Beninese Passport at the DEI: Fees, Required Documents, and Appointments (2026)

For the Beninese passport, order matters: online appointment first, then the file, then enrolment. Since 3 May 2021, booking online has been mandatory to issue or renew a biometric passport, on the ePasseport portal of service-public.bj. This page repeats what the Direction de l'Émigration et de l'Immigration (DEI, the Emigration and Immigration Directorate) and the government publish: the cost, the documents, the delay and the urgent cases.

The essentials (information checked on 4 October 2026)

• Cost: 30,000 FCFA for residents of Benin.
• Statutory delay: 5 working days from enrolment, not from the application.
• Validity of the biometric passport: 6 years.
• Appointment: mandatory, online, on the ePasseport portal of service-public.bj.
• Urgent cases: 24 to 48 hours at most, for four categories of applicants only.

Book an appointment, then build the file

The government published the rule on 25 July 2021: online booking is mandatory, and the procedure runs in four stages. Book online, submit the documents, enrol, collect the passport after processing. The portal address is epasseport.service-public.bj, which redirects to the passport sheet on service-public.bj.

The appointment spares you the queues. In busy periods, the DEI director said on the #AskGouvBénin programme (session no. 18, date not shown) that the maximum wait for an appointment does not exceed two weeks.

The documents to provide

To issue an ordinary biometric passport, the DEI asks for, according to the procedure the government published:

• a copy of the secure birth certificate issued by ANIP;
• a copy of the personal identification certificate (CIP) issued by ANIP;
• a colour ID photo less than six months old (35 × 45 mm);
• proof of occupation;
• the 30,000 FCFA file fee.

For a renewal, add the old biometric passport and a copy of its identity page.

These documents come from a 2021 publication: check the list on the portal when you apply. Our guides to the secure birth certificate and to the biometric card and CIP help you get them.

Cost, delay and validity

The passport costs 30,000 FCFA for Beninese citizens living in Benin. For the diaspora, the cost varies, with transport factors.

The statutory delay is 5 working days from the enrolment date. The DEI director specified that enrolment is the starting point, not the filing of the application. The biometric passport is valid for 6 years.

Urgent cases

Leaving tomorrow? Urgent processing exists, but it is reserved. According to the DEI, handling in 24 to 48 hours at most applies to four categories: medical evacuations and medical appointments, state officials on mission, scholarship students, and diaspora Beninese returning home. Outside those cases, the statutory delay applies.

The sources checked mention no extra fee for urgent processing. Be wary of intermediaries who advertise an "express" rate: the official cost is the one on the portal.

Reaching the DEI

The DEI publishes the address dei@dgpr.bj and the numbers +229 21 31 69 38 and +229 21 31 49 15, Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. (details from the 2021 publication). Since 30 November 2024, add the prefix 01 in front of the 8 digits: 01 21 31 69 38 and 01 21 31 49 15.

Frequently asked questions

How much does the Beninese biometric passport cost?

30,000 FCFA for residents of Benin, according to the DEI and the government.

How long does it take?

The statutory delay is 5 working days from the enrolment date.

Is the online appointment mandatory?

Yes, since 3 May 2021, to issue or renew a biometric passport.

How long is it valid?

6 years, according to the DEI.

Can I get a passport urgently?

Yes, in 24 to 48 hours at most, for four categories: medical evacuations and appointments, officials on mission, scholarship students, diaspora returning home.

Official sources (checked on 4 October 2026)

• Government of Benin, « Prise de rendez-vous en ligne obligatoire pour l'établissement ou le renouvellement de passeport biométrique au Bénin », 25 July 2021: mandatory appointment since 3 May 2021, documents, 30,000 FCFA, DEI contacts.
• National public services portal, passport sheet (PS00328).
• Government of Benin, « Amélioration des procédures de délivrance des titres de voyage et de séjour » (ask.gouv.bj, session no. 18, date not shown): 5 working days, urgent cases, 6-year validity.
• ARCEP Bénin, switch from 8 to 10-digit numbers, from 30 November 2024.