Fact File
Full country name: Republic of Benin
Area: 110,620 sq km
Population: 225,000
People: Fon and Adja (40%), Yoruba (12%), Bariba (9%), Betamaribé, Fulani (6%), and 37 smaller ethnic groups
Language: French (official), Fon, Yoruba and almost fifty other tribal languages
Religion: Animism (Voodoo) (70%), Muslim (15%), Christian (20%)
Government: Democratic republic
Vistor Info
Passport/Visa

Ann visitors require a valid passport except nationals of the following countries who require only a national identity card: Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Congo, Côte d’Ivoire, Gabon, Ghana, Madagascar, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, Rwanda, Senegal and Togo. Visas are required by all except nationals of ECOWAS member countries and those in transit continuing their onward journey within 24 hours, provided they hold confirmed tickets and not leaving the airport.

All children of nationals who require a visa, issued with their own passport, do require a visa.

Visas are valid for a 15-, 30- or 90-day period within three months of date of issue. Both tourist and business visas cost £45 for 15 days, £55 for 30 days and £65 for 90 days.

Applications for visas can be sent to the Consulate (or Consular Section at Embassy) along with (a) Valid passport. (b) Application form completed in duplicate. (c) Two passport-size photos. (d) Pre-paid registered envelope large enough to fit passport, if applying by post. (e) Fee. (f) For a Business visa, a letter from the applicant’s company. Callers at the Consulate are usually able to obtain visas on the same day.