 Jan. 2016]

Côte d’Ivoire. N.d.g. Embassy of the Côte d’Ivoire in Belgium. “Formalités administratives : extrait d’acte de naissance.” [Accessed 5 Feb. 2016]

L’Expression. 25 February 2015. Ben Ayoub. “L’attestation d’identité supprimée, la CNI obligatoire.” [Accessed 29 Jan. 2016]

Fraternité matin. 24 February 2015. “Établissement d’actes administratifs et civils : la CNI, désormais unique document de référence.” [Accessed 29 Jan. 2016]

Notre Voie. 25 January 2015. Coulibaly Zié Oumar. “Côte d’Ivoire : modernisation de la justice ivoirienne - 69 documents de justice dits sécurisés disponibles.” [Accessed 8 Feb. 2016]

Notre Voie. 17 July 2014. “Carte nationale d’identité : L’opération redémarre timidement à Bingerville.” [Accessed 29 Jan. 2016]

Le Patriote. 24 January 2015. “Côte d’Ivoire : sécurisation des actes de justice / Hamed Bakayoko – ‘C’est une opération contre les parasites de la justice’.” [Accessed 8 Feb. 2016]

Soir info. 10 March 2015. Élysée Yao. “Certificat de nationalité et casier judiciaire : Pourquoi les coûts augmentent.” [Accessed 29 Jan. 2016]

United Nations (UN). 5 February 2016. United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), Abidjan Office. Correspondence from the Chief, Child Protection Section, to the Research Directorate.

Additional Sources Consulted

Oral sources: Côte d’Ivoire – Embassy in Canada; main partner, Civil Registration Centre for Development (The Netherlands).

Internet sites, including: Afrik.com; Conseil de l’Europe – PRADO; Côte d’Ivoire – embassies in Canada, the United States and France, Assemblée nationale, ministère des Affaires étrangères, ministère d’État, de l’Intérieur et de la Sécurité, ministère de la Justice, des Droits de l’homme et des Libertés publiques; Droit-Afrique.com; ecoi.net; Factiva; Keesing Reference Systems; Lexadin; Organisation internationale pour les migrations; Radio France internationale; United Nations – United Nations Operation in Côte d’Ivoire, United Nations Development Programme.

Attachments

1. Côte d’Ivoire. 2014. Décret no 2014-319 du 4 juin 2014 portant conditions d’établissement, d’obtention et de forme de la carte nationale d’identité. Sent to the Research Directorate by the US Library of Congress, 9 February 2016.
2. Electronic Document Information System on Network (EDISON TD). N.d. National Identity Card Sample. [Accessed 9 Feb. 2016]