National identification card

Decree 2000-331 from 13 June 2002 on conditions for the establishment, receipt and format of the national identification card (Décret n° 2002-331 du 13 juin 2002 portant conditions d'établissement, d'obtention et de forme de la carte nationale d'identité), a copy of which is attached to this Response, provides a variety of information on the Ivorian national identification card, specifically colour, issuing authority, conditions for obtaining one (including the documents and other items required) and a detailed description, including format and dimensions, as well as the information it contains (Côte d'Ivoire 13 June 2002).

Certificate of nationality

No information on the format of the certificate of nationality, the conditions for obtaining one or the information it contains could be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate. However, sections 97, 98, 99 and 100 of the Ivorian nationality code (Code de la nationalité ivoirienne), implemented in 1961 and amended in 1972, cover the Ivorian certificate of nationality and may be of some interest:

[Translation]

Section 97 (Act of 21/12/1972) - Only the president of the court of first instance, an appointed magistrate or a first instance judge has the authority to issue a certificate of nationality to a person who qualifies as Ivorian.

Section 98 - In referring to parts II and III of this code, the certificate of nationality states the legal provision under which a person qualifies as Ivorian, as well as the necessary supporting documents. It is authentic until proven otherwise.

Section 99 (Act of 21/12/1972) - During the time provided for the government, under section 14, to oppose the granting of Ivorian nationality to a foreign woman married to an Ivorian man, a temporary certificate of nationality may be issued by the lawful judge.

Section 100 (Act of 21/12/1972) - When the lawful judge refuses to issue a certificate of nationality, a person may appeal to the Minister of Justice, who decides whether to issue the certificate (Côte d'Ivoire 21 Dec. 1972).

Section 16 of Part V of Decree 61-425 from 29 December 1961 on the implementation of the Ivorian nationality code (Décret nº 61-425 du 29 décembre 1961 portant application du Code de la nationalité ivoirienne) states the following:

[Translation]

Section 16 - In establishing a certificate of nationality, the following have territorial authority: the president of the court of first instance or the first instance judge

1. of the applicant's place of residence if he or she resides in Côte d'Ivoire

2. of the applicant's place of birth if he or she was born in Côte d'Ivoire, but no longer resides there

3. of the applicant's former place of residence if he or she was born outside Côte d'Ivoire and no longer resides there

4. of the applicant's place of birth if he or she was born in Côte d'Ivoire but never lived there

5. of Abidjan if the applicant was born outside Côte d'Ivoire and has never lived there

6. with jurisdiction to establish the husband's certificate of nationality if the applicant is a foreign woman married to an Ivorian man.

In the case of deceased persons, the process is carried out as if they were living, following the rules set out in the previous paragraph (Côte d'Ivoire 29 Dec. 1961).

Birth certificate

No information on the Ivorian birth certificate could be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate. However, a report from the United States Department of State shows that in Côte d'Ivoire in 2002, birth certificate applications had to be submitted to the mayor, the prefect or the subprefect of the applicant's place of birth (United States 8 June 2002).

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 additional sources consulted in researching this Information Request.

Côte d'Ivoire. 13 June 2002. Décret no 2000-331 du 13 juin 2002 portant conditions d'établissement, d'obtention et de forme de la carte nationale d'identité. http://portail.droit.francophonie.org/doc/html/ci/loi/fr/2002/2002dfcilg4.html [Accessed 25 May 2005]

_____. 21 December 1972. Loi nº 61-415 du 14 décembre 1961 portant Code de la nationalité ivoirienne, modifiée par la loi nº 72-852 du 21 décembre 1972. http://www.abidjan.net/documents/files/code_ntionalite_ci.htm [Accessed 25 May 2005]

_____. 29 December 1961. Décret nº 61-425 du 29 décembre 1961 portant application du Code de la nationalité ivoirienne. http://www.abidjan.net/documents/files/code_ntionalite_ci.htm [Accessed 25 May 2005]

United States. 8 June 2002. Department of State. Foreign Affairs Manual. Vol. 9. "Visas: 9 FAM Appendix C: Cote d'Ivoire, Republic of." http://foia.state.gov/masterdocs/09fam/09Ccoted'ivoire.pdf [Accessed 25 May 2005]

Côte d'Ivoire. 13 June 2002. Décret no 2000-331 du 13 juin 2002 portant conditions d'établissement, d'obtention et de forme de la carte nationale d'identité. http://portail.droit.francophonie.org/doc/html/ci/loi/fr/2002/2002dfcilg4.html [Accessed 25 May 2005], 11 pp.

Oral sources: The Ambassador of the Republic of Côte d'Ivoire in Ottawa and the Canadian diplomatic mission in Côte d'Ivoire did not respond to a request for information within the time constraints for this Response.

Internet sites, including: AllAfrica, Côte d'Ivoire embassies, European Country of Origin Information Network (ECOI), government of Côte d'Ivoire, International Crisis Group (ICG), United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), United States Department of State.