Benin visa policy

Benin visa policy is a set of rules that determines who can enter the borders of Benin and which method of applying for a visa is required for a certain nationality. There can be specified two application methods for Benin visas: electronic visas and regular visas.

Eligible citizens from 141 countries can enjoy the most convenient way to get a visa – by applying online. A Benin electronic visa (e-Visa) can be obtained from any place with an internet connection. The application takes only a few minutes.

To receive a regular visa to Benin, an applicant should make a personal visit to the nearest embassy or consulate and have a visa interview with officers. Both electronic and regular visas allow foreign visitors to come to Benin for tourism, business, and transit matters.

Also, in accordance with the Benin visa policy, citizens of certain countries can enter Benin even without a visa. Depending on nationality, the permitted visa-free stay is 14 or 90 days.

Entry requirements include but are not limited to the visa policy of Benin. Besides a valid international passport, which is an obligatory document for every foreign traveler, immigration officers may request other supplementary documents.

Make sure to learn and satisfy all the entry conditions before your travel to Benin.

Who can enter Benin?

In order to visit Benin, you must be a national with visa-free access or a holder of a proper Benin visa. Additionally, you need to have all the documents that may be required by immigration officials.

It is essential to thoroughly check the entry requirements and tourist visa policy of Benin before going on a trip.

Entry requirements for Benin

Benin entry requirements are enforced by the country’s authorities and may vary depending on the traveler’s citizenship. Visitors have to comply with Benin travel restrictions to be allowed into the country.

All foreign tourists must have a valid passport. Note that Benin law recognizes only male and female gender, so if you have another identifier in your passport, check with the closest foreign representative before your travel, as you may face entry restrictions.

Based on your nationality, you may be required to obtain a visa. It is essential to learn the Benin visa policy: while citizens of certain countries can travel to Benin visa-free, others won’t be allowed into the country without a valid visa.

Benin dropped all the Covid-19-related restrictions in July 2022, so proof of vaccination and a negative PCR test are no longer demanded. Yet, since there is a high risk of yellow fever transmission in all areas of the country, all travelers must present proof of yellow fever vaccination.

Also, travelers must take into account currency entry and exit restrictions: it is mandatory to declare currency in an amount over 5 million West African Franc (CFA).

Documents checklist for entering Benin

This is a list of necessary documents to enter Benin:

• a valid international passport that does not expire within a minimum of 6 months from arrival in the country;
• a WHO yellow card with yellow fever vaccination (for applicants of 9 months old and over);
• a Benin visa (if applicable to your nationality);
• a currency declaration form (for amounts over 5 million CFA);
• health insurance (recommended but not obligatory);
• a consent letter (for children traveling without parents/legal guardians).

Important: Benin entry requirements can change at any moment, so it is advisable to check with the embassy before your travel to get updated information.

Methods of getting a visa to Benin

Here we review visas to Benin in terms of their application procedure. Benin currently offers only pre-arrival application methods: an e-Visa and a traditional visa.

Electronic visa

Benin e-Visa is an electronic visa implemented in 2018 to make the visa application process easier for eligible nationalities. Since then, travelers can apply for an e-Visa for Benin even from home.

The Benin online visa application procedure includes several steps: an applicant fills out a form by providing their basic personal and travel information, uploads a copy of their passport, and covers the fees.

There are 3 types of Benin e-Visa: a single-entry visa for a 30-day stay, a multiple-entry visa for a 30-day stay, and a multiple-entry visa for a 90-day stay. The validity period is the same as the permitted period of stay.

Benin e-Visa can be used as a business and tourist visa – for sightseeing and recreation, visiting friends and family members, transit, attending business meetings, and negotiating.

Regular visa

A regular visa, also known as a traditional visa, can be obtained by attending a Benin embassy or consulate in person. An applicant should make an appointment at the nearest office, collect the required paperwork, and make a visit at the scheduled time.

The process of applying for a regular Benin visa involves a visa interview with embassy officers. During the interview, you may be asked questions about your intended trip to Benin, your life in your home country (for example, whether you have a criminal history), your financial status and health, etc.

Note that your answers in the interview as well as information provided in the application form must be true and relevant. False statements are considered a serious crime.

Countries and regions which require a visa for entry into Benin

Here you can check whether your country of citizenship needs a Benin visa and which visa application method you need to use:

Countries eligible for an electronic visa (e-Visa)

• Andorra
• United Arab Emirates
• Afghanistan
• Antigua
• Albania
• Armenia
• Argentina
• Austria
• Australia
• Azerbaijan
• Bosnia and Herzegovina
• Barbados
• Bangladesh
• Belgium
• Bulgaria
• Bahrain
• Brunei
• Bolivia
• Brazil
• Bahamas
• Bhutan
• Belarus
• Belize
• Canada
• Switzerland
• Chile
• China
• Colombia
• Costa Rica
• Serbia
• Cuba
• Cyprus
• Czech Republic
• Germany
• Denmark
• Dominica
• Dominican Republic
• Ecuador
• Estonia
• Spain
• Finland
• Fiji
• Micronesia
• France
• Grenada
• Georgia
• Guinea
• Greece
• Guatemala
• Guyana
• Honduras
• Croatia
• Hungary
• Indonesia
• Ireland
• Israel
• India
• Iraq
• Iran
• Iceland
• Italy
• Jamaica
• Jordan
• Japan
• Kyrgyzstan
• Cambodia
• Kiribati
• Saint Kitts and Nevis
• North Korea
• South Korea
• Kuwait
• Kazakhstan
• Laos
• Lebanon
• Saint Lucia
• Liechtenstein
• Sri Lanka
• Lithuania
• Luxembourg
• Latvia
• Monaco
• Moldova
• Montenegro
• Marshall Islands
• Macedonia
• Myanmar
• Mongolia
• Macau
• Malta
• Maldives
• Mexico
• Malaysia
• Nicaragua
• Netherlands
• Norway
• Nepal
• Nauru
• New Zealand
• Oman
• Panama
• Peru
• New Guinea
• Philippines
• Pakistan
• Poland
• San Marino
• Suriname
• El Salvador
• Syria
• Thailand
• Tajikistan
• Turkmenistan
• Tonga
• Turkey
• Trinidad
• Tuvalu
• Taiwan
• Ukraine
• United States
• Uruguay
• Uzbekistan
• Vatican City
• Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
• Venezuela
• Vietnam
• Vanuatu
• Samoa
• Yemen
• Qatar
• Singapore
• Palau
• Portugal
• Sweden
• Slovakia
• Slovenia
• Russia
• Saudi Arabia
• Brunei Darussalam
• Trinidad and Tobago
• Romania
• Paraguay
• Palestine
• Antigua and Barbuda

Countries needing a traditional visa

• Anguilla
• American Samoa
• Aruba
• Aland Islands
• Bermuda
• Cocos Islands
• Cook Islands
• Christmas Island
• Falkland Islands
• Faroe Islands
• Georgia
• French Guiana
• Gibraltar
• Greenland
• Guadeloupe
• Guam
• India
• Cayman Islands
• Northern Mariana Islands
• Martinique
• Montserrat
• New Caledonia
• Norfolk Island
• Niue
• French Polynesia
• Caicos Islands
• Tokelau
• British Virgin Islands
• Samoa
• Mayotte
• United States Virgin Islands
• Turks and Caicos Islands
• South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands
• Saint Pierre and Miquelon
• Isle of Man
• Guernsey
• Saint Martin
• Saint Helena
• Reunion
• Puerto Rico
• Jersey
• Curacao
• British Indian Ocean Territory
• Saint Barthelemy
• Sint Maarten
• Bonaire

Countries with visa-free access

• Angola
• Burkina Faso
• Burundi
• Botswana
• Congo
• Central African Republic
• Republic of the Congo
• Ivory Coast
• Cameroon
• Djibouti
• Algeria
• Egypt
• Eritrea
• Ethiopia
• Gabon
• United Kingdom
• Ghana
• Gambia
• Guinea Bissau
• Guinea
• Equatorial Guinea
• Hong Kong
• Haiti
• Kenya
• Comoros
• Liberia
• Lesotho
• Libya
• Morocco
• Madagascar
• Mali
• Mauritania
• Mauritius
• Malawi
• Mozambique
• Namibia
• Niger
• Nigeria
• Sierra Leone
• Senegal
• Somalia
• Swaziland
• Chad
• Togo
• Tunisia
• Tanzania
• Uganda
• South Africa
• Zambia
• Zimbabwe
• Seychelles
• Rwanda
• Sudan
• South Sudan
• Sao Tome and Principe
• Cape Verde

Entry requirements for children

Currently, Benin entry requirements do not specify any facilitations or special rules for underage travelers. Babies, toddlers, and children of all ages are required to satisfy the same conditions as adult visitors. The only exception is that babies under 9 months are not required to be vaccinated against yellow fever.

The visa application for minors can be submitted by their parent or guardian. Note that a consent letter will simplify entry for children traveling without both parents.

Transit information

If your home country is not eligible for a Benin visa exemption, you will need a visa even if you are only going to pass through the country to your next destination.

You are able to apply for a Benin visa for transit purposes online. If you plan to cross the Benin borders by sea or land, choose a 48-hour transit visa.

Important information

• Depending on citizenship, a foreign traveler can apply for an e-Visa or a regular visa to Benin. They allow trips for tourism, transit, and business purposes.
• Nationals from 56 countries can enter Benin visa-free and stay there for up to 14-90 days without the need to obtain a visa.
• All visitors are required to have a passport that remains effective for at least 6 months from entry into Benin.
• Travelers of 9 months and above need a yellow fever vaccination certificate. Other additional documentation may include a currency declaration form and a letter of consent (if applicable).
• All Covid-19-related restrictions in Benin have been lifted.