Djibouti

Investor Resident Card

Djibouti's Investor Resident Card (Carte de Résident — mention "Investisseur") allows foreign nationals who qualify as investors or directors of approved companies to obtain long-term residence in Djibouti. Established under Loi n°40/AN/19/8ème L (2019), the program targets foreign investors, company directors, and shareholders of enterprises approved by either the National Agency for the Promotion of Investments (ANPI) or the Authority for Ports and Free Zones (DPFZA). It serves as the primary immigration pathway for foreign investors, requiring genuine business activity rather than passive capital placement. The card benefits from a special regime including automatic annual renewal and enhanced protections against withdrawal.

• Foreign nationals who qualify as investors (investisseurs) approved by ANPI, or directors/shareholders of companies approved by ANPI or the DPFZA
• Must hold an investment approval (agrément) from ANPI or the DPFZA
• For Investment Code Regime A benefits: minimum investment of 5 million DJF (~USD 28,000)
• For Investment Code Regime B benefits: minimum investment of 50 million DJF (~USD 280,000)
• Must demonstrate sufficient independent financial resources (ressources suffisantes) as required by Article 22 of the immigration law
• Foreign investors do not require a Djiboutian partner to establish a business, except for certain regulated activities
• Certain sectors face restrictions: handling is reserved for Djiboutian nationals; transit companies must be majority Djiboutian-owned; Djibouti Telecom holds a telecommunications monopoly

• Investment approval (agrément) from ANPI or DPFZA
• Proof of company registration with the Commercial Register
• Proof of sufficient independent financial resources
• Valid passport
• For free zone enterprises: company license, employment contract, or proof of director/shareholder status

The card is valid for one year and renews automatically as long as the holder continues to exercise business activities in Djibouti. No separate renewal application is required. If the card is not renewed or is withdrawn, a three-month grace period is granted to organize affairs. The card may be withdrawn in cases involving threats to public order or criminal conviction under Article 23 of the immigration law.

Family members of resident card holders may obtain their own residence cards under Article 20 of the immigration law. The ANPI Guichet Unique and DPFZA One-Stop Shop can process family member residence permits alongside the investor's application.

The standard corporate income tax (Impôt sur les Bénéfices) rate is 25%. Investment Code benefits vary by regime:

• Regime A (5M+ DJF investment): exemption from internal consumption tax (TIC) on imported materials for 5 years
• Regime B (50M+ DJF investment): corporate income tax exemption for up to 7–10 years, land tax exemption, and TIC exemption for up to 7 years
• Free zone companies: full exemption from direct and indirect taxes

Naturalization (citizenship) requires 10 years of legal residence; dual citizenship is permitted.

Foreign investors must first enter Djibouti on a visa. Short-stay visas (15–90 days) cost 4,000 DJF; long-stay visas (12 months) cost 30,000 DJF; business visas (3 months) cost 50 EUR. Visas can be obtained on arrival or via the official e-visa portal at evisa.gouv.dj.

The investment approval and residence procedures are consolidated through a One-Stop Shop:

1. ANPI Guichet Unique (Boulevard de la République, Djibouti): handles company registration, tax identification, social security registration, and residence card procedures in a single location. Company registration takes a maximum of 72 hours.
2. DPFZA One-Stop Shop: for free zone enterprises, the DPFZA handles all immigration procedures including visa issuance and residence permits. Companies must submit a written request specifying the employee's or director's name, position, country of origin, nationality, and duration of stay.

Investment prospectors must receive prior approval from either the DPFZA or ANPI before being admitted to Djibouti under Article 10 of the immigration law. Foreigners remaining beyond 3 months from entry must hold a valid residence card.

Once established, investors must register with the Commercial Register, obtain a tax identification number, and register with the National Social Security Fund (Caisse Nationale de Sécurité Sociale). Business activities must be maintained for the resident card to remain valid. Note that hiring priority is reserved for Djiboutian citizens; work permits for foreign employees are granted only when no competent Djiboutian is available.

Links

• https://guichet-unique-djib.com/procedures/
• https://dpfza.gov.dj/services/immigration/residence-permits
• https://investmentpolicy.unctad.org/investment-laws/laws/56/djibouti-investment-code
• https://www.evisa.gouv.dj/

Other Digital Nomad Visas in Africa