What is a Land Ownership Transfer Certificate in Ivory Coast?
The Land Ownership Transfer Certificate is the official document issued by the land registrar that certifies the transfer of ownership of a land property from one owner to another. It is provided for under Articles 24-27 of Decree No. 2023-238.
Definition complete
The Key Document for Property Transfer
The land ownership transfer certificate is the official document that proves a piece of land has changed ownership in a regular manner. It is issued by the land registrar after verification of the identity of the contracting parties, their legal capacity, and the formal regularity of the transfer deeds (Articles 24-27, Decree No. 2023-238 of April 5, 2023).
When Is It Necessary?
- Upon sale of registered land or real property
- Upon donation of land
- Upon succession (hereditary transmission)
- Upon exchange of land properties
How to Obtain It?
- The notary drafts the deed of sale or donation
- The deed is registered with the General Tax Directorate (DGI — Direction Générale des Impôts)
- The notary files the dossier with the Land Registry
- The land registrar verifies the identity of the contracting parties and the regularity of the deeds
- The Land Registry records the transfer in the land register
- The land ownership transfer certificate is issued to the new owner
Cost
Transfer fees are 500 FCFA per hectare + fixed fee of 3,000 FCFA (Article 11, Decree No. 2023-238), to which are added registration duties (generally between 2% and 7% of the declared value).
Exemple concret
After signing the deed of sale with the notary, Awa awaits the issuance of the Land Ownership Transfer Certificate to confirm that the Bingerville plot is now officially registered in her name in the land register.
Sources juridiques
Loi n° 2020-624 du 14 août 2020 (Code de l'Urbanisme), article 3 (définition du CMPF) et article 223 (fondement juridique de la mutation par acte authentique notarié). Magazine BÂTIR N°000 (MCLU, octobre-décembre 2019), page 14 — définition officielle : « La mutation de propriété de terrain ayant fait l'objet d'Arrêté de Concession Définitive ou d'un Certificat de Propriété Foncière, se fait exclusivement par acte authentique notarié et donne lieu à un Certificat de Mutation de la Propriété Foncière délivré par le Conservateur de la Propriété Foncière et des Hypothèques. » Coût officiel (source servicepublic.gouv.ci) : 15 000 FCFA.
Questions frequentes
What is the difference between the Land Ownership Transfer Certificate and the Land Title?
Can one sell land without a Land Ownership Transfer Certificate?
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Autres termes du glossaire
The ADU (Attestation de Droit d'Usage Coutumier / Customary Right of Use Certificate) is the single, secure document that replaces the former Village Certificate as of January 1, 2025. Established by Decree No. 2021-784 and secured by the SIGFU (Decree No. 2021-862), it requires a triple signature (village chief, CVGFR president, developer) and a unique IDUFCI. The ADU is not a property title: it constitutes a provisional recognition opening the path to the ACD (Arrêté de Concession Définitive / Definitive Concession Decree) — the ACD published in the Land Register IS the Land Title. In practice, the time between ACD signature and its publication in the Land Register is often longer than the official 180 calendar days (BÂTIR N°004, 2022). Published ACD = published Land Title — same legal deed, two stages.
The Rural Land Agency (AFOR — Agence Foncière Rurale) is the public institution responsible for implementing rural land policy in Ivory Coast. It oversees land certification, registration of rural properties, and coordination of boundary demarcation and surveying operations.
Legal document drafted by a notary that formalizes the transfer of land ownership between a seller and a buyer. The notarized deed of sale is mandatory and confers authenticity on the transaction.
Legal entity that must be established with a minimum share capital of 2 million FCFA held by Ivorian nationals, holding an approval from the Minister responsible for Housing and a financial guarantee from a bank or insurance company.
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