Benefits
Benefits for your childBenefits for your child
Beninese passport
Citizens can get an ordinary biometric passport.
Live in Benin for life
Citizenship lets you live in Benin without a foreign resident card and has no ordinary expiry date or renewal.
Citizens have the right to enter and leave Benin and cannot be forced into exile.
Live and work in 12 countries
Work in public service
Citizens can work in public service if they meet the requirements for the job.
Vote and run for office
Citizens can vote from age 18 if they retain their civil and political rights.
Citizens can run for office, but particular offices have their own requirements.
Citizens also have equal protection under the law and freedoms of movement, association, assembly, expression and religion.
How to apply
Applying from inside BeninApplying from inside Benin
Gather your documents
Prepare the required documents for the nationality authority.
See required documentsPrepare the declaration
Prepare your child's nationality declaration. A child aged 16 or older may make the declaration without parental permission.
Prepare the declarationSearches DuckDuckGo for “How do I prepare a Benin nationality declaration for a child adopted by simple adoption?”
Hand in the declaration
Present your child's declaration and documents to the Justice Ministry's nationality authority, the Direction des Affaires civiles et des Sceaux.
Find the nationality authoritySearches DuckDuckGo for “Where do I submit a Benin nationality declaration for a child adopted by simple adoption to the Direction des Affaires civiles et des Sceaux?”
Wait for registration
Obtain confirmation that your child's declaration has been registered. If registration is refused, ask for the written reasons and challenge the refusal in court within the applicable time limit.
Ask about registrationSearches DuckDuckGo for “How do I get confirmation that a Benin nationality declaration for a child adopted by simple adoption has been registered?”
Wait for the outcome
The government can oppose your child's citizenship within one year of the declaration. If it does not, your child's citizenship remains effective from the date of the declaration.
See what happens nextSearches DuckDuckGo for “What happens after a Benin nationality declaration for a child adopted by simple adoption is registered?”
Documents needed
Family certificates and recordsFamily certificates and records
Birth record
Provide your birth record or an equivalent identity record showing your date of birth. It must show that you are still a minor when you make your declaration.
Adoption decision
Provide the judgment or other adoption document showing that your Beninese parent simply adopted you. If your adoption was a plenary adoption, you automatically became Beninese and do not need this declaration.
Parent's citizenship records
Provide proof that your adoptive parent is a Beninese citizen. Ask the office handling your declaration which records it accepts.
Considerations
Things to think aboutThings to think about
Military service
Beninese men and women aged 18–35 can be called for military service under the service arrangements.
Citizenship can be lost
A citizen who wants to acquire another nationality can give up Beninese citizenship by declaration.
Benin can also take citizenship away for conduct considered unworthy or harmful to its interests.
It cannot do so if that would leave the person without any citizenship.
Discuss
Online communitiesOnline communities
Bénin expats
Facebook group for people living in Benin interested in Beninese local life (English & French)
Join on FacebookExpat au Bénin
French Facebook group for people living in Benin interested in Beninese local life
Join on FacebookBénin expat
French Facebook group for people living in Benin interested in Beninese local life
Join on FacebookConsultation
Talk to a professionalTalk to a professional
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