Most visitors to Abomey need a visa for Benin, and the official route is the e-visa platform. This page gives the fees, delays and conditions published by evisa.bj and the government, and says plainly what the official sources do not cover.
The essentials (information checked on 4 and 11 October 2026)
- Apply on the official platform, evisa.bj. Fees: 50 euros for 30 days single entry, 75 euros for 30 days multiple entry, 100 euros for 90 days multiple entry.
- Processing takes from one hour to 96 hours. The platform advises applying at least 7 days before arrival, and no earlier than 90 days before.
- No official page we read documents a separate visa on arrival. Apply on evisa.bj before you travel (details below).
- Nationals of the 53 African countries listed by the government can enter and move freely for 90 days without a visa.
- Payment is by Visa or Mastercard card with 3D Secure.
- A yellow fever vaccination certificate is required to enter, according to France Diplomatie and GOV.UK advice (see our safety guide).
The e-visa: fees and delay
The platform publishes three prices for an online application: 50 euros for a 30-day single-entry e-visa, 75 euros for 30 days with multiple entries, and 100 euros for 90 days with multiple entries. Applying through an embassy costs 10 euros more for each type (60, 85 and 110 euros).
The FAQ says processing "can take from one hour to 96 hours", and that the start of validity is the date of entry into Benin that you give in the application. You can apply at most 90 days ahead and the platform recommends at least 7 days before arrival.
How to apply
The platform describes four steps. First, press the request button and enter your email address, passport number and passport expiry date. Second, after confirming your email, fill in four forms covering personal information, e-visa details, travel data and passport details. Third, pay by Visa or Mastercard with 3D Secure; the payment platform does not accept cards without it. Fourth, follow your application with the number sent by email.
Use only evisa.bj, the official platform. France Diplomatie asks French travellers for a passport valid at least 6 months after the return date and a return ticket (page dated 15 September 2026). The sources checked do not list a full set of supporting documents or an accepted photo format: the form shows what it requires when you apply.
Who does not need a visa
According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs communication of 23 September 2020, republished by the government, nationals of the 53 African countries can enter Benin and move freely for three months, or 90 days. The complete list is a downloadable document on the government site. If you are not African, assume you need a visa and check the list for your nationality before relying on an exemption.
Visa on arrival: what the sources say
Answers about a Benin visa on arrival disagree online, so here is what the official and government pages state, read on 11 October 2026. The FAQ of the e-visa platform mentions no visa on arrival, no airport visa and no land border visa: it presents the online application as the way for foreigners to visit Benin. GOV.UK says you must have a visa to enter Benin and writes "You will get your visa when you arrive at Cotonou airport", in the same passage that advises applying online at least 7 days before arrival. It gives no separate procedure, fee or conditions for a visa on arrival. France Diplomatie describes the e-visa, sent by email as a barcode, and does not mention a visa on arrival either.
The safe route is to apply for the e-visa on evisa.bj before you fly. If you plan to get a visa at the airport or at a border, ask the Beninese embassy to confirm it first: no source we read documents it.
What the sources do not confirm
Customs thresholds are not documented in the official pages we could read. On extensions, the platform only says that if an e-visa expires during your stay, you should go to the Direction de l'Émigration et de l'Immigration to have it extended. For land borders, airport counters and currency declaration rules, check the current advice of your own government and ask the Beninese embassy before travelling. We removed earlier figures for these points because we could not confirm them.
Health
France Diplomatie and GOV.UK both state that a yellow fever vaccination certificate is required to enter Benin. GOV.UK recommends checking vaccine advice at least 8 weeks before travel and notes that malaria is a risk. Details are in our safety guide.
Frequently asked questions
Is there a visa on arrival in Benin?
The e-visa platform and France Diplomatie do not mention one. GOV.UK says you get your visa at Cotonou airport but also advises applying online at least 7 days before. Apply on evisa.bj before travelling, and ask the Beninese embassy if you plan to rely on an airport or border visa.
Where do I apply for a Benin e-visa?
On evisa.bj, the official platform. Our sources advise against using any other site.
How much does the e-visa cost?
50 euros (30 days, single entry), 75 euros (30 days, multiple entries) or 100 euros (90 days, multiple entries), when you apply online yourself.
How long does it take?
From one hour to 96 hours, according to the platform's FAQ. Apply at least 7 days before arrival.
Can I pay with any card?
No. The platform only supports Visa or Mastercard cards secured with 3D Secure.
Do Africans need a visa?
Not for 90 days, if their country is among the 53 African countries listed by the government.
What if my e-visa expires while I am in Benin?
The platform tells you to go to the Direction de l'Émigration et de l'Immigration to extend it.
Official sources (checked on 4 and 11 October 2026)
- e-Visa Benin, Les coûts des visas d'entrée au Bénin.
- e-Visa Benin, Foire aux questions and Comment ça marche.
- Government of Benin, Liste des pays dont les ressortissants sont exemptés de visa d'entrée au Bénin, 23 September 2020.
- France Diplomatie, Bénin, entrée et séjour (page dated 15 September 2026) and GOV.UK, Benin entry requirements: visa, entry and health.
Plan your trip
Once your entry is sorted, see our guide to visiting Abomey and how to get to Abomey from Cotonou.