Benin

Passport validity requirements

Your passport must be valid for the duration of your stay.

Check with your travel provider that your passport and other travel documents meet requirements. Renew your passport if you need to.

You will be denied entry if you do not have a valid travel document or try to use a passport that has been reported lost or stolen.

Dual nationals

When returning to the UK, British citizens must carry a valid British passport or certificate of entitlement. See Dual Citizenship.

Visa requirements

You must have a visa to enter or travel through Benin.

For further information on entry requirements, contact the Beninese Embassy in France (in French).

Applying for a visa

Apply for a Benin visa online at least 7 days before your arrival date. You will get your visa when you arrive at Cotonou airport.

Visas for Nigeria, Ghana and Togo

You cannot get entry visas for Nigeria, Ghana or Togo in Benin. For onward travel you must apply for visas before travelling to Benin.

Vaccine requirements

To enter Benin, you must have a certificate to prove you’ve had a yellow fever vaccination.

For more details about health entry requirements and recommended vaccinations, see TravelHealthPro’s Benin guide.

Customs rules

There are strict rules about goods you can take into or out of Benin (in French). You must declare anything that may be prohibited or subject to tax or duty.

Customs rules

There are strict rules about goods you can take into or out of Benin (in French). You must declare anything that may be prohibited or subject to tax or duty.

Emergency services in Benin

Fire and ambulance: 118

Police: 117

Emergency response is very limited and you may need to ask for local advice to get emergency help.

Contact your travel provider and insurer

Contact your travel provider and your insurer if you are involved in a serious incident or emergency abroad. They will tell you if they can help and what you need to do.

Refunds and changes to travel

For refunds or changes to travel, contact your travel provider. You may also be able to make a claim through insurance. However, insurers usually require you to talk to your travel provider first.

Find out more about changing or cancelling travel plans, including:

• where to get advice if you are in a dispute with a provider
• how to access previous versions of travel advice to support a claim

Support from FCDO

FCDO has guidance on staying safe and what to do if you need help or support abroad, including:

• finding English-speaking lawyers in Benin
• dealing with a death in Benin
• being arrested or imprisoned in Benin
• getting help if you’re a victim of crime
• what to do if you’re in hospital
• if you’re affected by a crisis, such as a terrorist attack

Contacting FCDO 

Help abroad  

See how to get help from the UK government abroad including in an emergency. 

Help in the UK  

You can call FCDO in London if you need urgent help because something has happened to a friend or relative abroad.  

Telephone: 020 7008 5000 (24 hours)  

Find out about call charges

Get travel advice updates  

Sign up to get email notifications when this travel advice is updated.  

Follow FCDO: 

• travel advice on X

• travel advice on Facebook

Areas where FCDO advises against travel  

Northern border regions

FCDO advises against all travel to the Parc du W National Park and the hunting zones of Mékrou and Djona. The park is tri-national, sharing an open border with Burkina Faso and Niger. There is a risk of terrorist attacks and kidnapping throughout the park.

FCDO also advises against all travel to:

• the area between the Parc du W and the border with Niger
• the Pendjari National Park and adjacent hunting grounds
• all other areas within 5km of the border with Burkina Faso

Eastern Benin

FCDO advises against all but essential travel to the area between the Interstate Highway (RNIE) 2 from Tchaourou to Malanville and the Benin-Nigeria border, due to increasing criminality.

Alibori and Atacora 

FCDO advises against all but essential travel to the rest of the Alibori and Atacora departments.

Find out more about why FCDO advises against travel.

Before you travel

No travel can be guaranteed safe. Read all the advice in this guide. You may also find it helpful to: 

• see general advice for women travellers
• read our guide on disability and travel abroad
• see general advice for LGBT+ travellers
• read about safety for solo and independent travel
• see advice on volunteering and adventure travel abroad

Travel insurance

If you choose to travel, research your destinations and get appropriate travel insurance. Insurance should cover your itinerary, planned activities and expenses in an emergency.

About FCDO travel advice

FCDO provides advice about risks of travel to help you make informed decisions. Find out more about FCDO travel advice.

Get travel advice updates

Sign up to get email notifications when this travel advice is updated. 

Follow FCDO:   

• travel advice on X

• travel advice on Facebook

• Travel Aware on Instagram

Laws and cultural differences

Voodoo culture

Benin is one of the main centres of Voodoo practices, and Voodoo culture is prevalent. You should research and respect religious and social traditions to avoid offending local sensitivities.

Most people in Benin celebrate Voodoo Festival, an annual public holiday in early January. Make sure you’ve arranged travel and accommodation as options are limited during the festival. Watch out for pickpockets.

Illegal drugs and prison sentences

Possession, use or trafficking of illegal drugs is a serious offence and can result in a lengthy prison sentence and heavy fines.

Using cameras in secure areas

It is illegal to take photos at or near sensitive or government sites, such as military installations or the airport.

LGBT+ travellers

Same-sex sexual activity is legal, but same-sex relationships are not widely accepted. Showing affection in public can receive negative attention.

Read more advice for LGBT+ travellers.

Bribes

You should politely and firmly decline requests for ‘gifts’ from officials to facilitate administrative matters as this could implicate you in illegal activity.