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 24h-48h turnaround.
Personal Identification Certificate (CIP) from ANIP: procedure and purpose (2026)
How to obtain your Personal Identification Certificate (CIP) from ANIP in Benin: official fee (1,000 FCFA), online procedure, and what it's used for.
Biometric Card and CIP in Benin: Renewal and Online Application
The difference between the CIP and the Biometric Identity Card (CNIB) in Benin. A step-by-step guide to applying or renewing through ANIP.
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), and required documents.
Online criminal record certificate in Benin: fee, documents, and e-services application (2026)
Procedure for requesting your criminal record extract (Bulletin n°3) online in Benin via service-public.bj: official fee (2,500 FCFA), required documents, and processing time.
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)
Practical guide to creating and registering an association or NGO in Benin under law 2025-19: online registration with the RAF on service-public.bj, and required documents.
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.
Creating and Registering a Company in Benin via APIEx (2026)
Technical guide to RCCM registration in Benin via APIEx (monentreprise.bj): SARL, SAS, sole proprietorship, IFU, bylaws and supporting documents.
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)
How to replace lost documents in Cotonou: filing a loss report at the police station, then getting duplicates through ANaTT (driver's license, vehicle registration), ANIP (CIP), and DEI (passport).
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 booking, and required documents.
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
Everything you need to handle immigration in Benin: applying for an e-Visa, requesting a stay extension, and putting together a complete Resident Card file at the DEI.
Renewing a Beninese Passport: DEI Process and Timeline (2026)
How to renew your Beninese passport at the DEI: required documents (ANIP birth certificate, CIP/NPI), the official fee (30,000 FCFA), and booking your appointment on service-public.bj.
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 (24/7): Updated List and Numbers (2026)
Find the on-duty pharmacy open today in Cotonou (Littoral). List by district (Fidjrossè, Haie Vive, Agla), emergency numbers, and the PharMap service.
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.