This guide sets out necessary info for British residents transferring to or residing in Benin. Read about how our High Commission in Accra can help.
This info is supplied as a guide just. You ought to get conclusive info from the Beninese authorities. The Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) is not accountable for any mistakes in this info.
Support for British Nationals Abroad: A Guide sets out how British nationals can remain safe abroad and how the FCDO can help if you do enter into trouble.
Read basic assistance on moving or retiring abroad.
To keep up to date:
Before you go
See our travel suggestions for Benin for current info on entry requirements, regional laws and custom-mades, safety and emergency situations.
Coronavirus
Follow the suggestions of the Beninese federal government and your regional authority. You ought to likewise check out the travel suggestions for Benin for our latest assistance.
For info on getting a COVID-19 vaccine as UK nationwide in Benin, check out coronavirus travel suggestions.
Visas and residency
You will require a visa to get in or take a trip through Benin as a visitor. You ought to get a brief stay or several entry e-visa by applying and paying online. The visa will then be provided on arrival at the airport in Cotonou.
You should inform the UK federal government workplaces that handle your advantages, pension and tax if you are moving or retiring abroad.
Check the entry requirements for Benin in our travel suggestions.
For basic info about visas and licenses, go to the Directorate of Immigration and Emigration website.
Passports and travel
You can make an application for or renew your British passport from Benin.
Check our travel suggestions for Benin for passport credibility requirements.
Healthcare in Benin
Benin and the UK do not have mutual health care arrangements. You ought to purchase extensive Travel and Medical Insurance prior to you get in the nation. You might likewise take a look at the health threats and required preventative measures to be handled the TravelHealthPro website.
NOTE: UK Travel insurance coverage companies will not normally cover your health care expenses if you live overseas.
If you are emigrating on an irreversible basis, you will no longer be entitled to medical treatment in the UK under typical NHS guidelines. This is since the NHS is a residence-based health care system. The NHS knows for individuals emigrating.
Medical centers in Benin, in contrast to the UK, are a much lower requirement, especially in backwoods. Emergency centers are exceptionally restricted. There are personal healthcare facilities available, which use much better centers than the general public healthcare facilities, however these are likewise restricted in the treatments that they can use, and normally just available in bigger cities.
In major cases, physicians will frequently encourage that a client be clinically left to another nation with much better medical centers. The cost of an air ambulance is really high.
If you cannot sign up for health care, you should guarantee you have personal health care cover for Benin.
See a list of medical centers in Benin.
Medicine
If you are on a prescription for any medication, you ought to guarantee you have a supply of it, or have the ability to obtain it when in Benin. Certain medications might not be available in Benin (consisting of significant brand names easily available in the UK). If you have a condition that demands routine medication, bring enough to last the duration of your journey or guarantee that the medication is available in your location nation. To prevent any form of misconception, bring together with you a letter from your physician noting your medications and explaining why you require them. In some cases, you might be forbidden from taking some medications into the nation. In that case, you ought to consult your GP prior to taking a trip to Benin to discover any alternative medication.
Read guidance if you need to travel with medicines.
Local Laws and Customs
Please checked out the travel suggestions for regional laws and custom-mades.
Safety and Security
Please checked out though the travel suggestions page about safety and security.
Society
French is the main language and is commonly spoken.
Benin is considered as a friendly and tranquil nation. Offering food and beverage to visitors is a crucial element of hospitality, and refusing is thought about rude. It is poor rules to consume with the left hand or deal another individual something with it.
You ought to research study and regard spiritual and social customs to prevent upseting regional level of sensitivities.
Homosexuality is legal in Benin, however same-sex relationships are not generally accepted. See our info and suggestions page for the LGBT neighborhood prior to you take a trip.
Smoking is forbidden in all indoor public locations, indoor offices, and in public transportation. Certain public locations in Benin have a smoking cigarettes restriction.
Working in Benin
A business visa and work authorization are needed to operate in Benin. All work allows in Benin should be obtained prior to transferring to the nation, as they should be obtained through the Beninese Embassy in your home nation. If you have actually already acquired work in Benin, your potential company will have the ability to sponsor your application. Visit the Directorate of Emigration and Immigration for more info.
Studying in Benin
If you prepare to study in Benin, you should fulfill all visa requirements prior to you take a trip.
Contact the appropriate college company in Benin to examine what costs you need to pay.
Education
For individuals taking a trip to Benin with their kids, there are a couple of global schools available, the majority of which remain in Cotonou, the nation’s biggest city.
Here is a non-exhaustive list of schools in Cotonou that use global programs for trainees:
NOTE: The British High Commission, Accra does not particularly recommend/endorse any of these schools.
Legal Procedures in Benin
The British High Commission can offer you with a list of attorneys who can encourage on legal treatments.
Tax
There is no double tax contract in between the United Kingdom and Benin; for that reason, you might be taxed on your UK earnings by the nation in which you’re resident (Benin) and by the UK.
You ought to get expert suggestions on paying tax in Benin. Find a list of English-speaking attorneys in Benin
Read assistance on:
Benefits
Check which UK advantages you can declare while abroad and how to declare them.
Many income-related advantages such as Pension Credit and Housing Benefit cannot be paid if you’re abroad for more than 4 weeks.
Pensions
Read State Pension assistance if you have actually resided in Australia, Canada or New Zealand and you are declaring or waiting to declare your UK State Pension.
If you retire in Benin, you can declare your UK State Pension or brand-new UK State Pension. Contact the International Pension Centre for more info.
Life certificates for UK State Pensions
If you get a ‘life certificate’ from the UK Pension Service, you should react as quickly as possible. Your payments might be suspended if you do not.
Money and banking
Currency
The currency of Benin is the West African franc with sign and currency code XOF. Notes remain in denominations of XOF10, 000, 5,000, 2,000 and 1,000. Coins remain in denominations of XOF500, 200, 100, 50, 25, 10, 5 and 1.
Exchanging Money
Currency can be exchanged at banks and in significant hotels. Also available are bureaux de modification. To prevent extra currency exchange rate charges, tourists are encouraged to take tourist’s cheques in Euros or GBP.
Banking in Benin
It is rather simple to open a savings account in Benin. Processes are normally rather uncomplicated, however vary depending upon which bank. For example, some might ask for a passport just, others will ask for a citizen’s authorization.
Most banks in Benin offer online and telephone banking services.
ATMs and Credit Cards
Benin is a cash-based society and charge card are not commonly accepted. There are some ATMs, giving regional currency (West African XOF).
Accommodation and purchasing property
See purchasing a property abroad.
There are formally no constraints for immigrants who wish to get land in Benin. The right to own and move personal property is secured by the Land Property Act.
Real and personal effects are signed up with the Land Office of the Ministry of Economy and Finance. Because Benin is a French-speaking nation, the registration procedure and all paperwork is performed in French. If required, you are encouraged to look for the services of an English-speaking legal representative in Benin for support.
Driving in Benin
Read the assistance on driving abroad.
See assistance for taking a trip by roadway in Benin.
If you want to take your vehicle with you, see taking a vehicle out of the UK.
Driving licence guidelines for locals in Benin
You can drive in Benin with an International Driving Permit (IDP). You can get an IDP over-the-counter at the Post Office in the UK. You will not have the ability to purchase an IDP outside the UK, so get one prior to you take a trip. Conversion to a regional Benin driving licence is not needed, although it is possible.
Disabled drivers
If you have a UK Blue Badge and reside in Benin, you should return it to the initial UK providing authority.
Voting
To vote in any Beninese election you should be a Beninese resident aged 18 years or older.
You might have the ability to enact some UK elections. You can:
Births, deaths, marital relationship and civil collaboration
Births
If your kid is born in Benin, you ought to sign up the birth with the regional authorities. You can then sign up with the UK authorities and make an application for a UK birth certificate. See sign up a birth abroad for more details.
If your kid has British citizenship, you do not require to sign up the birth with the UK authorities to get a passport for your kid
Deaths
If somebody passes away in Benin read our assistance on:
Marriage and civil collaboration
Find out how you can get wed or get a civil collaboration abroad
Pets
If you are taking a trip to a non-EU nation, you’ll require to get an export health certificate (EHC). You will likewise require to finish an export application (EXA) if you remain in England, Scotland or Wales. An EHC checks that your animal fulfills the health requirements of the nation you’re taking a trip to. You should choose a main veterinarian who will be sent the EHC. They’ll examine your animal has actually fulfilled the appropriate health and recognition requirements prior to you take a trip.
Pet import guidelines for Benin need that you have:
- a Pet Passport
- evidence of present vaccination
- Health Certificate for Benin
Emergencies
Dial:
- 117 for authorities
- 118 for fire service
- 112 for ambulance
- 160 for assistance for kids
If you have actually been the victim of a rape or sexual attack, checked out info for survivors of rape and sexual attack. You might likewise get in touch with the British High Commission Accra for support.
If you are the victim of a criminal offense, have actually been apprehended, or are impacted by a crisis, get in touch with the British High Commission Accra.
Read the assistance on global adult kid kidnapping if your kid might be at threat of this.
Returning to the UK
Read the assistance on going back to the UK completely that includes info on bringing member of the family, tax and access to services.
