Do I need a visa to visit Benin?

22.10.2023 - 06:31 / lonelyplanet.com

Visas are an essential part of travel – the physical gatekeepers of entry or exit into a country – and citizens of many countries outside Africa will need a visa to visit Benin.

Currently, citizens of 55 countries can enter Benin visa-free, but the majority of these countries are in Africa. Travelers on this list are granted entry into the country for 90 days as part of reciprocal visa exemption agreements with other countries.

If you're not a national of a country in ECOWAS (Economic Community of West African States) or another African country, you will most likely need to apply for a visa in order to enter Benin. However, tourists from Israel, Haiti, and some East and Southeast Asian countries are permitted short visa-free stays in Benin, ranging from 14 days to 90 days, depending on their nationality.

All other foreigners require a transit, tourist, or business visa to visit Benin. Make sure you apply early – roughly one to two months in advance. Currently, no nationalities are banned from getting a visa to visit Benin. If you plan to visit Benin alongside other countries in Africa, it is important to secure your visas ahead of time, or confirm that you can get a visa on arrival for the countries you are visiting.

Tourist visas for Benin include 30-day single-entry visas, 30-day multiple-entry visas, and 90-day multiple-entry visas. If you are traveling to Benin for a short period of time, it is recommended to get a 30-day multiple-entry visa in case you decide to detour to neighboring countries like Nigeria, Ghana or Togo.

The easiest way to go about this is by visiting the Benin e-visa website, which can be accessed by citizens of 140 countries, including most nations in Europe, Asia, and the Americas. You can obtain an e-visa to visit Benin for transit, tourism, and business purposes; see the guidance on the e-visa site for more information.

Applying via the website eliminates the need to spend time queuing at a Beninese embassy or consulate in person. However, if you have questions that are not answered by the e-visa website, it's worth contacting the Beninese embassy responsible for the country where you reside.

Travelers from countries in Europe and the UK should contact the Embassy of Benin in Paris; travelers from the United States and North America should contact the Embassy of Benin in Washington, DC.

If you would like to visit Benin for a period longer than 90 days, or need a work visa, student visa, or resident visa, you will need to apply for a visa through the nearest Beninese diplomatic mission (or the diplomatic mission responsible for your home country).

The cost of your visa will depend on your nationality and the region of the world you are applying from. As a guide, fees