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🇬🇧 Does a British need a visa for Benin 🇧🇯?

What this means for your trip

An e-Visa is applied for on the destination's official government website. You upload your passport scan and photo, pay online and receive an approval letter by email.

Apply well before departure and print the approval; use only the official portal, as many look-alike sites charge extra.

Your passport should normally be valid for at least six months beyond your planned departure date and have blank pages for stamps; many countries apply this rule.

Benin at a glance

Capital: Porto-Novo · Currency: West African CFA franc (XOF, Fr) · Official languages: French · Calling code: +229

U.S. State Department travel advisory for Benin: Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution (updated 7 January 2026). It is written for U.S. citizens; read the advisory before you book.

Plugs and voltage

You need a travel adapter: Benin uses plug types C, E, the United Kingdom uses G. Mains voltage differs (Benin: 220 V; the United Kingdom: 230 V): most phone and laptop chargers accept 100–240 V, but single-voltage devices such as some hair dryers need a converter.

More about entering Benin →

Easier destinations near Benin for British passport holders

• 🇨🇻 Cape Verde — Visa-free 30 days
• 🇬🇲 Gambia — Visa-free 90 days
• 🇸🇳 Senegal — Visa-free 90 days
• 🇬🇼 Guinea-Bissau — Visa on arrival
• 🇸🇱 Sierra Leone — Visa on arrival

The other way round

🇧🇯 Beninese passport holders visiting the United Kingdom: Beninese passport holders need a visa for the United Kingdom, applied for at an embassy or consulate of the United Kingdom before travelling.

The British passport at a glance

All destinations for United Kingdom passport holders → · Who needs a visa for Benin →

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