Residence & citizenship
Beninese Privileged Resident Card
A long-term ten-year residence permit for established foreign residents of Benin.
Under review — check current rules
Important information
On this page
- Official name
- Carte de résident privilégié
- Route type
- Long-term residence permit
- Validity
- 10 years
- Eligibility
- Two renewals of an ordinary resident card, plus a qualifying tie to Benin
- Cost
- 100,000 FCFA (ECOWAS/CEDEAO nationals); 800,000 FCFA (non-ECOWAS)
- Fees as listed on the DEI services page; FCFA = West African CFA franc (XOF).
- Eligibility gate
- Two prior renewals of an ordinary resident card
- You must already hold ordinary resident status and have renewed it twice before qualifying.
- Where to apply
- Online at service-public.bj
- Appointment scheduling and payment are done online; the card is issued by the DEI.
- Visa exemption
- Holders exempt from visa requirements
- A valid resident card exempts the holder from Benin visa requirements, per the 2015 interministerial decree.
Who it is for
- Long-established foreign residents who have renewed an ordinary card twice
- Residents with permanent employment/activity, property, marriage-based residence, or a business in Benin
Requirements
- Prior ordinary resident card with two renewals
- Evidence of a qualifying tie (permanent job/activity, real estate, effective conjugal residence, or a functioning establishment)
- Documents required by the DEI
What you can do
- Reside in Benin for ten years with a settled status
- Continue employment, business or family life in Benin
How to apply
Schedule your appointment and pay online through the government portal at service-public.bj, then attend the Direction de l'Émigration et de l'Immigration (DEI) with your documents.
The DEI publishes a downloadable requirements list for the privileged resident card; use it to assemble your file before the appointment.
Documents you may need
- Completed application form
- Your old resident card (in the case of renewal)
- Photocopy of the Certificate of Identification for Foreigners (CIPE)
- Two identity photographs
- Photocopy of a passport or travel document valid for more than one year from the application date
- A criminal-record extract (extrait de casier judiciaire) issued in Benin
- Proof of the qualifying tie: employment or permanent activity, real-estate ownership, effective marital residence, or a functional business/industrial/commercial establishment in Benin
Frequently asked questions
Yes. The privileged resident card is a step up from ordinary residence — you must already hold an ordinary resident card and have renewed it twice, alongside a qualifying tie such as employment, property, marriage or a business in Benin.
Official sources
For the most accurate and up-to-date information, always refer to the official government sources.
Verified against official gov.uk sources · last reviewed 2026-08-21. Information only — not legal advice.
Related Beninese visas
- SETTLEMENT3-YEAR PERMITOrdinary Resident CardThe standard three-year residence permit for foreign nationals settling in Benin.View visa details
- SETTLEMENTCITIZENSHIPNaturalisation (Beninese Citizenship)For a foreign resident seeking to acquire Beninese nationality by naturalisation after settling in the country.View visa details