The identification of MTN subscribers in Côte d’Ivoire is based on Decree No. 2017-193 of March 22, 2017, which requires each operator to verify the identity of its users before any SIM card activation. In recent years, the dematerialization of this process has accelerated, with ONECI serving as the central portal and MTN CI now offering online data updates.
The procedure seems simple on paper, but document rejections remain frequent, often for reasons that the usual guides do not detail.
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Quality of the scan and documentary requirements: why MTN CI identification fails
The majority of failures during online identification do not stem from a procedural issue. They arise from the identity document itself, or more precisely, from the way it is scanned.
MTN CI requires a high-definition copy of the identity document, in addition to the number, date, and place of issuance. A blurry, cropped scan or one photographed under insufficient lighting will be rejected without an explicit error message. The system expects all printed information on the document to be legible, including small print such as place of birth or profession.
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Accepted biometric documents (CNI, passport, consular card, identity certificate) must be valid. An expired document, even by a few days, results in an automatic rejection. Field reports vary on this point: some subscribers report that the provisional identity certificate is sometimes accepted, while others say it is not.
For those who wish to check the status of their application, it is possible to follow the MTN CI identification procedure online at each step of the process, which avoids having to start over after a rejection.
- The scan must show the entire document, without cut-off edges, against a plain and contrasting background (no tablecloths, no jeans as support).
- The ID photo on the document must be clear: if the face is overexposed or in shadow, the system may reject the file.
- Reflections (phone flash, window light) on the laminated surface of a biometric CNI are the primary cause of rejection observed.
- The expected format is generally JPEG or PNG, with sufficient weight to maintain readability (a file that is too compressed loses fine details).
MTN CI online identification process: the four steps on the ONECI portal
The online identification process goes through the ONECI portal, which structures the procedure into four sequential steps. This division is not clearly indicated on the MTN CI help page, which creates confusion.
Step 1: entering the number(s) to be identified
The subscriber begins by entering the relevant MTN number. It is possible to associate multiple numbers with the same application if the subscriber has several SIM cards. A data entry error at this stage requires restarting the entire procedure.
Step 2: personal information of the subscriber
The form requests the full name, date and place of birth, profession, geographical address, as well as the type and number of the identity document. Each field must exactly match the information on the document. A misspelled first name or a reversed date of birth (day/month instead of month/day) will cause a rejection during verification.
Step 3: submission of the supporting document
This is the critical step. The subscriber uploads the digital copy of their document. The quality conditions described above apply here. The portal does not always provide a readable preview of the uploaded file, making it impossible to check the clarity before submission.
Step 4: summary and validation
A screen summarizes all the entered data. This is the last moment to correct an error. After validation, the application goes into processing. Validation times vary, and no duration commitment is displayed on the portal.
Data collected by MTN CI: what the operator records beyond the document number
Identification is not limited to a simple CNI number. MTN CI collects a set of detailed identity data that goes well beyond what most subscribers imagine.
The file includes: first and last names, date and place of birth, type and number of the document, date and place of issuance, complete geographical address, profession, a photo taken by the operator (in-store) or provided via the scan, and the high-definition copy of the document. In-store, the photo is taken on-site. Online, it is the photo on the document that serves as the reference.
This collection meets the obligations of the 2017 decree, but it also raises questions about the retention and security of this data. No retention period is specified in the general conditions publicly accessible on the MTN CI website.
Special cases: minors, subscription by a third party, and blocked numbers
The decree prohibits individuals under 16 years old from subscribing to telecommunications services. Between 16 and 18 years old, the subscription must go through a legal guardian, who must be physically present with the minor subscriber and provide their own biometric documents. This requirement makes online identification impossible for minors, as physical co-presence is required.
For individuals unable to travel, MTN CI provides a procedure through a proxy, but the exact conditions (type of mandate, documents to be provided) are not well documented online. Subscribers whose number has been blocked due to identification failure generally must go through an agency to reactivate their line, as the online procedure does not cover this scenario.
- Under 16 years old: subscription prohibited, no process possible.
- From 16 to 18 years old: mandatory identification in-store with the legal guardian and their biometric documents.
- Proxy for incapacitated individuals: a power of attorney and identity documents for both parties must be provided.
The shift to dematerialized identification represents a real time-saving for the majority of MTN CI subscribers. Blockages almost always occur at the same stage: the quality of the submitted document. Taking thirty seconds to check the clarity and readability of the scan before submitting it often prevents the need to restart the procedure from the beginning.