Embassy
Embassy of the United States in Benin
Boulevard de la Marina
Benin visa requirements for American citizens
American citizens need an eVisa for Benin. Apply on the official website.
Passport
USA
United States
Going to
BEN
Benin
eVisa
An online visa for visitors entering Benin once for a short stay.
- Visa
- eVisa
- Max stay
- 30 days
- Valid for
- 30 days
- Fee
- €50
- Last updated
- 11 November 2026
Special rules for American citizens in Benin
What to do
Apply on Benin's official eVisa portal with a scan of your passport and a photo.
Leave time for processing before you travel, and print the approval.
Enter on the dates and through the ports the eVisa allows.
Get your Benin visa sorted
A visa expert checks the rules and helps you apply. No payment now.
Ways into Benin
Visit visa-free if eligible, or get an online visa before travel.
eVisa30-day single-entry eVisaAn online visa for visitors entering Benin once for a short stay.
- Stay
- 30 days
- Valid for
- 30 days
- Fee
- €50
- Processing
- 0–4 days
- Entries
- Single
How to apply
- Enter your email and passport details at evisa.bj.
- Open the email link and fill in the form.
- Check your details and pay.
- Track your application with its reference number.
Documents required
- Passport valid over 6 months
- ID photo
- Proof of where you'll stay
- Return ticket unless driving own vehicle
- Host's ID if staying with someone
- Payment receipt
- Foreigner ID certificate after 90 days
- Hotel booking
- Print your visa and carry it when travelling.
- Apply 7–90 days before entry; get your visa before arrival.
- Validity starts on your planned entry date; processing can take less than 1 day.
eVisa30-day multiple-entry eVisaAn online visa for visitors entering Benin several times within 30 days.
- Stay
- 30 days
- Valid for
- 30 days
- Fee
- €75
- Processing
- 0–4 days
- Entries
- Multiple
How to apply
- Start at evisa.bj and open the email link.
- Fill in the form; choose 30 days, multiple entries.
- Check your details and pay.
- Track your application.
Documents required
- Passport valid over 6 months
- ID photo
- Proof of where you'll stay
- Return ticket unless driving own vehicle
- Host's ID if staying with someone
- Payment receipt
- Foreigner ID certificate after 90 days
- Hotel booking
- Print your visa and carry it when travelling.
- Validity starts on your planned entry date; new entries do not restart it.
- Apply 7–90 days before entry; processing can take less than 1 day.
eVisa90-day multiple-entry eVisaAn online visa for visitors entering Benin several times within 90 days.
- Stay
- 90 days
- Valid for
- 90 days
- Fee
- €100
- Processing
- 0–4 days
- Entries
- Multiple
How to apply
- Start at evisa.bj and open the email link.
- Fill in the form; choose 90 days, multiple entries.
- Check your details and pay.
- Track your application.
Documents required
- Passport valid over 6 months
- ID photo
- Proof of where you'll stay
- Return ticket unless driving own vehicle
- Host's ID if staying with someone
- Payment receipt
- Foreigner ID certificate after 90 days
- Hotel booking
- Print your visa and carry it when travelling.
- Validity starts on your planned entry date; new entries do not restart it.
- Apply 7–90 days before entry; processing can take less than 1 day.
Sources (20)Last updated 11 November 2026
- Direction of Emigration and Immigration — official border and immigration authority
- Immigration services — visitor, business, professional, study and transit visas
- Official tourist or visitor visa checklist
- Official business visa checklist
- Official professional visa checklist
- Official study visa checklist
- Benin official electronic visa portal
- Electronic visa application instructions
- Electronic visa FAQ
- Official electronic visa fees
- Vaccination-card checks at entry points — notice published 16 September 2026
- Official portal referral to the foreign ministry's reciprocal exemption list
- Foreign ministry visa exemption page — opened but returned no readable content; no country-specific rules extracted
- Government publication of the foreign ministry's 53-country African exemption list
- Decree 2026-049 of 4 March 2026 — visa categories and transit entitlement
- Official transit visa service catalogue
- Embassy of Benin in Washington — visa requirements
- Washington embassy notice on the 36-month visa arrangement
- Embassy of Benin in Japan — visas and travel
- Tourism ministry — 72-hour exemption for supervised cruise stops
Embassies for this trip
For lost passports and emergencies.
Coming from United States
- Plugs C EAdapter needed
- MoneyXOF Fr
- Time+13h
- DrivingOn the rightSame as home
- LanguageFrench
- Emergency117 police112 ambulance
Planning your Benin trip
Best time to go: November to February, when temperatures are milder and the weather is dry with low humidity.
- Kingdom of Dahomey ruins and templesExplore the palace ruins and temples left by the former kingdom.
- Door of No Return, OuidahThis memorial remembers the victims of slavery.
- Vodun sitesBenin is the birthplace of Vodun, which remains an important part of daily life.
- National parksBenin's national parks are known for their wildlife.
Scams to watch for in Benin
- Inflated opening prices for foreign visitorsSellers may quote foreign visitors around double the eventual purchase price. This is an opening bargaining price. Prices in stores, restaurants and hotels, and for bus tickets, are generally fixed.
- Taxi and motorcycle taxi overchargingA negotiated ride can leave you paying too much, especially if you start without agreeing on the fare. Sharing a taxi and hiring the whole vehicle have different prices. More expensive hotel and airport taxis are not automatically a scam.
- Mugging and robberyTravellers can be robbed even in places that seem peaceful. Attacks along beaches at night are described as frequent. No specific distraction or pickpocket method is identified.
About Benin
Benin is a West African republic running north from a short coastline on the Gulf of Guinea.
- Capital
- Porto-Novo
- Money
- West African CFA franc (Fr)
- Languages
- French
- Time zone
- UTC+01:00
- Cars drive on the
- right side
- Calling code
- +229
Other Americas passports
Going to Benin
Easier trips nearby
Places close to Benin with simpler entry for you.
Questions
Are there special rules for American citizens visiting Benin?
Do american citizens need a visa for Benin?
American citizens need an eVisa for Benin. Apply on the official website.
How long can american citizens stay in Benin?
Up to 30 days each visit with the evisa rule. Staying longer can mean a fine or a ban from coming back.
Where do I apply online for Benin?
Only on Benin's official government website. Avoid agents and look-alike sites that add fees. Apply before you book anything you can't cancel.
Does a US, UK or Schengen visa help american citizens enter Benin?
We have no record of Benin relaxing its rules for american citizens who hold another country's visa. Check with the embassy before you rely on one.
Do beninese citizens need a visa for the United States?
Beninese citizens need a visa for the United States, from its embassy or consulate.
Do other Americas passports get easier entry to Benin?
Bahamas, Belize, Dominica, Grenada Haiti, and 2 more can enter without applying before they travel.
Which countries near Benin are easier for american citizens?
Cape Verde, Senegal, Gambia, Guinea-Bissau Sierra Leone, and 3 more let american citizens in without applying before travel.
What should I carry to Benin?
Apply on Benin's official eVisa portal with a scan of your passport and a photo. Leave time for processing before you travel, and print the approval.
What money is used in Benin?
West African CFA franc (Fr). Carry some cash for arrival, especially if a visa fee is paid at the border.
What language do people speak in Benin?
French.
Reviewed by @snuck