Admin & Immigration Guides for Cotonou
Visas, residency permits, company registration, customs, and official procedures for expats and entrepreneurs.
Secure ANIP Birth Certificate in Benin: Online Application and Fees (2026)
How to apply for and download your secure birth certificate on the ANIP e-services portal in Benin: fee (1,000 FCFA), required documents and where to apply, according to ANIP. Sources cited.
Biometric Card and CIP in Benin: Renewal and Online Application
CIP (1,000 FCFA, 2 years) and CNIB (6,000 FCFA, 5 years) in Benin: price, documents and steps according to ANIP, with the free CNPI. Sources cited.
Biometric National Identity Card in Benin: application and fees (2026)
Get the Biometric National Identity Card (CNIB) in Benin from ANIP: online procedure at eservices.anip.bj, official fee (6,000 FCFA, 5 years), documents, collection and ECOWAS travel. Sources cited.
Online criminal record certificate in Benin: fee, documents, and e-services application (2026)
Online criminal record (B3) in Benin on service-public.bj: cost and delay shown by the Ministry of Justice (2,050 FCFA, 72 hours), information to provide, 3-month validity. Sources cited.
Foreign Diploma Equivalency and Certification in Benin: 2026 Guide
How to get a foreign diploma certified and recognized as equivalent in Benin through the MESRS and the National Equivalency Commission.
Starting an Association or NGO in Benin: Steps, Status, and Registration (2026)
Association, foundation or NGO in Benin: Register of Associations and Foundations in service since 19 December 2025, receipt, compliance extended by three months (4 May 2026). Official sources cited.
Setting Up a Business in Cotonou
The complete guide to setting up your business (SARL, SAS, sole proprietorship) in Cotonou. Timelines, fees and required documents through APIEx.
Declaring a Birth or Marriage with ANIP in Cotonou (2026)
How to declare a birth (30 days) or hold a civil marriage in Cotonou: ANIP's role, required documents, fees, and secure certificates.
Applying for a Benin e-Visa: Complete Guide for Foreign Travelers
The official guide to obtaining your entry e-Visa for Benin. Online application on evisa.bj, visa types, real fees, and 2026 timelines.
Lost ID Documents in Cotonou: Reporting a Loss and Getting a Duplicate (2026)
Lost documents in Benin: online loss certificate (certificatdeperte.bj, 3 October 2026), ANaTT duplicates for the licence (22,000 FCFA) and registration card (13,000 FCFA), ANIP and DEI. Sources cited.
Taxation and Tax Incentives for Foreign Investors in Benin
The complete guide to investor taxation in Benin: the Investment Code, Special Economic Zone exemptions (Glo-Djigbé), and support measures for startups and SMEs.
Registering Your Company with CNSS in Benin: An Employer's Guide
The official guide to registering your company and its employees with CNSS in Cotonou. Social contributions, workplace safety, and online monthly filings.
Legalizing a Document at Cotonou City Hall: Fees and Procedure (2026)
How to get documents legalized or copies certified as true at Cotonou City Hall and across the 13 boroughs: fees, requirements, and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MAEC).
Beninese Passport at the DEI: Fees, Required Documents, and Appointments (2026)
How to obtain or renew a Beninese biometric passport at the DEI (Cotonou): official fees (30,000 FCFA), online appointment, documents, 5-working-day delay and urgent cases. Sources cited.
Getting a Building Permit in Cotonou: Official City Hall Guide
The official guide to getting your Building Permit in Cotonou. Categories A, B, C, required documents, the online procedure, and real processing times.
Immigration and Residency in Benin: How to Get and Renew Your Visa and Resident Card
Benin e-visa fees on evisa.bj, visa extension through the DEI and the three residence cards, from official sources checked in October 2026.
Paying Local Property Tax and the TPU at the DGI in Cotonou (2026)
Guide to paying local taxes in Cotonou: Property Tax (TF), the TPU (5% of turnover), the DGI's e-Services portal (impots.bj) and payment deadlines.
On-Duty Pharmacies in Cotonou: Find This Week's (2026)
On-duty pharmacy in Cotonou: where to see the official weekly schedule on onpb.bj (Littoral department), and the emergency numbers (112, 118, 117).
Clearing an Imported Vehicle Through Customs at the Port of Cotonou
The official guide to clearing an imported vehicle's customs status in Cotonou: duty calculations, customs reference values, and the clearance certificate.
ANIP Services in Benin: Civil Status Procedures and the E-Services Portal (2026)
Everything you need to know about ANIP in Benin: the RAVIP census, your Personal Identification Number (NPI), official fees (1,000 FCFA for an ANIP birth certificate), and the eservices.anip.bj portal.