Benin
France
France visa for Beninese citizens
Entry requirement
Beninese citizens must obtain a visa before travelling to France.
- Where to apply
- 2 missions
- Visa guide
- France visa guide
Checked 31 October 2026 · Passport Index · Confirm at bj.ambafrance.org
Which France visa?
Uniform Schengen visa (type C) for tourism
Key facts
- Maximum stay
- Up to 90 days in any 180-day period
- Fee
- €90
- Processing time
- Usually 15 days after lodging the file, up to 45 days in individual cases; allow extra time to obtain an appointment.
For the tourist visa, France’s official sources give a standard fee of €90, and applications are made on france-visas.gouv.fr. Processing time, as France states it: Usually 15 days after lodging the file, up to 45 days in individual cases; allow extra time to obtain an appointment. Longest stay on the tourist visa: Up to 90 days in any 180-day period.
French missions in Benin
- Embassy of France in Cotonou
Avenue Pape Jean-Paul II, BP 966 Cotonou
-
All missions of France in Benin
France has 2 missions in Benin, with its embassy in Cotonou. Consulates: Cotonou.
France: visa decisions in Benin
| 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 and consulates in Benin (Cotonou) received 13,905 applications for short-stay Schengen visas and issued 9,983. 28.3% of applications were refused. 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).
For comparison, all Schengen states together refused 30.0% of the applications lodged in Benin that year. France’s consulates worldwide refused 14.2%. France was the most applied-for Schengen state in Benin.
You apply to the Schengen state that is your main destination (the longest stay or the main purpose; the state of first entry only when there is none), so a lower rate elsewhere is no reason to apply there. The figures cover applications lodged in Benin, by any nationality: mostly citizens, but also residents from other countries.
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
French citizens travelling to Benin
FranceBenin e-Visa Benin visa for citizens of France
Travel advice for France
- US State Department Level 2: Exercise increased caution
- UK Foreign Office (FCDO) No advice against travel
- German Foreign Office No travel warning
What the US, British and German foreign ministries tell their own citizens about travelling there, in each ministry’s own terms.
Beninese citizens planning a trip to France can compare how foreign ministries rate it: the US State Department rates France at Level 2, exercise increased caution (updated 20 October 2026), the UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office does not advise against travel to France (updated 22 October 2026) and the German Foreign Office has no travel warning for France (updated 28 October 2026).
Good to know
How long Beninese citizens can stay in France
How long Beninese citizens may stay in France is set by the visa issued, and the visa type must match the purpose of the trip.
How Beninese citizens apply
In Benin, applications go to the French embassy in Cotonou and the consulate in Cotonou, or to a visa centre acting for France; fees, documents and processing times are published by France.
France and the Schengen area
A Schengen visa issued by France lets Beninese citizens travel in all Schengen states; apply to France when it is the main destination of the trip.
France’s neighbours for Beninese citizens
Switzerland, Germany, Belgium, Luxembourg, Italy, Andorra, Monaco and Spain require Beninese citizens to obtain a visa in advance.
French citizens travelling to Benin
Benin requires a visa from French citizens, available online as an e-Visa.
Frequently asked questions
Do Beninese citizens need a visa for France?
Beninese citizens must obtain a visa before travelling to France.
Where is the French embassy in Benin?
The French embassy in Benin is in Cotonou; there is also a consulate in Cotonou.
How much does the France tourist visa cost?
France’s official sources give a standard fee of €90 for the tourist visa. Processing time: Usually 15 days after lodging the file, up to 45 days in individual cases; allow extra time to obtain an appointment.
Do French citizens need a visa for Benin?
Benin requires a visa from French citizens, available online as an e-Visa.
Can Beninese citizens enter France visa-free?
No; Beninese citizens need a visa for France obtained in advance.
Visa data: Passport Index via passport-index-data, as of 31 October 2026. Rules change, sometimes overnight. Confirm with the embassy or the official government portal before you book.