Personal Identification Certificate (CIP) from ANIP: procedure and purpose (2026)

As part of Benin's civil-status modernization reforms, the old handwritten pink slips or birth-record extracts are no longer accepted for official procedures. The secure birth certificate (biometric) and the Personal Identification Certificate (CIP) issued by ANIP (Agence Nationale d'Identification des Personnes — Benin's National Agency for the Identification of Persons) are now the two baseline identity documents required for any administrative, banking, school, or immigration matter in Benin.

In summary: the ANIP Personal Identification Certificate (CIP) (2026)

Issuing body: Agence Nationale d'Identification des Personnes (ANIP).

Official fee: 1,000 FCFA (downloadable online at eservices.anip.bj).

Unique key (NPI): certifies your lifetime unique Personal Identification Number.

Purpose: required for opening a bank account, public competitive exams, school exams, and passport / CNIB applications.

Whether you live in Cotonou or are a Beninese citizen abroad, here is the complete guide to obtaining, downloading, or renewing your ANIP identity documents.

1. Understanding ANIP's role and the NPI

ANIP is the public agency created by law n°2017-08 of June 19, 2017 to manage the National Register of Natural Persons (RNPP — Registre National des Personnes Physiques) and all of the country's biometric identity documents.

Every Beninese citizen and foreign resident enrolled in the national register is assigned a unique Personal Identification Number (NPI). This number appears at the top of your biometric documents (CIP, secure birth certificate, CNIB, passport) and serves as the identification key for every administration that needs it.

2. How to obtain your secure birth certificate and your CIP

Thanks to ANIP's online portal, obtaining these documents is fast and fully digital for anyone already enrolled in the national database.

Step 1: RAVIP enrollment, if you are not yet registered

If your biometric data has not yet been recorded, you must first go through enrollment at an ANIP reception center, presenting a civil-status document. This enrollment is what generates your NPI and opens access to the agency's digital services.

Step 2: apply online at eservices.anip.bj

If you are already enrolled:

Log in to the official platform eservices.anip.bj or use the ANIP BJ mobile app, available on Android and iOS.
Enter your NPI, which automatically pre-fills your civil-status information.
Select the document you need: secure birth certificate and/or Personal Identification Certificate.
Pay the fee online via Mobile Money (MTN MoMo, Moov Money) or by bank card.
Download the document as a secure PDF bearing an authentication QR code.

Most requests are processed and the document available for download immediately after payment is validated, unless the agency needs to carry out additional verification of the file.

The service is also accessible via the national portal service-public.bj, which redirects to the same ANIP processing chain, and via the toll-free line 7054 or the address serviceclient@anip.bj for any assistance.

3. Official fees and validity period

ANIP publishes and regularly reiterates its official fees to combat intermediaries who overcharge users for these procedures.

Secure birth certificate: 1,000 FCFA.
Personal Identification Certificate (CIP): 1,000 FCFA.

No additional amount can legally be charged for obtaining either document, whether the request is made online or at an ANIP reception center. If an intermediary asks you for a higher fee, report it to the agency's customer service.

The CIP has no limited validity period as long as the information it carries remains accurate, but it must be renewed if your civil status changes (marriage, name change) or if the document is lost.

4. What these documents mean for everyday procedures

The secure birth certificate and the CIP are not mere administrative formalities. They govern access to nearly all public and private services in Benin.

Opening a bank account: banks now require the CIP or the secure birth certificate as the reference identity document, since the old handwritten certificate is no longer accepted.
School and university enrollment: the secure birth certificate is requested from kindergarten enrollment onward and systematically for official exams (CEP, BEPC, baccalauréat).
Visa and travel applications: embassies and consulates give priority to the secure version, which is more reliable and verifiable via QR code than the old paper format.
Subsequent ANIP procedures: the CIP is a prerequisite for applying for the Biometric National Identity Card (CNIB), which serves as a travel document within the ECOWAS zone.

5. Common mistakes and points of caution

Certain difficulties come up often among people making their first request.

NPI entry error: a typo in the number blocks the automatic pre-filling. Always double-check your NPI against a document you already hold before entering it.
Inconsistent civil-status information: if your original handwritten birth certificate contains an error (date, spelling of the name), that error can carry over into the ANIP database. A prior judicial correction is sometimes needed before a correct secure certificate can be issued.
Confusing the secure certificate with a plain copy: only the document downloaded from the ANIP platform, with its QR code, has the status of a secure certificate. A photocopy of the old-style slip is no longer sufficient for most procedures.
Paying an unofficial third party: never pay these fees to anyone presenting themselves as an intermediary outside ANIP's recognized channels (platform, app, reception centers).

6. The special case of the Beninese diaspora

Beninese nationals living abroad face specific constraints in obtaining these documents, particularly if they were never enrolled in RAVIP before leaving the country.

Some Beninese diplomatic and consular missions organize biometric enrollment campaigns for diaspora nationals, which makes it possible to obtain an NPI without having to physically return to Benin. Outside of these occasional campaigns, a family member can sometimes initiate certain preparatory steps locally, but the initial biometric enrollment (photo, fingerprints) remains a step that requires the person's physical presence, either at an ANIP counter in Benin or during an organized consular operation abroad.

Once the NPI has been obtained, all subsequent requests for secure certificates or CIPs can normally be made online from any country, with no further requirement of physical presence. This is an important point to plan for ahead of a trip to Benin if you know you have never been enrolled.

7. Document security and third-party verification

The QR code on the secure birth certificate and the CIP is not a decorative detail. It allows any administration, bank, or employer to verify the document's authenticity in a few seconds by scanning it with a smartphone, with no need to contact ANIP directly.

This feature greatly reduces the risk of forged documents in circulation, a problem that affected the old system of handwritten certificates more heavily, since they were more easily falsified or fraudulently obtained at certain town halls. For an employer or bank in Cotonou receiving a birth certificate as part of a file, QR-code verification should now be part of the standard check before the file is approved.

8. Assistance channels in case of a hold-up

Despite the process being generally simple, some cases run into hold-ups that cannot be resolved from the platform interface alone. ANIP has set up several assistance channels for these situations, rather than leaving users with no recourse when facing a frozen screen or a rejected request with no clear explanation.

The toll-free line 7054 provides a first level of information, particularly for questions about procedure or file status. The address serviceclient@anip.bj is suited to requests that require submitting supporting documents or a detailed explanation of a problem encountered. For the most complex cases, especially civil-status errors inherited from the original handwritten certificate, an in-person visit to an ANIP reception center often remains the fastest solution, since an agent can consult the complete file directly and point you toward the appropriate corrective procedure.

Before contacting these channels, it helps to gather the basic details of your file: your NPI, the date of the request, and the exact nature of the hold-up encountered. This consistently speeds up the handling of the assistance request.

FAQ

Does the CIP replace the national identity card?

The CIP serves as an official identity document within national territory for most administrative and banking procedures. For travel within the ECOWAS zone, you need the Biometric National Identity Card (CNIB), a separate document also issued by ANIP.

Can I apply for my secure certificate from abroad?

Yes, the request and payment are made entirely online at eservices.anip.bj or via the mobile app, provided you are already enrolled and know your NPI. The secure PDF document is delivered digitally, with no need to travel.

What should I do if my original birth certificate contains an error?

You need to initiate a civil-status record correction procedure with the competent court before a correct secure certificate can be issued. ANIP cannot itself correct an error that originates in the source record.

How long does it take to receive the document after payment?

In most cases, the document is available for download immediately after payment is validated. An additional delay can occur if the agency needs to verify information before issuing it.

Are the NPI and the CIP number the same thing?

The NPI is the personal identification number, unique and assigned for life at enrollment. It appears on the CIP as well as on all other biometric documents issued by ANIP, but it is not a number specific to the CIP itself.

Sources: ANIP – Birth Certificate, ANIP – Personal Identification Certificate, La Nouvelle Tribune – ANIP official fees, National portal service-public.bj