Benin
Benin visa guide: eVisa, business, work, study and resident cards
- 5 visa types
- checked 25 October 2026
How visas for Benin work
Benin's Directorate of Emigration and Immigration (DEI), part of the Republican Police, issues entry visas and resident cards. The rules are set by Law No. 2025-15 of 2 July 2025 on the entry, stay, residence and exit of foreigners and by Decree No. 2026-049 of 4 March 2026, which lists a transit visa and four stay visas: tourist or visit, business, professional and study. Nationals of countries with visa waiver agreements are exempt, and the official eVisa platform states that African nationals may visit for 90 days without a visa.
Transit and tourist or visit visas are issued online on evisa.bj: EUR 50 for 30 days single entry, EUR 75 for 30 days multiple entry and EUR 100 for 90 days multiple entry, with EUR 10 more for each when the application goes through an embassy. Business, professional and study visas are issued in printed form or as a sticker in the passport, by the DEI in Cotonou or, for visas that cannot be obtained online, by Benin embassies and consulates.
Foreigners who stay more than 90 days, and anyone applying for a professional or study visa, must go through the identification procedure and obtain a foreigner personal identification certificate (CIPE). Foreigners settling in Benin need a resident card: ordinary (three years) or privileged (ten years). A refusal of a visa or of its renewal cannot be appealed and the person must leave within three days.
Which visa do I need?
Tourism, family visit, medical or short professional trip of up to 90 days: tourist or visit eVisa (EUR 50 to 100).
Regular business trips: business visa, up to 90 days per entry over two years.
Professional activity of up to 12 months: professional visa.
Studies or training of up to 12 months: study visa.
Settling in Benin: ordinary resident card (3 years), later a privileged resident card (10 years).
African nationals: no visa for stays of up to 90 days.
Visa types for Benin
Business and self-employment
- Business visa Business visa (visa affaires)
The business visa (visa affaires) lets its holder stay in Benin for an economic, commercial or industrial activity, up to 90 days per entry, over a validity of two years, and it is renewable for the same period.
Maximum stay: Up to 90 days per entry
Study and training
- Student visa Study visa (visa d'étude)
Benin's study visa (visa d'étude) allows a stay of up to 12 months for study or training and is renewable for the same length.
Maximum stay: Up to 12 months
Work
- Work visa Professional visa (visa professionnel)
Benin's professional visa (visa professionnel) authorises a stay of up to 12 months for a professional activity and is renewable for the same length.
Maximum stay: Up to 12 months
Residence
- Residence permit Resident card (carte de résident ordinaire or privilégié)
Every foreigner who settles in Benin must obtain a resident card.
Validity: Ordinary card three years; privileged card ten years; both renewable
Online travel permits
- e-Visa Benin eVisa – tourist or visit visa (30 days single or multiple entry, 90 days multiple entry)
Benin's tourist or visit visa is applied for on the official evisa.bj platform and issued for 30 days single entry (EUR 50), 30 days multiple entry (EUR 75) or 90 days multiple entry (EUR 100).
Maximum stay: 30 or 90 days, as chosen; the decree caps the tourist or visit visa at 90 days, renewable once for the same length
Frequently asked questions
Who needs a Benin eVisa?
Foreigners who are neither African nationals nor covered by a visa waiver agreement apply on evisa.bj before travelling.
How much is a Benin eVisa?
EUR 50 for 30 days single entry, EUR 75 for 30 days multiple entry and EUR 100 for 90 days multiple entry when you apply yourself; EUR 10 more each via an embassy.
Which visas are not available online?
Business, professional and study visas are issued in printed form or as a passport sticker by the DEI or, by delegation, by Benin embassies.
Can a visa refusal be appealed?
No. Under Law No. 2025-15 a visa refusal cannot be appealed, and the person must leave Benin within three days.
How long is a Benin resident card valid?
Three years for the ordinary card and ten years for the privileged card; both are renewable.
Embassies and consulates
Last checked 25 October 2026. Each visa page lists the official sources it is based on.