Last updated: November 9, 2020
Country-Specific Information:
- Benin’s airport is operating with a reduced flight schedule although land borders remain closed for most travelers. Businesses, stores, schools, and daycares are generally open. Religious services are allowed however gatherings of more than fifty people are not permitted.
Entry and Exit Requirements:
- Are U.S. citizens permitted to enter? Yes
- U.S. citizens wishing to enter Benin, must apply for a Beninese eVisa. Visit the COVID-19 website of the Government of Benin for more information on travel restrictions to and within Benin.
- Is a negative COVID-19 test (PCR and/or serology) required for entry? No
- Two COVID-19 tests, a TDR rapid test and a PCR test is required upon arrival at the Cotonou Cadjehoun Airport.
- All travelers who stay in Benin longer than 15 days must undergo a third COVID-19 test. The test can be performed at the Palais des congrès in Cotonou or at routine screening sites throughout the country.
- Are health screening procedures in place at airports and other ports of entry? Yes
- All travelers arriving at and departing from Cotonou Cadjehoun Airport must take mandatory COVID-19 tests at the traveler’s expense. Travelers must register at the appointment website to schedule a test and pay the testing fee. The fee for testing is 50,000 CFA each direction and includes all arrival three tests. Tests for travelers under five years old are at no charge. Arriving airlines may require proof of registration or proof of ability to pay prior to boarding.
- Departing travelers who stay in the country for more than three days must present proof of a negative COVID-19 test result to be permitted entry into the Cotonou Cadjehoun Airport. The Government of Benin recommends that departing travelers get tested at least 72 hours prior to their entry at the airport to ensure that the test result is received. The test can be performed at the Palais des congrès in Cotonou by appointment through the appointment website. Expedited testing (labeled “VIP”), which can produce results in 4-6 hours, can be requested for an additional cost and are performed at the VIP testing center near the Nobila Hotel.
- Travelers may also be required to use hand sanitizer and walk through a disinfectant fogger machine at the airport.
- U.S. citizens may extend their tourist eVisa to 180 days without charge by visiting the Embassy of Benin in Washington, D.C. or the Ministry of the Interior in Cotonou, Benin.
Movement Restrictions:
- Is a curfew in place? No
- Are there restrictions on intercity or interstate travel? No
Quarantine Information:
- Are U.S. citizens required to quarantine? Yes
- Travelers who test positive to the rapid TDR test are expected to self-quarantine while awaiting the results of the PCR test. All travelers are encouraged to self-isolate for a period of 14 days. To ensure compliance, the Government of Benin may hold the traveler’s passport until the test results are received. Passports can be retrieved at the Palais des congrès in Cotonou.
- Travelers who test positive for COVID-19 may be subject to government-mandated isolation measures. This may include quarantine in a government-designated hotel at the traveler’s expense.
COVID-19 Testing:
- U.S. citizens seeking routine COVID-19 testing can do so at health screening centers throughout the country. Tests are performed at the expense of the requester. Costs and time required to receive a result vary by location.
Transportation Options:
- Are commercial flights operating? Yes
- Is public transportation operating? Yes
- Masks are required to be worn in public including in taxis, at the airport, and on the plane.
Fines for Non-Compliance:
- Failure to wear a mask in public or in a vehicle may result in a fine or the confiscation of the vehicle.
Consular Operations:
- The Consular Section at U.S. Embassy Cotonou is currently operating under reduced operations and is able to facilitate the following services:
- For U.S. citizens, special and emergency assistance, routing processing of applications for passports and Certified Reports of Birth Abroad (CRBA), emergency notarial services, and voting assistance.
- For non-U.S. citizens, lawful permanent resident boarding foils, routine immigrant visas for spouses and children of U.S. citizens, routine non-immigrant visas for officials, diplomats, and students, and emergency visa services.
Local Resources:
- U.S. Embassy Cotonou’s Most Recent Alerts
- Government of Benin COVID-19 webpage(in French)
- Benin’s Ministry of Health(in French)
- Benin’s Department of Emigration and Immigration (in French)
Other Links
- COVID-19 crisis page on travel.state.gov
- CDC page on COVID-19
- U.S. Embassy Cotonou’s webpage
- Benin’s Country Information page at travel.state.gov
