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Benin

Nationality · visas, permits and migration

Moved to OECD countries, 2023
4,484
Top destination, 2023
Germany
U.S. non-immigrant visas, FY2025
2,049
UK visas issued, 2025
529
Schengen visa refusal rate, 2024
24.9%
NationalityBJISO 3166
Year by year
Data as at 2025
NA<BJBENIN<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<
BJ4<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<8

Visa requirements for a short visit

Whether citizens of Benin need a visa for a short tourist or business visit, according to the legal lists. Rules change; check the official source before travelling.

DestinationShort visitLegal basis
Schengen areaVisa requiredRegulation (EU) 2018/1806 (consolidated 30.12.2025)
United KingdomVisa requiredImmigration Rules, Appendix Visitor / ETA National List
CanadaTemporary resident visa requiredIRPR s. 190, Schedule 1.1
Hong KongNo visa for visits of up to 14 daysImmigration Department (HKSAR), visit visa requirements, 31.12.2025
Source: Regulation (EU) 2018/1806 (consolidated 30 Dec 2025); UK Immigration Rules, Appendix Visitor and ETA National List; Canada IRPR s. 190 and Schedule 1.1; Immigration Department (HKSAR), visit visa requirements as at 31 Dec 2025Data as at Oct 2026

Where people from Benin move

Inflows of foreign nationals by country of nationality, as recorded by each destination (OECD).

Inflows to OECD countries, 2023
  1. Germany1,285
  2. France979
  3. United States750
  4. Canada690
  5. Italy331
  6. Belgium271
  7. Japan57
  8. Switzerland42
  9. Austria23
  10. Luxembourg21
  11. Netherlands20
  12. Finland7
  13. Norway3
  14. Hungary2
  15. South Korea1

Inflows to all OECD countries by year

2,2424,484200020032006200920122015201820212023
2,2424,4842000200420082012201620202023
Data table
2000589
2001575
20021,072
20031,221
20041,548
20051,289
20061,647
20071,638
20081,794
20091,963
20102,166
20112,193
20122,424
20132,360
20142,224
20152,415
20162,452
20172,484
20182,776
20192,863
20202,162
20212,555
20223,297
20234,484
Share going to the top destination
28.7%
Destinations recording arrivals
15
Source: OECD, International Migration Database (OECD.ELS.IMD), accessed 24 Oct 2026Data as at 2023

Living abroad

People born in Benin who live in another country: mid-year estimates of the international migrant stock (UN DESA). Where a destination records citizenship rather than country of birth, its foreign citizens are counted.

Largest destinations, 2024
  1. Nigeria404,468
  2. Côte d’Ivoire75,331
  3. Togo72,863
  4. Gabon56,627
  5. France31,581
  6. Niger29,525
  7. Ghana22,051
  8. Republic of the Congo15,015
  9. Burkina Faso4,437
  10. Senegal3,834
  11. Italy3,320
  12. Cameroon3,103

Living abroad by year

363k727k19901995200020052010201520202024
363k727k19902000201020202024
Data table
1990226,170
1995265,968
2000321,244
2005496,572
2010533,981
2015628,871
2020678,375
2024726,530
Living abroad, 2024
726,530
Change since 2000
+126.2%
Share living in the largest destination, 2024
55.7%
Source: United Nations, DESA Population Division, International Migrant Stock 2024 (CC BY 3.0 IGO)Data as at 2024

United States

Visas issued to citizens of Benin by U.S. consulates (fiscal years, October–September) and certified PERM labor certifications.

Non-immigrant visas by class, FY2025
  1. B1/B21,640
  2. A296
  3. F181
  4. G464
  5. J144
  6. G236
  7. K122
  8. C110
  9. P37
  10. D5

Non-immigrant visas by fiscal year

1,3702,739201720182019202020212022202320242025
1,3702,73920172019202120232025
Data table
20171,292
20181,936
20191,826
2020946
2021260
20221,380
20232,231
20242,739
20252,049
Immigrant visas by class, FY2025
  1. DV400
  2. IR272
  3. IR546
  4. IR130
  5. F2A23
  6. FX23
  7. F110
  8. F46
Immigrant visas, FY2025
622
Certified PERM labor certifications, FY2024 (latest year with citizenship)
8
Source: U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Consular Affairs, monthly visa issuances (public domain); U.S. Department of Labor, OFLC PERM disclosure data (public domain)Data as at FY2025

Green cards and U.S. citizenship

People born in Benin who became U.S. lawful permanent residents (green cards) or U.S. citizens, and admissions of citizens of Benin with an I-94 record (DHS, fiscal years).

Green cards by fiscal year

4709402015201620172018201920202021202220232024
470940201520172019202120232024
Data table
2015470
2016580
2017650
2018570
2019620
2020450
2021470
2022720
2023710
2024940
Green cards by class of admission, FY2024
  1. Immediate relatives of U.S. citizens460
  2. Diversity visa lottery390
  3. Family-sponsored preferences50
  4. Employment-based preferences30
  5. Refugees and asylees10
Temporary worker admissions (I-94), FY2024
  1. Specialty occupations (H-1B)130
  2. Extraordinary ability (O-1, O-2)20
  3. Athletes, artists and entertainers (P)10
Green cards, FY2024 (born in Benin)
940
Naturalizations, FY2024 (born in Benin)
430
I-94 admissions, FY2024 (citizenship)
3,530
Source: U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Office of Homeland Security Statistics, Yearbook of Immigration Statistics 2024 (public domain)Data as at FY2024

United Kingdom

Entry clearance visas issued to nationals of Benin (Home Office) and students with a permanent address in Benin (HESA).

Visas issued by group, 2025
  1. Visitor435
  2. Work40
  3. Study26
  4. Other21
  5. Family7

Visas issued by year

283565201020122014201620182020202220242025
283565201020132016201920222025
Data table
2010435
2011370
2012362
2013388
2014317
2015321
2016315
2017400
2018385
2019452
2020146
2021234
2022417
2023565
2024508
2025529
Students at UK universities, 2024/25
5
Source: Home Office, Immigration system statistics (year ending June 2026), Open Government Licence v3.0Data as at 2025

Canada

Permits and invitations for citizens of Benin, by year the permit took effect (IRCC).

YearTFWP workIMP workStudyPermanent residentsExpress Entry invitations
202535385880950405
2024554401,155870195
2023953801,440685110
2022027064564015
2021031546535010
2020017034022520
2019019051533510
201801603904850
201701503652000
201601554102950
201501154152600
Source: IRCC, monthly open data (rounded to the nearest 5). Open Government Licence – CanadaData as at 2025

Australia

Temporary skilled visas (subclass 457 to 2018, then 482) granted to primary applicants who are citizens of Benin, by financial year ending 30 June (Home Affairs).

Primary visas granted by financial year

112010–112016–17
112010–112016–17
Data table
2010–111
2015–161
2016–171
Granted, 2025–26
0
Share of all Australian grants, 2025–26
0.0%
Source: Department of Home Affairs (Australia), BP0014 Temporary Resident (skilled) visas granted, data locked at 30 Sep 2026 (data.gov.au, CC BY)Data as at 2025–26

Japan

Citizens of Benin living in Japan at the end of each December, by status of residence (Immigration Services Agency of Japan). 2020 and 2021 were published only as database tables.

Foreign residents in Japan

951892012201420162018202220242025
951892012201420162018202220242025
Data table
201241
201341
201446
201563
201674
201788
201899
2019105
2022146
2023153
2024166
2025189
By status of residence, December 2025
  1. Engineer/Specialist in Humanities/International Services38
  2. Student35
  3. Permanent Resident30
  4. Dependent19
  5. Designated Activities19
  6. Spouse or Child of Japanese National18
  7. Long-Term Resident6
  8. Highly Skilled Professional5
  9. Professor5
  10. Religious Activities3
Residents, December 2025
189
In work-related statuses
58
Share in work-related statuses
30.7%
Students
35
Source: Immigration Services Agency of Japan, Statistics on Foreign Residents (在留外国人統計), Table 1, end of December (e-Stat; Government of Japan Standard Terms of Use 2.0)Data as at Dec 2025

Schengen visas in Benin

Short-stay (C) visa applications at Schengen consulates located in Benin, 2024. Applicants are mostly, but not only, its citizens.

Schengen stateApplicationsIssuedNot issuedRefusal rate
France13,80110,3223,41224.7%
Germany80558521326.5%
Netherlands54237915428.4%

Applications by year

7,87916k2009201020112012201320142015201620172018201920202021202220232024
7,87916k200920122015201820212024
Data table
200910,285
201012,218
201111,880
201213,463
201313,779
201412,149
201512,852
201611,583
201711,828
201812,242
201913,766
20202,543
20214,302
202213,672
202315,758
202415,148
Refusal rate, 2024
24.9%
Refusal rate, 2019
16.8%
Source: European Commission, DG Migration and Home Affairs, visa statistics for consulates (CC BY 4.0)Data as at 2024

Residence permits in Europe

First residence permits issued to citizens of Benin in EU and EFTA countries, 2025 (Eurostat).

First permits by reason
  1. Education3,954
  2. Family1,094
  3. Other reasons870
  4. Work313
First permits by country
  1. France4,805
  2. Germany628
  3. Italy301
  4. Belgium236
  5. Spain55
  6. Switzerland51
  7. Luxembourg33
  8. Netherlands26
  9. Romania21
  10. Portugal19
  11. Finland11
  12. Poland7
Work permits by type, 2025
  1. EU Blue Card10
  2. Highly skilled workers (national schemes)8
  3. Researchers52
  4. Other paid activities243
EU Blue Cards granted, 2024
20
Citizenships acquired in the EU, 2024
1,059
Students in EU/EFTA tertiary education, 2024
6,485
Refused entry at EU external borders, 2025
70
Valid residence permits, 31 Dec 2025
37,744
Long-term residence permits issued, 2025
531
Changed status into work, 2025
1,278
Seasonal work authorisations, 2024
19
Source: Eurostat (migr_resfirst, migr_resbc11, migr_acq, educ_uoe_mobs02, migr_eirfs, migr_pop1ctz), CC BY 4.0Data as at 2024–2025

National statistics in Europe

Citizens of Benin in the figures of national statistics offices: residence permits granted in Denmark, immigrations by grounds for settlement in Sweden and immigrants with a non-EU/EFTA nationality by migration motive in the Netherlands; Finland and Austria publish immigration and emigration by citizenship only.

CountryYearAllWorkStudyFamilyProtectionOther or unknown
Denmark2025404000
CountryYearImmigrationEmigrationNet migration
Finland2025505
Austria2025624
Source: Danmarks Statistik, Statistikbanken VAN66 and VAN77M (CC BY 4.0); SCB (Statistics Sweden), Statistikdatabasen TAB1614 and TAB6670 (CC0); CBS (Statistics Netherlands), StatLine 84809NED (CC BY 4.0); Statistics Finland (Tilastokeskus), StatFin 11a8 (CC BY 4.0); Statistik Austria, OGD_bevwan020_AUSSENWAND_100 (CC BY 4.0)Data as at 2025

Foreign embassies and consulates in Benin

Countries with an embassy or consulate in Benin, as recorded in Wikidata.

CountryEmbassiesConsulates-generalConsulates
Algeria1——
Belgium1——
Brazil1——
China1——
Cuba1——
France1——
Germany1——
Ghana1——
Japan1——
Morocco1——
Netherlands1——
Niger1——
Russia1——
South Africa1——
Türkiye1——
Countries
15
Missions
15
Source: Wikidata (CC0)Data as at Oct 2026

Remittances

Money that migrants send home: personal remittances received by Benin, in current US dollars (World Bank).

Remittances received by year, US$ million

170339200020032006200920122015201820212023
1703392000200420082012201620202023
Data table
200086
200183
200276
200355
200463
2005147
2006196
2007241
2008208
2009126
2010140
2011172
2012208
2013249
2014305
2015214
2016222
2017196
2018199
2019217
2020205
2021231
2022250
2023339
Remittances received, 2023
US$339 million
Share of GDP, 2023
1.7%
Average cost of sending US$200 to Benin, 2020
17.4%
Source: World Bank, World Development Indicators (CC BY 4.0)Data as at 2023

All corridors from Benin

Destinations with a dedicated page for citizens of this country.

  • Benin → France
  • Benin → Germany
  • Benin → Canada
Source: OECD, International Migration Database (OECD.ELS.IMD), accessed 24 Oct 2026Data as at 2023

Official data, not advice. Visa Atlas publishes figures from government registers and statistics. It does not assess eligibility or give immigration advice; for advice, consult a regulated adviser. Read more