Sub Saharan Africa

No restrictions in this travel advice

Avoid all but essential travel to part(s) of country

Avoid all but essential travel to whole country

Avoid all travel to part(s) of country

Avoid all travel to whole country

• Travel Summary
• Safety and security
• Local laws and customs
• Entry requirements

• Health
• General
 

• There is no formal British representation in Benin. In case of an emergency you should contact the British High Commission in Accra.  There is a Community Liaison Officer in Benin, but this should be used for consular emergencies only. See General - Representation in Benin.
  
  
• There is a low threat from terrorism. But you should be aware of the global risk of indiscriminate terrorist attacks which could be in public areas, including those frequented by expatriates and foreign travellers.
  
  
• You should take out comprehensive travel and medical insurance before travelling. See the General - Insurance.

Safety and Security - Terrorism
There is a low threat from terrorism. But you should be aware of the global risk of indiscriminate terrorist attacks which could be in public areas, including those frequented by expatriates and foreign travellers. For more general information see our terrorism abroad page.

Safety and Security - Crime
There are reported incidents of mugging, personal assault and car-jacking in Cotonou with armed robberies being reported in other areas, notably the border area with Nigeria.

Highway bandits are known to operate in Benin. Vehicle-jackings by these bandits in the capital have resulted in two deaths and some injuries. You should take personal security precautions and maintain a high level of vigilance in public places especially at Dantokpa market in Cotonou and around large hotels and other tourist areas. Avoid unlit side streets.

You should have a legalised copy of your passport and visa in case your passport is lost or stolen.

See our victims of crime abroad page.

Safety and Security - Local Travel

Safety and Security - Local Travel - Road Travel
Driving standards in Benin are well below those in the UK. One British national died in Benin in a road accident in 2008.

In order to drive in Benin, you must obtain an international driving licence before arrival.  You should avoid driving out of the main towns at night as roads are poorly lit.  Take care after dark within cities, avoiding secondary roads and areas where other traffic is light.

In the past few years, major work has been done on the roads in Benin.  Plans exist for a new international airport with associated roads, and other projects are under way in the North of Benin to improve conditions in the more rural areas.  

The rainy seasons in southern Benin are March-July and September-November, and June-October in the north. Heavy rains can cause flooding. You should monitor local weather reports and expect difficulties when travelling to affected areas.

When you leave the main roads, conditions become more difficult, particularly in the rainy season when some of the smaller unpaved roads become impassable. Public transport is dangerous. Taxis and long distance buses are poorly maintained and are often overloaded. These should be avoided. Most major hotels offer cars for hire with drivers. The reliability and serviceability of hotel drivers and vehicles is variable. If self-driving exercise caution as traffic on main roads is fast moving and ill disciplined. Cotonou has no reliable public transportation.

See our driving abroad page. 

Safety and Security - Local Travel - Swimming
Ocean currents are very strong along the coast. Many drownings occur each year.

See our river and sea safety page. 

Safety and Security - Local Travel - Air travel
You are advised to reconfirm flights 48 hours prior to departure. You should check the following link to see whether this will affect your travel - European Commission Transport - Air.

The EU has published a list of air carriers that are subject to an operating ban or restrictions within the community. 

For more general information see airline security.

Safety and Security - Political situation
Benin Country Profile

Exercise in dress and behaviour. You should respect religious and social traditions to avoid offending local sensitivities.

Possession, use or trafficking in illegal drugs is a serious offence and can result in lengthy prison sentences and heavy fines.

Do not take pictures of military zones, airports or government offices. Homosexuality is not accepted in Benin and sexual relations between members of the same sex are illegal.

See our your trip page.

Entry Requirements - Visas

You require a visa prior to entering Benin. Benin is represented in the UK by an Honorary Consul, Mr Lawrence Landau. Visas can be obtained from the Honorary Consulate: Millenium House, Humber Road, Near Staples Corner, London, NW2 6DW; Tel: +44 (0) 20 8830 8612; Fax: +44 (0) 20 7435 0665; E-mail: l.landau@btinternet.com.

The Honorary Consulate is open on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays only, from 10:30-16:30.

The nearest Embassy is in Paris: Embassy of the Republic of Benin, 87 Avenue Victor Hugo, 742116 Paris, Tel: +331 145 009882, +33 142 223191 Fax: +33 145 –18202. 

Entry Requirements - Passport Validity
You must hold a valid passport to enter Benin. Your passport must be valid for a minimum period of one year from the date of exit from Benin.

Entry Requirements - Visas for Nigeria, Ghana and Togo
Non-resident British nationals in Benin who wish to travel to Nigeria and Ghana cannot obtain entry visas in Benin, these should be obtained prior to travelling to Benin. You can get visas for Togo at the Togolese Embassy in Cotonou or at the Togo/Benin border. 

Entry Requirements - Travelling with children
For information on exactly what will be required at immigration please contact the Benin Embassy in Paris - Embassy of the Republic of Benin, 87 Avenue Victor Hugo, 742116 Paris, Tel: +331 145 009882, +33 142 223191 Fax: +33 145–18202.

Medical facilities are poor in Benin, particularly in rural areas.

Water-borne diseases (including cholera), tuberculosis, meningitis and malaria are common in Benin. You should drink or use only boiled or bottled water and avoid ice in drinks.

In the 2010 Report on the Global AIDS Epidemic the UNAIDS/WHO Working Group estimated that around 55,000 adults aged 15 or over in Benin were living with HIV; the prevalence percentage was estimated at around 1.2% of the adult population compared to the prevalence percentage in adults in the UK of around 0.2%.  You should exercise normal precautions to avoid exposure to HIV/AIDS. See HIV and AIDS page.

You should seek medical advice before travelling to Benin and ensure that all appropriate vaccinations are up-to-date.  For further information on vaccination requirements, health outbreaks and general disease protection and prevention you should visit the websites of the National Travel Health Network and Centre (NaTHNaC) and NHS Scotland’s Fit for Travel or call NHS Direct on 0845 46 47.

See our Travel Health page.

General - Insurance
You should take out comprehensive travel and medical insurance, which covers a provision for medical evacuation. Check for any exclusions and that your policy covers you for all the activities you want to undertake. See our travel insurance page.

If things do go wrong when you are overseas then see our how we can help page.

General - Representation in Benin
There is no UK representation in Benin. In case of an emergency you should contact the British High Commission in Accra.

There is a Community Liaison Officer for consular emergencies only. Her name is Mrs Pauline Collins, address: The British School of Cotonou, Haie Vive, 08 BP 0352, Cotonou, Benin. Tel: (+229 2130 1274); (Fax: +229 30 61 95); Mobile phone (tel: +229 95353494) e-mail address: bis@firstnet1.com.

Other contacts: French Consulate, Avenue Generale de Gaulle, 01 BP 605 Recette Principale Cotonou (tel: +229 31 26 38/80) or US Embassy, Rue Caporal Anani, 01 BP 2021, Cotonou (Tel: +229 30 06 50).

As many crimes involve the theft of British passports, you should keep a photocopy of your passport separately from your passport. This will speed up the process of issuing a new one.  

General - Registration
We recommend that if you intend to stay in Benin for three months or more you should register with the Community Liaison Officer in Cotonou, Mrs Pauline Collins. You may also register with our LOCATE service to tell us when and where you are travelling abroad or where you live abroad so our consular and crisis staff can provide better assistance to you in an emergency.