French Embassy in Cotonou
Embassy 
France Cotonou, Benin
- Address
- Avenue Pape Jean-Paul II, BP 966 Cotonou
- Phone
- +229 21 36 55 33
- Website
- bj.ambafrance.org
No opening hours on record. Most missions receive visitors by appointment only.
Sources: OpenStreetMap · Wikidata · Foreign ministry of France: list of missions abroad · Record last updated on 11 April 2021
The French embassy in Cotonou stands at Avenue Pape Jean-Paul II, BP 966 Cotonou. Within 1 km there are 4 other foreign missions.
Opening hours
No opening hours on record. Most missions receive visitors by appointment only.
Upcoming closures
Public holidays in Benin
-
National Day
-
Christmas Day
Public holidays in France
-
Armistice Day
-
Christmas Day
France visa for Beninese citizens
BeninFrance Visa required France visa for citizens of Benin
FranceBenin e-Visa Benin visa for citizens of France
France requires Beninese citizens to hold a visa issued in advance. Whether the French embassy in Cotonou takes applications itself or through a visa centre is set out on its official website.
Visa statistics
| Year | Applications | Visas issued | Refused | Refusal rate | Multiple-entry share |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 14,451 | 10,001 | 4,089 | 29.0% | 23.1% |
| 2024 | 13,801 | 10,322 | 3,412 | 24.8% | 31.7% |
| 2025 | 13,905 | 9,983 | 3,943 | 28.3% | 37.3% |
In 2025, France’s embassy in Cotonou received 13,905 applications for short-stay Schengen visas and issued 9,983. 3,943 applications were refused, a refusal rate of 28.3%. In 2024 it had been 24.8%: the rate rose by 3.5 points. The number of applications was almost unchanged (13,801 in 2024).
Over 2023–2025 the rate ranged from 24.8% (2024) to 29.0% (2023).
Across all Schengen consulates in Benin, 30.0% of applications were refused in 2025; France’s rate worldwide was 14.2%. France received the largest number of applications of the 3 Schengen states represented here.
Multiple-entry visas made up 37.3% of those issued. The statistics count applications, not people, and include every nationality that applies here, not only citizens of Benin.
Source: European Commission, Directorate-General for Migration and Home Affairs, visa statistics for consulates 2023–2025 (© European Union, reused under CC BY 4.0). Short-stay (type C) visas. How these figures are made
Other missions nearby
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Embassy of Russia in CotonouBoulevard de la Marina, Cotonou
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Embassy of Germany in CotonouAvenue Jean-Paul II 1438, 01 BP 504 Cotonou
France’s other missions in Benin
Besides the French embassy in Cotonou, France has 1 other mission in Benin. Consulates: Cotonou. Benin in turn has 7 missions in France, its embassy being in Paris.
Good to know
About the French embassy in Cotonou
It appears in official lists as Embassy of France in Cotonou.
Address and contact
Address: Avenue Pape Jean-Paul II, BP 966 Cotonou. The record for the French embassy in Cotonou includes a phone number and an official website.
French citizens travelling to Benin
French citizens need a visa for Benin, which they can apply for online as an e-Visa.
When the French embassy in Cotonou is closed
The next closures of the French embassy in Cotonou for public holidays in Benin are National Day on Monday 30 November 2026 and Christmas Day on Friday 25 December 2026; it may also close for Armistice Day (Armistice 1918) on Wednesday 11 November 2026.
Before visiting the French embassy in Cotonou
Current procedures for the French embassy in Cotonou, including any appointment system, are on its official website, linked on this page.
Near the French embassy in Cotonou
Within 1 km of the French embassy in Cotonou there are 4 other foreign missions.
Frequently asked questions
What is the address of the French Embassy in Cotonou?
The French embassy in Cotonou is at Avenue Pape Jean-Paul II, BP 966 Cotonou.
When is the French Embassy in Cotonou closed?
The French embassy in Cotonou closes on Benin’s public holidays, the next being National Day on Monday 30 November 2026, and usually on the national day of France.
Do Beninese citizens need a visa for France?
France requires Beninese citizens to hold a visa issued in advance.
Report a change
This is an independent guide, not an official website of France.
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