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Visa & Vaccinations — entry requirements
E-visa, the exemption for African nationals, mandatory yellow fever vaccination, and other recommended vaccines before traveling to Benin.
What to know before booking anything else
Section: Plan Your Trip — the first step before everything else
In brief
Unless you're a national of an African country, entering Benin requires an e-visa, obtained online before departure — there's no visa issued on arrival at the airport. The process is fully digital, takes about twenty minutes, and the document is typically issued within 24 to 72 hours.
⚠️ Only one official site: evisa.gouv.bj
The only official site of the Beninese government for e-visa applications is evisa.gouv.bj, confirmed directly by the Government of the Republic of Benin's portal (gouv.bj). Several commercial sites imitate the official site's appearance and charge service fees far above the real rate (up to €165 versus €60-110 at the official rate). Beninese embassies and consulates never recommend going through a paid intermediary for a standard application — be wary of any sponsored ad promising an "official Benin visa" outside this domain.
Who needs an e-visa?
Nationals of all 53 African countries are visa-exempt and can enter Benin and travel freely for up to 90 days with no formalities at all — a policy confirmed directly by the Government of Benin, among the most open on the continent.
For other nationalities (Europe, North America, Asia, Oceania...), the e-visa is mandatory — this has applied to French, Belgian, Swiss, and Canadian nationals since 2018. A few bilateral exemption agreements exist on a case-by-case basis outside Africa; if you're unsure of your specific situation, the official, up-to-date list is published by Benin's Ministry of Foreign Affairs rather than reproduced here, since it changes as new agreements are signed.
Official rates
| Visa type | Indicative rate |
|---|---|
| 30 days, single entry | ~€60 |
| 30 days, multiple entries | ~€85 |
| 90 days, multiple entries | ~€110 |
These rates apply to the online process directly on the official site. A surcharge applies for an application made through an embassy rather than online.
The process, step by step
- Go to evisa.gouv.bj and create an account
- Fill in your personal and travel details (dates, planned accommodation)
- Upload a passport valid at least 6 months past your planned return date (with at least 2 blank pages), a scan of the photo page, and a digital ID photo
- Pay online by credit card
- Receive your e-visa by email — print it out, as a check at Cotonou airport may require the paper version despite the document being "electronic"
Recommended lead time: submit your application at least 7 days before your arrival date. The system doesn't accept applications submitted more than 90 days in advance — there's no benefit to applying too early.
The yellow fever vaccination certificate — an entry requirement, not just a recommendation
This is a point many travel guides treat separately from the visa, even though it's just as much a condition of entry: a yellow fever vaccination certificate is mandatory for every traveler aged 9 months or older, regardless of country of origin. The vaccine must be administered at least 10 days before departure, at an approved international vaccination center. Its administrative validity is now lifelong (no more 10-year booster required).
Before you leave: book an appointment at an international vaccination center well ahead of time (the 10-day window is a minimum, not a guarantee of appointment availability), and keep the international certificate together with your passport — both documents may be requested together at the checkpoint.
Other vaccines to consider (recommended, not mandatory)
Beyond yellow fever, several vaccinations are advisable depending on the length and conditions of your stay — discuss these with your doctor or an international vaccination center, ideally 6 to 8 weeks before departure:
| Vaccine | Recommended for |
|---|---|
| Hepatitis A | All travelers, regardless of length of stay |
| Typhoid | Extended stays or precarious hygiene conditions |
| Meningitis (A+C+Y+W135) | Strongly recommended for a stay in the North (Atacora, Borgou, Collines) during the dry season (December to March), an epidemic-risk period in the Sahel zone |
| Hepatitis B | Depending on the length and conditions of the stay |
| Rabies | Long stays, or activities with likely animal contact |
| Routine vaccine boosters (DTP, MMR, pertussis) | As for any destination — check that your standard vaccination schedule is up to date |
A point of caution that isn't a vaccine, but is just as important: malaria is present across the whole of Benin, and there's no standard preventive vaccine for a short-term traveler. Protection relies on anti-mosquito measures (repellents, treated bed nets, covering clothing in the evening) and, in some cases, a preventive antimalarial treatment to discuss with your doctor before departure. If you develop a fever during or after your stay, prompt malaria testing is recommended.
Before you move on
- Check whether you qualify for the African exemption (90 days, no formalities) before starting an unnecessary e-visa application
- Only one official address: evisa.gouv.bj — never a paid intermediary for a standard application
- The yellow fever certificate is arranged alongside the visa, not after — plan for both together
- See a doctor or an international vaccination center 6 to 8 weeks before departure to review other recommended vaccines and malaria prevention
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