Public Administrations

Main Institutions

Cotonou City Hall

Phone: +229 21 30 95 69

The main desk for civil registry matters, municipal permits, and local paperwork.

Littoral Prefecture

Phone: +229 21 31 63 78

Directorate General of Taxes (DGI)

Phone: +229 21 66 48 58

Tax registration, filings, and payments. For the full step-by-step process, see our guide Paying Local Taxes at the DGI in Cotonou.

APIEX (Investment and Export Promotion Agency)

Phone: +229 21 31 86 50

The one-stop shop for business creation in Benin. For the complete procedure, see our guide Setting Up and Registering a Company via APIEX.

Directorate General of the Republican Police

Phone: +229 21 31 71 48

Cotonou Court of First Instance

Phone: +229 19 93 19 604

CNSS (National Social Security Fund)

Phone: +229 21 30 27 27

Employer/employee registration and social contributions. For the detailed procedure, see our guide Registering Your Company with the CNSS.

ARCEP Benin (telecommunications regulator)

Phone: +229 21 31 01 65

ANPE (National Employment Agency)

Phone: +229 21 31 80 79

Administrative Procedures: Our Step-by-Step Guides

This page lists the administrations themselves (contact details, location). For the detailed procedure of a specific process, check our dedicated guides:

• Setting Up and Registering a Company via APIEX
• Registering Your Company with the CNSS
• Getting a Beninese Passport (DEI)
• Applying for and Renewing a Beninese Passport
• Paying Local Taxes at the DGI in Cotonou
• Clearing a Vehicle Through Customs in Cotonou

Practical Tips

✅ Always bring a form of ID plus photocopies of any requested documents ✅ Desks are generally less crowded early in the morning ✅ Check opening hours by phone before you go — they vary from office to office

⚠️ Processing times can vary a lot from one administration to another ⚠️ Be wary of informal middlemen offering to "speed up" a procedure for a fee

Browse the full directory below to find every administration on record in Cotonou, including the local district (arrondissement) offices.