Biometric Card and CIP in Benin: Renewal and Online Application

CIP, CNIB, CNPI: three acronyms, three documents, and plenty of people paying for the wrong one. The National Agency for the Identification of Persons (ANIP) issues all three, with different prices, validity periods and required documents. This page sorts them out from what ANIP and the government publish, with links and dates at the bottom.

The essentials (information checked on 4 October 2026)

• The CIP costs 1,000 FCFA, for first issue and renewal alike, and lasts 2 years.
• The CNIB costs 6,000 FCFA and lasts 5 years. You collect it in person, and it works as a travel document in the ECOWAS area.
• The CNPI, the NPI certificate, is free and requested online.
• Everything is requested on eservices.anip.bj (24/7) or in the "ANIP BJ" app. The free call centre is 7054.

The CIP: everyday identity

ANIP describes it as an administrative identification document provided for by law. It certifies your registration in the National Register of Natural Persons and replaces the certificate of status and the proof of residence. It carries your photo, your Personal Identification Number (NPI) and two QR codes to check its authenticity.

It costs 1,000 FCFA and is valid for 2 years. Renewal costs the same, whether the document is plastified or not.

The documents asked for: a copy of the RAVIP receipt, a copy of the previous birth certificate, and a residence certificate or an SBEE/SONEB bill. Foreign residents (CIPR) provide the same documents.

On timing, ANIP says most documents are available instantly once payment is validated.

Renewing your CIP online

No need to travel. ANIP offers three channels, which it presented at the ID4Africa forum in 2026:

• the eservices.anip.bj portal, where the CIP is listed at 1,000 FCFA;
• the ANIP BJ app;
• the *151# code from a phone, with an "Order a document" menu and a "Status of my request" menu.

In all three, the principle is the same: you order the certificate using your NPI, you pay, and the document is available once payment is validated. Lost your NPI? The portal, the app and *151# each have a "Find my NPI" option.

A printed CIP can be checked: its two QR codes allow its authenticity to be verified, and the ANIP BJ app has a "Verify a document" feature.

Is the CIP moving to 5 years?

Not yet, according to official sources. In its 2026 presentation, ANIP lists moving validity from 2 to 5 years among its "challenges and prospects", "without increasing the cost". The official sheet says 2 years: that is the period to rely on until a text changes it.

The CNIB: the card that travels

The Carte Nationale d'Identité Biométrique (biometric national ID card) is, according to ANIP, an official document certifying its holder's identity based on their NPI. It costs 6,000 FCFA and is valid for 5 years. Any Beninese citizen aged 18 or over can apply, and a minor can get one with parental authorisation.

Three documents are mandatory: the secured birth certificate, a copy of the CIP and an ID photo. Proof of occupation and proof of blood group are optional.

The pre-request is made online, on eservices.anip.bj or in the ANIP BJ app. For collection, no shortcut: the applicant must collect it in person, at the ANIP headquarters or at its municipal offices. ANIP mentions a minimum processing time for the ID card without giving a figure. No duration is guaranteed here.

Travelling with the CNIB

The CNIB works as a travel document in the ECOWAS area. In 2014 the ECOWAS Conference of Heads of State and Government adopted the ECOWAS biometric national identity card, machine-readable, as an official travel document, replacing the handwritten ECOWAS travel certificate (ECOWAS, 22 September 2023). On the Beninese side, ANIP and the government recalled in August 2020 that Beninese citizens living in Nigeria had to prove their identity with a biometric national identity card conforming to ECOWAS standards, or a passport.

Before you leave, check the entry conditions of your destination: the common rule does not stop each country from applying its own checks.

The CNPI: the free NPI certificate

The government announced on 5 December 2021 that the Certificat du Numéro Personnel d'Identification is issued free of charge, online. On eservices.anip.bj, tick the CNPI box and keep a copy of your birth certificate and your RAVIP receipt at hand.

Where to apply

The eservices.anip.bj portal and the ANIP BJ mobile app (Play Store) run 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. The government presented the platform on 15 February 2025, with two-step data validation and a call centre on the free number 7054.

ANIP contacts published by the government in 2021: info@anip.bj, (+229) 21 60 23 23, 55 00 01 01 and 52 30 30 30. Since 30 November 2024, add the prefix 01 in front of the 8 digits.

Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between the CIP and the CNIB?

The CIP costs 1,000 FCFA and lasts 2 years: it replaces the certificate of status and the proof of residence. The CNIB costs 6,000 FCFA, lasts 5 years, is collected in person and works as a travel document in the ECOWAS area.

How do I renew my CIP online?

On eservices.anip.bj, in the ANIP BJ app, or with the *151# code ("Order a document"). The CIP costs 1,000 FCFA and most documents are available once payment is validated.

Is the CIP valid for 5 years?

No, 2 years according to ANIP's official sheet. In 2026, ANIP presents the move to 5 years as a prospect, not as a rule in force.

How much does renewing the CIP cost?

1,000 FCFA, like the first issue, according to ANIP's CIP page.

Which documents for the CNIB?

The secured birth certificate, a copy of the CIP and an ID photo. Proof of occupation and blood group are optional.

Can someone collect my card for me?

No. ANIP states the applicant must collect it in person.

What is the RAVIP?

The Administrative Census for Population Identification, launched on 1 November 2017. The RAVIP receipt is asked for the CIP and the CNPI. A duplicate costs 500 FCFA, according to ANIP.

Official sources (checked on 4 October 2026)

• ANIP, Certificat d'Identification Personnelle: definition, cost, validity, documents.
• ANIP, Carte d'Identité Biométrique: cost, validity, documents, collection.
• ANIP, RAVIP: census, receipt duplicate.
• ANIP, Formalisation des demandes de carte d'identité biométrique, 25 August 2020: card conforming to ECOWAS standards or passport.
• ECOWAS, biometric identity card, official travel document, 22 September 2023.
• Government of Benin, « Obtenez désormais gratuitement votre CNPI », 5 December 2021.
• Government of Benin, « Nouveaux services à l'ANIP : la plateforme e-services.anip.bj désormais lancée », 15 February 2025.
• ANIP, "Gestion intégrée CRVS & ID : expérience du Bénin", ID4Africa 2026 presentation: channels (portal, app, USSD *151#), CIP price shown on the portal, 5-year CIP presented as a prospect (consulted on 16 October 2026).
• ARCEP Bénin, switch from 8 to 10-digit numbers, from 30 November 2024.