Benin Visa Policy

You can realize your planned trip to Benin by obtaining a Benin visa. Foreign nationals can apply to Benin for tourist, business, courtesy, or residence visas for long-stay purposes.  

The types of Benin Visas:

• E-visa
• Tourist Visa
• Short/Long-term Business Visa
• Short/Long-term Residence Visa
• Courtesy Visa

Foreign nationals who wish to travel to Benin can obtain Benin E-visa. Nationals of African countries do not need a visa for traveling to Benin. Nationals of all other countries are eligible for Benin E-visa. You can obtain Benin E-visa for transit, tourism, and business purposes.

Benin E-visa varies depending on its validity and number of entries:

1. Benin E-visa valid for 30 days, single entry

2. Benin E-visa valid for 30 days, multiple entries

3. Benin E-visa valid for 90 days, multiple entries

Required Documents for Benin E-visa

1. Application Form

• Duly completed

2. Passport

• Your passport must be valid for at least six months beyond the return date.
• It also must have at least two blank pages.

3. Means of Subsistence

• Sufficient financial sources

4. For Transit Visa:

• Confirmed flight ticket for the next destination

5. For Business Visa:

• Invitation Letter from partner or organization in Benin

6. For Tourist Visa

• Hotel reservation

Note: On the website, firstly, you should enter your name, surname, and e-mail address, then for security reasons the system sends a link to your e-mail address inviting you to fill the application form. You will provide your personal data in the application form such as:

• First/Last Name
• Gender
• Date/Place/Country of Birth
• Country of Nationality
• Occupation
• Address
• Phone number
• E-mail

After payment, you will receive E-visa at your e-mail address. You must print your E-visa in order to present it to authorized control officers on the border.

Processing Time for Benin E-visa

The average processing time for Benin E-visa is 2-3 Business days.

Benin E-visa Fee

Benin E-visa valid for 30 days, single entry – 50 EUR

Benin E-visa valid for 30 days, multiple entries – 75 EUR

Benin E-visa valid for 90 days, multiple entries – 100 EUR

Note: If you experience some problems whilst filling the application form online, for example, you do not have a bank card to pay the fee, you can fill out the application form with the assistance of the Benin Embassy/Consulate. In this case, you will pay the additional 10 EUR service fee with the visa fee. You need to check the “Yes” in the “Demand in Embassy” field of the application form.

Where to Apply for Benin E-visa?

You will apply for Benin E-visa through this website.

You can also apply for a Benin visa via the embassy/consulate. Benin Tourist visa is issued for applicants intending to visit Benin for tourism and sightseeing. You can apply for a Benin Tourist visa in order to realize your tourist activities. The validity of the Benin Tourist visa is 30 days after the date of issuance. There is another type of Tourist visa which is called “Special Tourist Visa” and the validity of a Special Tourist Visa is 8 days.

Required Documents for Benin Tourist Visa

1. Application Form

• Duly completed and signed

2. Passport and Copy of the Main Page

• Your passport must be valid for at least six months beyond the return date.
• It also must have at least two blank pages.

3. Photo

• The photo should be of passport format, a recent whole-face capture with a light background.
• It must be in the size of 3.5 x 4.5 colored, and the head should take 70-80% of the photo.
• You must be looking straight at the camera with a neutral facial expression (no smile and mouth closed).
• Try to avoid uniforms or colors matching the background.

4. Proof of Accommodation

• Residence certificate or hotel reservation

5. Invitation Letter (if any)

• From a person or organization in Benin

6. Flight Ticket Reservation

7. Vaccination Certificate (If required)

• Yellow fever certificate

*Additional documents may be required by the embassy.

Processing Time for Benin Tourist Visa

The average processing time for a Benin Tourist visa is 3-5 working days. It depends on your visa application country.

Benin Tourist Visa Fee

Benin Tourist visa fee is 80 EUR, and Special Tourist Visa fee is 16 EUR. The fee may vary depending on your nationality or your country of submission.

Where to Apply for Benin Tourist Visa?

You will apply for a Benin Tourist visa in Benin visa application centers, embassies, or consulates, whichever accepts visa applications in your country of residence. If there is none of them in your country, you need to apply to the nearest embassy or consulate to your location.

Benin Business visa is issued to foreigners who regularly come to Benin in order to carry out business/economic activities. The validity of Benin Business visa is 3 or 6 months after the date of issuance.

Required Documents for Benin Business Visa

1. Application Form

• Duly completed and signed

2. Passport and Copy of the Main Page

• Your passport must be valid for at least six months beyond the return date.
• It also must have at least two blank pages.

3. Photo

• The photo should be of passport format, a recent whole-face capture with a light background.
• It must be in the size of 3.5 x 4.5 colored, and the head should take 70-80% of the photo.
• You must be looking straight at the camera with a neutral facial expression (no smile and mouth closed).
• Try to avoid uniforms or colors matching the background.

4. Proof of Accommodation

• Residence certificate or hotel reservation

5. Invitation Letter

• From a partner or organization in Benin

6. Flight Ticket Reservation

7. Vaccination Certificate (If required)

• Yellow fever certificate

*Additional documents may be required by the embassy.

Processing Time for Benin Business Visa

The average processing time for a Benin Business visa is 3-5 working days. It depends on your visa application country.

Benin Business Visa Fee

Business visa (valid for 3 months) – 90 EUR

Business visa (valid for 6 months) – 120 EUR

The fee may vary depending on your nationality or country of submission.

Where to Apply for Benin Business Visa?

You will apply for a Benin Business visa in Benin visa application centers, embassies, or consulates, whichever accepts visa applications in your country of residence. If there is none of them in your country, you need to apply to the nearest embassy or consulate to your location.

Benin Resident visa is issued to foreigners who want to reside in Benin. The resident visa is issued in Benin at the premises of the Directorate of Emigration and Immigration in Cotonou. Anyone wishing to settle in Benin is required to obtain a resident card. Benin Resident visa varies depending on its validity.

Required Documents for Benin Resident Visa

1. Application Form

• Duly completed and signed

2. Passport and Copy of the Main Page

• Your passport must be valid for at least six months beyond the return date.
• It also must have at least two blank pages.

3. Photo

• The photo should be of passport format, a recent whole-face capture with a light background.
• It must be in the size of 3.5 x 4.5 colored, and the head should take 70-80% of the photo.
• You must be looking straight at the camera with a neutral facial expression (no smile and mouth closed).
• Try to avoid uniforms or colors matching the background.

4. Proof of Accommodation

• Residence certificate or hotel reservation

5. Flight Ticket Reservation

6. Vaccination Certificate (If required)

• Yellow fever certificate

*Additional documents may be required.

Processing Time for Benin Resident Visa

The average processing time for a Benin Resident visa is 3-5 working days. It depends on your visa application country.

Benin Resident Visa Fee

Resident visa (valid for 3 months) – 80 EUR

Resident visa (valid for 6 – 12 months) – 180 EUR

The fee may vary depending on your nationality or country of submission.

Where to Apply for Benin Resident Visa?

You will apply for a Benin Resident visa in Benin at the premises of the Directorate of Emigration and Immigration in Cotonou.

Benin Courtesy visa is issued to Diplomatic, Official and Service passport holders coming into Benin on official duties.

Required Documents for Benin Courtesy Visa

1. Application Form

• Duly completed and signed

2. Passport and Copy of the Main Page

• Your passport must be valid for at least six months beyond the return date.
• It also must have at least two blank pages.

3. Photo

• The photo should be of passport format, a recent whole-face capture with a light background.
• It must be in the size of 3.5 x 4.5 colored, and the head should take 70-80% of the photo.
• You must be looking straight at the camera with a neutral facial expression (no smile and mouth closed).
• Try to avoid uniforms or colors matching the background.

4. Proof of Accommodation

• Residence certificate or hotel reservation

5. Flight Ticket Reservation

• Roundtrip ticket

6. Vaccination Certificate (If required)

• Yellow fever certificate

7. A Verbal Note

• From the institution to which the applicant belongs

8.  Invitation Letter (If applicable)

• Issued by the event organizers specifying the purpose of the mission.

*Additional documents may be required by the embassy.

Processing Time for Benin Courtesy Visa

The average processing time for a Benin Courtesy visa is 3-5 working days. It depends on your visa application country.

Benin Courtesy Visa Fee

Benin Courtesy Visa is free of charge.

Where to Apply for Benin Courtesy Visa?

You will apply for a Benin Courtesy visa in Benin at the premises of the Directorate of Emigration and Immigration in Cotonou.