Foreign nationals marrying Ivorian citizens can no longer automatically acquire Ivorian nationality through marriage, under a reform of the country’s Nationality Code that introduced new requirements for couples seeking citizenship.

The rules were highlighted by Ivorian lawmaker Naya Jarvis Zamblé in a recent Facebook post. Law No. 2024-236, adopted on April 24, 2024, requires foreign spouses to meet specific conditions before they can obtain nationality through marriage.

Under the law, applicants must generally have been married for five years and demonstrate that they have continued to live together. The Ivorian spouse must also have retained their nationality. The waiting period increases to six years if the foreign spouse cannot prove at least four years of continuous and legal residence in Côte d’Ivoire since the marriage. It can be reduced to three years if the couple has at least two children together.

Nationality is not granted automatically once the waiting period has elapsed. The declaration must be accepted through an order issued by the minister responsible for justice. The government may also oppose the acquisition of nationality within one year of accepting the declaration.

The law further provides for the loss of nationality acquired through marriage if the marriage is subsequently declared null by a competent court. Children may, under the conditions set out in the Nationality Code, acquire Ivorian nationality when one of their parents becomes an Ivorian citizen.

The reform was introduced amid concerns about fraud in the acquisition of nationality. It seeks to ensure that marriage alone is not sufficient to obtain citizenship and places greater emphasis on the authenticity of the union, continued cohabitation and compliance with legal requirements.