Benin visa requirements for Chinese citizens
Chinese citizens do not need a visa for Benin. Show your passport at the border and stay up to 30 days.
CHN
China
BEN
Benin
No visa needed
Just show your passport at the border.
- Visa
- Not required
- Max stay
- 30 days
- Last updated
- 11 November 2026
What to do
Check your passport is valid for the whole stay, ideally six months beyond it.
Carry proof of onward travel and of funds; border officers can ask for both.
Note the maximum stay and count your days in Benin.
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
- 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
- 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
- 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
Coming from China
- Plugs C EAdapter needed
- MoneyXOF Fr
- Time−7h
- 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 Asia passports
Going to Benin
Easier trips nearby
Places close to Benin with simpler entry for you.
Questions
Do chinese citizens need a visa for Benin?
Chinese citizens do not need a visa for Benin. Show your passport at the border and stay up to 30 days.
How long can chinese citizens stay in Benin?
Up to 30 days each visit with the no visa needed rule. Staying longer can mean a fine or a ban from coming back.
Do beninese citizens need a visa for China?
Beninese citizens need a visa for China, from its embassy or consulate.
Do other Asia passports get easier entry to Benin?
Hong Kong, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore and United Arab Emirates can enter without applying before they travel.
Which countries near Benin are easier for chinese citizens?
Senegal, Cape Verde, Guinea-Bissau, Sierra Leone Angola, and 3 more let chinese citizens in without applying before travel.
What should I carry to Benin?
Check your passport is valid for the whole stay, ideally six months beyond it. Carry proof of onward travel and of funds; border officers can ask for both.
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.
How strong is the China passport?
It ranks #53 and reaches 84 destinations without applying ahead.
Reviewed by @snuck