Eligibility quiz
Were you born in Benin?
Benefits
Benefits for youBenefits for you
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 at a local officeApplying at a local office
Find a civil-status office
You are Beninese automatically if you were born in Benin; you do not need a separate citizenship application. Find a civil-status office that can help you obtain your birth certificate.
Searches DuckDuckGo for “Which Benin civil-status office can help me obtain a birth certificate for citizenship by birth from your city?”
Gather your documents
Prepare the documents the civil-status office asks for.
See required documentsGet your birth certificate
Obtain your Beninese birth certificate through the civil-status office. You can use it as evidence of your birth in Benin when you need to show your citizenship.
Searches DuckDuckGo for “How do I obtain a Benin birth certificate from a civil-status office for citizenship by birth in your city?”
Documents needed
Required to applyRequired to apply
Birth certificate
Get your birth certificate through Benin's civil-status system. A birth certificate lawfully drawn up in Benin is evidence that you were born there.
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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