Benin

Government advisories

• ☐ United States: level 2/4 — Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution
• ☐ United Kingdom: level 2/4
• ☐ Canada: level 2/4 — Exercise a high degree of caution (with regional advisories)

Health notices

• ☐ Global Polio (level 2)
• ☐ Global Measles (level 1)
• ☐ Tap water: generally safe to drink

Entry requirements

☐ Most visitors to Benin must obtain an electronic visa (e-Visa) online or a visa from one of the Beninese diplomatic missions prior to their arrival in Benin, unless they are a citizen of one of the visa-exempt countries.

Practical

• ☐ Plug type C/E, 220V — bring an adapter if yours differs
• ☐ Drives on the right
• ☐ Emergency (police): 117
• ☐ Emergency (ambulance): 112
• ☐ Emergency (fire): 118
• ☐ Money: The currency of the country is the West African CFA franc, denoted CFA (ISO currency code: XOF). It's also used by seven other West African countries. It is interchangeable at par with the Central African CFA franc (XAF), which is used by six countries. Both currencies are fixed at a rate of 1 euro = 655.957 CFA francs.

Before you go

General trip-prep, not specific to Benin — the same short list applies anywhere.

• ☐ Register with your embassy's traveler program if one exists
• ☐ Check your passport's validity and blank-page requirements on your destination's official entry-rules page
• ☐ Photograph/screenshot your passport, visa, and travel insurance documents
• ☐ Download offline maps for your destination
• ☐ Confirm your bank/card issuer knows you're traveling
• ☐ Check whether your phone plan needs a travel add-on or a local SIM