Benin
Netherlands
Netherlands visa for Beninese citizens
Entry requirement
Beninese citizens must obtain a visa before travelling to the Netherlands.
- Where to apply
- 1 mission
- Visa guide
- Netherlands visa guide
Checked 31 October 2026 · Passport Index · Confirm at nederlandwereldwijd.nl
Which Netherlands visa?
Schengen visa (type C) for tourism
Key facts
- Maximum stay
- Up to 90 days in any 180-day period
- Fee
- €90
- Processing time
- Usually within 15 days, up to 45 days in individual cases. You receive an e-mail when processing ends; it does not say whether the visa was granted.
All visa types for the Netherlands
For the tourist visa, the Netherlands’ official sources give a standard fee of €90, and applications are made on consular.mfaservices.nl. Processing time, as the Netherlands states it: Usually within 15 days, up to 45 days in individual cases. You receive an e-mail when processing ends; it does not say whether the visa was granted. Longest stay on the tourist visa: Up to 90 days in any 180-day period.
Dutch missions in Benin
- Embassy of the Netherlands in Cotonou
Avenue Pape Jean Paul II, Rue 364, Cotonou
The Netherlands has 1 mission in Benin, with its embassy in Cotonou.
Netherlands: visa decisions in Benin
| Year | Applications | Visas issued | Refused | Refusal rate | Multiple-entry share |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 365 | 256 | 100 | 28.1% | 18.0% |
| 2024 | 542 | 379 | 154 | 28.8% | 18.2% |
| 2025 | 729 | 336 | 387 | 53.4% | 25.6% |
In 2025, the Netherlands’ embassy and consulates in Benin (Cotonou) received 729 applications for short-stay Schengen visas and issued 336. 53.4% of applications were refused. In 2024 it had been 28.8%: the rate rose by 24.6 points, a sharp increase. Applications rose by 35% compared with 2024 (542).
For comparison, all Schengen states together refused 30.0% of the applications lodged in Benin that year. the Netherlands’ consulates worldwide refused 17.7%. The Netherlands was the 3rd 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
Dutch citizens travelling to Benin
NetherlandsBenin e-Visa Benin visa for citizens of the Netherlands
Travel advice for the Netherlands
- 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.
Before travelling from Benin to the Netherlands, it helps to know the official travel advice: the US State Department rates the Netherlands at Level 2, exercise increased caution (updated 17 August 2026), the UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office does not advise against travel to the Netherlands (updated 11 August 2026) and the German Foreign Office has no travel warning for the Netherlands (updated 13 October 2026).
Good to know
How long Beninese citizens can stay in the Netherlands
How long Beninese citizens may stay in the Netherlands 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 Dutch embassy in Cotonou, or to a visa centre acting for the Netherlands; fees, documents and processing times are published by the Netherlands.
the Netherlands and the Schengen area
A Schengen visa issued by the Netherlands lets Beninese citizens travel in all Schengen states; apply to the Netherlands when it is the main destination of the trip.
The Netherlands’ neighbours for Beninese citizens
Germany and Belgium require Beninese citizens to obtain a visa in advance.
Dutch citizens travelling to Benin
Dutch citizens need a visa for Benin, which they can apply for online as an e-Visa.
Frequently asked questions
Do Beninese citizens need a visa for the Netherlands?
Beninese citizens must obtain a visa before travelling to the Netherlands.
Where is the Dutch embassy in Benin?
The Dutch embassy in Benin is in Cotonou.
How much does the Netherlands tourist visa cost?
The Netherlands’ official sources give a standard fee of €90 for the tourist visa. Processing time: Usually within 15 days, up to 45 days in individual cases. You receive an e-mail when processing ends; it does not say whether the visa was granted.
Do Dutch citizens need a visa for Benin?
Dutch citizens need a visa for Benin, which they can apply for online as an e-Visa.
Can Beninese citizens enter the Netherlands visa-free?
No; Beninese citizens need a visa for the Netherlands 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.