Lost ID Documents in Cotonou: How to Get a Duplicate (2026 Guide)

Losing or having official documents stolen — your driver's license, vehicle registration card, passport, or Personal Identification Certificate (CIP — Certificat d'Identification Personnelle) — can happen at any time and bring your administrative life to a halt. Fortunately, Beninese authorities have set up clear procedures for getting a duplicate of lost administrative documents in Cotonou. From the initial loss report with the Republican Police to issuance of the new official document through ANaTT, ANIP, or DEI, this guide walks you through what to do.

Quick summary: replacing lost documents in Cotonou (2026)

Essential step 1: File a loss report at the district police station (stamp duty ~1,000–2,000 FCFA).

CIP / ANIP certificate duplicate: download directly from eservices.anip.bj using your NPI (1,000 FCFA).

Driver's license / vehicle registration duplicate (ANaTT): apply online at anatt.bj (registration card ~13,000 FCFA, plates ~15,000 FCFA).

Passport duplicate (DEI): an in-person appointment is required, along with the original loss report.

1. Step 1: File a Loss Report (Republican Police)

This is the mandatory legal first step before requesting any duplicate.

How do you file a loss report in Cotonou?

You need to go in person to the police station in the district (arrondissement) where the loss or theft occurred (for example, the 12th arrondissement police station in Cadjèhoun, the Haie Vive station, or Central Ganhi station).

Documents to bring: an original ID or a legible copy of the lost document, plus a clear explanation of how it was lost.
What you get: the officer issues an official Loss Report Certificate (Attestation de Déclaration de Perte), signed off by the station's police commissioner. This temporary document serves as your legal proof when dealing with administrative offices and law enforcement.

2. Step 2: Request a Duplicate Based on the Document Type

Once you have the loss report in hand, you file your duplicate request with the agency that originally issued the document:

Duplicate Driver's License or Vehicle Registration (ANaTT)

Process: File your request online through ANaTT's e-services portal, uploading the police loss report, a copy of your ID, and the payment receipt for the duplicate fee.

Duplicate CIP or Secure Birth Certificate (ANIP)

Process: Log in to ANIP's e-Services portal (anip.bj). Enter your NPI (Personal Identification Number) to instantly generate and download a new official copy with its secure QR code.

Duplicate Passport (DEI)

Process: Book an appointment with the Directorate of Emigration and Immigration (DEI — Direction de l'Émigration et de l'Immigration) in Ocrou, and bring the original loss report certificate as part of your complete file.

3. Exact ANaTT Duplicate Fees

The cost of a duplicate varies depending on the type of document and how many plates need replacing. Fees currently listed on the ANaTT e-services portal are:

Vehicle registration card duplicate only: about 13,000 FCFA.
Registration card + a set of 2 license plates: about 26,300 FCFA.
Replacing both plates only (registration card kept, or already valid): about 15,000 FCFA.
Replacing a single plate (partial loss, front or back plate damaged): about 9,600 FCFA.
Driver's license duplicate: fees vary by license category; payment is made online through the e-services portal when the file is submitted, before the new biometric document is issued.

These amounts are indicative and may be revised by ANaTT; the final fee always displays on the platform before you confirm payment.

4. The Biometric Driver's License Duplicate: What's Different

The new driver's license issued by ANaTT is a secure biometric document, different from the older cardboard-format licenses still in circulation among some drivers. When requesting a duplicate for an older non-biometric license, ANaTT authenticates the national license before issuing the new document, which can add extra verification time compared to a simple renewal of an already-biometric license.

A driver's license duplicate file generally includes:

The loss or theft report certificate issued by the police.
A copy of your biometric ID (CIP or ANIP card).
A recent passport photo, if the document format requires it.
The payment receipt for the corresponding fees, paid online.

5. Where and How to Track Your Request

All three relevant platforms offer online tracking:

ANaTT (anatt.bj and its e-services portal): tracks the status of your license or registration duplicate, with an SMS or email notification once it's marked "ready for pickup."
ANIP (eservices.anip.bj, ANIP BJ mobile app available on the Play Store): for the CIP, the "duplicate" is actually an immediate reissue after entering your NPI — no long processing wait, since the document is regenerated from data already on file in the National Register of Individuals (RNPP — Registre National des Personnes Physiques). ANIP's customer service can be reached free of charge at 7054 or via WhatsApp.
DEI (dei.gouv.bj): for passports, there's no self-service tracking equivalent to ANIP's NPI system; an in-person appointment remains mandatory for biometric capture on the new document.

6. Prevention Beats Cure: Smart Habits to Adopt

Beyond the duplicate procedure itself, a few precautions significantly reduce the risk of getting stuck for a long time after a loss or theft. Keeping a digital copy (photo or scan) of every important official document — license, registration card, CIP, and passport — somewhere accessible even without the physical document speeds up putting together the duplicate file considerably: serial numbers, NPI, and reference numbers are right there on the copy instead of having to be recalled from memory.

For drivers, keeping the original license and registration card separate while traveling reduces the risk of losing everything at once if a bag or vehicle is stolen. A simple photo of the dashboard with the registration card visible, taken when you buy the vehicle, is often enough to quickly retrieve the plate number and technical details needed for the loss report.

The Special Case of Documents Lost Abroad

A Beninese national living or traveling abroad who loses their documents generally needs to file the loss report with local authorities in the country where the incident happened, then contact the Beninese embassy or consulate to start the duplicate process remotely, particularly for a passport or CIP. Timelines are then inherently longer than handling things directly in Cotonou, due to the administrative back-and-forth between the consular post and Benin's central services.

FAQ: Duplicate Documents in Cotonou

What does a loss report certificate cost at the police station?

Filing a loss report with the Republican Police carries a modest legal stamp duty, generally between 1,000 and 2,000 FCFA.

Can I drive while waiting for my license, using just the loss report certificate?

Yes. The loss report certificate issued by the police, noting the loss of your driver's license or registration card, serves as a temporary circulation document for a limited period, generally 1 to 2 months, while you wait for the final duplicate from ANaTT.

If several documents disappeared at once (a stolen wallet), do I need a separate loss report for each one?

No. In the case of a combined theft (wallet, bag, or burgled vehicle), a single loss or theft report certificate can list all the missing documents. Make this clear to the police officer when giving your statement, so the certificate covers every document involved.

How long does it take to get a vehicle registration duplicate issued?

Once fees are paid and the file is validated online, a registration card or plate duplicate from ANaTT is generally ready for pickup within a few business days, provided the file is complete on first submission.

Does the plate number change when I get a registration card duplicate?

No. The duplicate keeps the same plate number as the original document. ANaTT reissues an identical document in substance, with a new issue date, so you don't need to take any extra steps with your insurer or for vehicle inspection.

Can I request a CIP duplicate if I've lost my NPI number?

Yes. Your NPI (Personal Identification Number) is tied to your civil status record in the RNPP, not to the physical document you lost. Just enter your last name, first names, mother's name, and date of birth on the eservices.anip.bj portal to retrieve your NPI and regenerate an up-to-date CIP.

What if my loss report certificate expires before I get my final duplicate?

If duplicate processing takes longer than the police's temporary certificate stays valid, you'll need to go back to the same police station for a renewal or extension of the certificate, presenting the receipt for the duplicate request already filed with ANaTT or ANIP.

Can I get a duplicate of the same document more than once?

Yes, there's no legal restriction on requesting another duplicate after a fresh loss of the same document. That said, an unusually high frequency of duplicate requests for the same document may draw attention from the relevant agencies, who are entitled to ask for further explanation before issuing a new document.