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Hotel classification in Côte d’Ivoire

Since 2022, Côte d’Ivoire has applied a mandatory national standard, NI 6500: 175 criteria in nine sections, scored out of 520 points by sworn assessors. It is the most developed classification system in the region.

Ivorian legislation and the standard itself are published in French only; the summaries on this page are our own translation.

Written by Emiliano, last updated .

At a glance

Legal basis
Law 2014-139 (Tourism Code); Decree 2014-741
Standard
NI 6500 (CODINORM), mandatory since January 2022
Criteria grid
175 criteria, 9 sections, 520 points
Classification threshold
286 points
Authority
National Classification Commission (11 members)
Reported figures for 2025
540 establishments assessed, 480 classified

The legal framework

The legislation fits together as follows: Law 2014-139 of 24 March 2014 establishing the Tourism Code; Decree 2014-741 of 25 November 2014 regulating tourist accommodation; and Law 2013-866 on standardisation, which gives standards their mandatory force[1][2].

On 19 January 2022, the Council of Ministers adopted a decree making two standards drawn up by CODINORM, the national standards body, mandatory nationwide: NI 6500 on hotel classification (December 2018) and NI 6503-2020 on the classification of “maquis”, the country’s local open-air eateries[3]. We have not been able to find the number of this decree.

How classification works

As described by the press in January 2022, the assessment follows these steps[5][6]:

  1. A team of four sworn assessors, certified by CODINORM and equipped with tablets, assesses the property.
  2. Scoring is calculated automatically by software across 175 criteria in nine sections: exterior; reception and guest services; public areas; guest rooms; restaurant; administration and human resources; safety equipment and measures; hygiene and sustainability; additional services.
  3. The National Classification Commission deliberates, then the minister issues an order.
  4. A certificate of compliance is issued each year after inspection.

The commission, eleven members chaired by the minister, was installed on 4 February 2022; its members have signed a code of conduct[4]. Displaying the official classification plaque on the front of the building is mandatory; installation of the plaques began on 20 December 2021[7].

Category thresholds

Points bands by category under the NI 6500 standard, as reported by the press in January 2022
CategoryPointsShare of total
Category 1286 to 337at least 55%
Category 2338 to 389at least 65%
Category 3390 to 441at least 75%
Category 4442 to 493at least 85%
Category 5494 to 520at least 95%

Bands as reported by the press[5][6]. We have found no breakdown of classified establishments by category, nor the cost of the procedure or how long a classification remains valid.

Fire safety and accessibility

Decree 2023-1004 of 20 December 2023 on the Office national de la protection civile (ONPC), the national civil protection office, introduced a fire safety certificate required of owners of public-access buildings, issued after two compliance visits[10][11]. Hotels operating without the certificate were inspected in Cocody on 30 June 2025[12].

Accessibility is governed by Law 98-594 of 10 November 1998 on persons with disabilities; we have found no implementing text specific to hotels[13].

Key figures

The cumulative figures presented by the ministry for 2025: 540 establishments assessed, 480 classified, more than 1,100 inspections and more than 2,120 licences and approvals issued[8]. On 23 December 2024, the General Inspectorate set 20 January 2025 as the end of the regularisation period, ahead of an enforcement phase including the closure of unlicensed establishments[9].

In 2021 the country had 4,394 hotels, with 65,994 rooms and 125,160 beds, classified or not[14].

Frequently asked questions

Where can I get the NI 6500 hotel classification standard?

The standard is drawn up and sold by CODINORM, Côte d’Ivoire’s national standards body; it is not available free of charge online. Its structure (175 criteria in 9 sections, 520 points) was made public by the press in January 2022.

How many points does a hotel need to be classified in Côte d’Ivoire?

According to press reports from January 2022, the classification threshold is 286 points out of 520. Each category then corresponds to a points band, from 286 to 337 for category 1 up to 494 to 520 for category 5.

Is classification enough to operate a hotel legally?

No. The operating licence and, since Decree 2023-1004, the fire safety certificate issued by the national civil protection office (ONPC) are obtained through separate procedures.

Sources

Consulted on 11 September 2026. Each source is identified by website, title and publication date. Most are published in French only: titles are given in the original, followed by our translation in square brackets.

  1. [1]APV Côte d’Ivoire, page Réglementation [Regulations], apvcotedivoire.org
  2. [2]AfricanLII, Decree 2014-741, 2019 consolidated version
  3. [3]Communiqué du Conseil des ministres [Council of Ministers statement] (Côte d’Ivoire), 19 January 2022
  4. [4]KOACI, « Les 11 juges de la commission installés, leur charte dévoilée » [The commission’s 11 members sworn in, their charter unveiled], 6 February 2022
  5. [5]KOACI, « Les conditions pour obtenir les étoiles, fourchettes et taliers » [The conditions for obtaining stars, forks and “taliers”], 21 January 2022
  6. [6]Fraternité Matin, « Comment obtenir les étoiles, fourchettes et taliers » [How to obtain stars, forks and “taliers”], January 2022
  7. [7]Abidjan.net, « Désormais les hôtels et restaurants afficheront leurs étoiles » [Hotels and restaurants will now display their stars], 20 December 2021
  8. [8]Fraternité Matin, « Siandou Fofana fixe le cap de 2030 » [Siandou Fofana sets the course for 2030], 2025 review
  9. [9]Abidjan.net, « Le ministère du Tourisme menace de fermer des établissements » [Tourism ministry threatens to close establishments], 24 December 2024
  10. [10]Communiqué du Conseil des ministres [Council of Ministers statement] (Côte d’Ivoire) of 20 December 2023, Decree 2023-1004 on the ONPC
  11. [11]ONPC, « Certificat de sécurité incendie : la brigade de contrôle visite des ERP à Marcory » [Fire safety certificate: inspection team visits public-access buildings in Marcory], 21 October 2024
  12. [12]KOACI, inspections of hotels and restaurants without a certificate in Cocody, 2 July 2025
  13. [13]NATLEX (ILO), Law 98-594 of 10 November 1998
  14. [14]Afrique-sur7, map of hotels in Côte d’Ivoire, 14 May 2022 (updated November 2023)