Source-backed scope
For adult Indian nationals already lawfully in Benin at the in-country resident-card stage, following an India-origin journey. This branch is for a first ordinary resident-card application under Articles 15 and 17: subsistence means or third-party support, or another legitimate interest in residence, and good character. Establish eligibility with DEI; the file's means/activity/support proof remains required. Ordinary cards are valid three years; privileged cards ten years, renewable, subject to actual approval. These are later residence formalities, not entry visas, immediate settlement permission from India, citizenship or work authorisation. Special legislation, diplomatic/cooperation cases, ZES investor cards, lost-card replacement, irregular stay and first privileged-card admission are outside these branches. The forty-five-day published service delay does not guarantee approval or extend lawful stay; arrange filing with DEI before the current permission expires.
- Jurisdiction
- Benin
- Purpose
- Immigration / permanent residence
- Destination
- Benin
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Use this guide in the plannerRoute scope
For adult Indian nationals already lawfully in Benin at the in-country resident-card stage, following an India-origin journey. This branch is for a first ordinary resident-card application under Articles 15 and 17: subsistence means or third-party support, or another legitimate interest in residence, and good character. Establish eligibility with DEI; the file's means/activity/support proof remains required. Ordinary cards are valid three years; privileged cards ten years, renewable, subject to actual approval. These are later residence formalities, not entry visas, immediate settlement permission from India, citizenship or work authorisation. Special legislation, diplomatic/cooperation cases, ZES investor cards, lost-card replacement, irregular stay and first privileged-card admission are outside these branches. The forty-five-day published service delay does not guarantee approval or extend lawful stay; arrange filing with DEI before the current permission expires.
Checked 28 October 2026 against visually reviewed Decree 2026-049 and DEI's national public-service catalogue export, specifically active electronic version 0.6 of 5 July 2026, with current ANIP public CIPE/RAVIP instructions. The catalogue still exposes an older 2020 manual list; the current statutory and electronic-route file is used here. Inactive and in-design versions are excluded. DEI direct pages returned 503 and citizen-portal browser inspection was blocked; no private payment/application flow, government account, identity, upload or submission was tested. The published route is online fee payment followed by in-person DEI filing and collection; no guarantee of a fully remote procedure.
How to use this checklist
Start with the route facts first: citizenship, residence, application country, destination and purpose. Then review the document rows and order processing only where the row says it is required or optional.
Document requirements
| Document | Status | Scope | Evidence |
|---|---|---|---|
| Correct resident-card request form and eligibility check | required | legal use after arrival | Use the current request form for the correct ordinary/privileged and initial/renewal branch. Active service version 0.6 says obtain it through the DEI document library or directly at DEI; obtaining it at DEI remains the published alternative when the website is unavailable. Verify eligibility with the resident-card section before paying and complete the form accurately. Do not use a visa application or an obsolete temporary-card checklist as a replacement. |
| Passport copy: expiry more than one year after application | required | legal use after arrival | Provide a photocopy of the passport or travel document whose expiry is more than one year after the application date, under Article 20 and active version 0.6. This is not the visitor visa's six-month threshold. The current file does not prescribe a whole-passport copy, certified copy or copied-page count. If initial RNPP/RAVIP registration is still needed, ANIP lists a passport among its accepted identity documents; present the identity record in the format the agency actually requests. |
| Copy of the foreigner personal identification certificate (CIPE) | required | legal use after arrival | Provide the CIPE copy required by Article 20 and the active card file. ANIP's current service is for foreign residents and uses an existing RAVIP receipt or NPI to issue this identification certificate online or in person. It publishes three-year CIPE validity and a 1000FCFA service price; confirm the current request/validity before filing. First RNPP/RAVIP enrolment, if needed, is in person and separate from obtaining the certificate online. A citizen-only CIP, newborn birth slip or ANIP account acknowledgement is not automatically the requested adult foreigner certificate. |
| Birth certificate if initial RAVIP enrolment is still needed | conditional | legal use after arrival | If you are not yet enrolled in RNPP/RAVIP, ANIP's published enrolment service requires a birth certificate and an accepted identity document, including passport, at an agency in person. Enrolment is published as free with up to one week's processing. This is a prerequisite to obtaining the CIPE, not an extra universal residence-card attachment for someone already identified. Confirm the accepted foreign birth-certificate format and any language instructions with ANIP before ordering processing; the reviewed page does not specify blanket certified translation, notarisation or apostille. Beninese-parent records for a foreign-born child are not imposed on this adult Indian cohort. |
| Employment, income, job-promise, subsistence or third-party support proof | required | legal use after arrival | The active ordinary file and Article 20 list proof of employment or income-generating activity or a promise of employment contract or proof of subsistence means or a third-party guarantee of subsistence. Supply the evidence applicable to the actual case; these are alternatives, not a universal requirement to hold both a job and property. No fixed minimum balance, salary, bank-statement period or automatic employer-contract legalisation is established by this reviewed file. |
| Origin or last-residence criminal-record extract, or equivalent | required | legal use after arrival | For the first application Article 20 and the active ordinary file require a criminal-record extract from the country of origin or last residence, or an equivalent document. Obtain the appropriate record for your history; do not demand both countries' records as a universal rule. Follow the actual authority's format/language request. The current statutory and active electronic file do not state a universal three-month record age or automatic embassy legalisation. |
| Printed government application-fee receipt | required | legal use after arrival | Active version 0.6 directs online fee payment through the national service PS00409, then printing the receipt. Its published non-ECOWAS ordinary-card figure is 250000FCFA; use the actual current assessment, including any applicable statutory charges, rather than treating this as a guaranteed all-inclusive renewal price. The citizen portal blocked browser inspection during review; no checkout, account, payment method or transaction was tested. Government charges are separate from Enuncia services, and payment does not guarantee issue. Confirm the current payment route with DEI if access fails. |
| In-person DEI resident-card filing with the supporting file | required | legal use after arrival | After the eligibility check, gathering the records, online payment/printed receipt and completed form, attend the DEI resident-card section for the remaining formalities. The current service is not a complete remote residence application. Bring the required supporting file and follow the actual appointment or attendance instructions given by DEI; no unverified booking platform, mandatory biometric-photo upload or fixed interview process is invented. |
| Collection date/instructions and retained payment receipt | required | legal use after arrival | Active version 0.6 says return on the date indicated with the payment receipt to collect the card. Retain any additional filing acknowledgement or collection instruction actually issued by DEI and follow it. The catalogue publishes forty-five days, not guaranteed approval or an automatic lawful-stay extension. Check the actual issued category, details and validity: ordinary three years, privileged ten years under Article 19. Do not substitute the undated in-design version's wording for the active collection procedure. |
Processing route
- Correct resident-card request form and eligibility checkUse the current request form for the correct ordinary/privileged and initial/renewal branch. Active service version 0.6 says obtain it through the DEI document library or directly at DEI; obtaining it at DEI remains the published alternative when the website is unavailable. Verify eligibility with the resident-card section before paying and complete the form accurately. Do not use a visa application or an obsolete temporary-card checklist as a replacement. Follow the competent issuing/receiving authority's actual language and document-format instructions. The current card file does not establish blanket paid translation, notarisation, apostille or embassy authentication; none is selected automatically. 1. Prepare Correct resident-card request form and eligibility check in the format described above 2. Submit according to the linked official application instructions
- Passport copy: expiry more than one year after applicationProvide a photocopy of the passport or travel document whose expiry is more than one year after the application date, under Article 20 and active version 0.6. This is not the visitor visa's six-month threshold. The current file does not prescribe a whole-passport copy, certified copy or copied-page count. If initial RNPP/RAVIP registration is still needed, ANIP lists a passport among its accepted identity documents; present the identity record in the format the agency actually requests. Follow the competent issuing/receiving authority's actual language and document-format instructions. The current card file does not establish blanket paid translation, notarisation, apostille or embassy authentication; none is selected automatically. 1. Prepare Passport copy: expiry more than one year after application in the format described above 2. Submit according to the linked official application instructions
- Copy of the foreigner personal identification certificate (CIPE)Provide the CIPE copy required by Article 20 and the active card file. ANIP's current service is for foreign residents and uses an existing RAVIP receipt or NPI to issue this identification certificate online or in person. It publishes three-year CIPE validity and a 1000FCFA service price; confirm the current request/validity before filing. First RNPP/RAVIP enrolment, if needed, is in person and separate from obtaining the certificate online. A citizen-only CIP, newborn birth slip or ANIP account acknowledgement is not automatically the requested adult foreigner certificate. Follow the competent issuing/receiving authority's actual language and document-format instructions. The current card file does not establish blanket paid translation, notarisation, apostille or embassy authentication; none is selected automatically. 1. Prepare Copy of the foreigner personal identification certificate (CIPE) in the format described above 2. Submit according to the linked official application instructions
- Birth certificate if initial RAVIP enrolment is still neededProcessing route needs confirmation for the actual document language, type and location. If you are not yet enrolled in RNPP/RAVIP, ANIP's published enrolment service requires a birth certificate and an accepted identity document, including passport, at an agency in person. Enrolment is published as free with up to one week's processing. This is a prerequisite to obtaining the CIPE, not an extra universal residence-card attachment for someone already identified. Confirm the accepted foreign birth-certificate format and any language instructions with ANIP before ordering processing; the reviewed page does not specify blanket certified translation, notarisation or apostille. Beninese-parent records for a foreign-born child are not imposed on this adult Indian cohort. Follow the competent issuing/receiving authority's actual language and document-format instructions. The current card file does not establish blanket paid translation, notarisation, apostille or embassy authentication; none is selected automatically. 1. Prepare Birth certificate if initial RAVIP enrolment is still needed in the format described above 2. Submit according to the linked official application instructions
- Employment, income, job-promise, subsistence or third-party support proofThe active ordinary file and Article 20 list proof of employment or income-generating activity or a promise of employment contract or proof of subsistence means or a third-party guarantee of subsistence. Supply the evidence applicable to the actual case; these are alternatives, not a universal requirement to hold both a job and property. No fixed minimum balance, salary, bank-statement period or automatic employer-contract legalisation is established by this reviewed file. Follow the competent issuing/receiving authority's actual language and document-format instructions. The current card file does not establish blanket paid translation, notarisation, apostille or embassy authentication; none is selected automatically. 1. Prepare Employment, income, job-promise, subsistence or third-party support proof in the format described above 2. Submit according to the linked official application instructions
- Origin or last-residence criminal-record extract, or equivalentFor the first application Article 20 and the active ordinary file require a criminal-record extract from the country of origin or last residence, or an equivalent document. Obtain the appropriate record for your history; do not demand both countries' records as a universal rule. Follow the actual authority's format/language request. The current statutory and active electronic file do not state a universal three-month record age or automatic embassy legalisation. Follow the competent issuing/receiving authority's actual language and document-format instructions. The current card file does not establish blanket paid translation, notarisation, apostille or embassy authentication; none is selected automatically. 1. Prepare Origin or last-residence criminal-record extract, or equivalent in the format described above 2. Submit according to the linked official application instructions
- Printed government application-fee receiptActive version 0.6 directs online fee payment through the national service PS00409, then printing the receipt. Its published non-ECOWAS ordinary-card figure is 250000FCFA; use the actual current assessment, including any applicable statutory charges, rather than treating this as a guaranteed all-inclusive renewal price. The citizen portal blocked browser inspection during review; no checkout, account, payment method or transaction was tested. Government charges are separate from Enuncia services, and payment does not guarantee issue. Confirm the current payment route with DEI if access fails. Follow the competent issuing/receiving authority's actual language and document-format instructions. The current card file does not establish blanket paid translation, notarisation, apostille or embassy authentication; none is selected automatically. 1. Prepare Printed government application-fee receipt in the format described above 2. Submit according to the linked official application instructions
- In-person DEI resident-card filing with the supporting fileAfter the eligibility check, gathering the records, online payment/printed receipt and completed form, attend the DEI resident-card section for the remaining formalities. The current service is not a complete remote residence application. Bring the required supporting file and follow the actual appointment or attendance instructions given by DEI; no unverified booking platform, mandatory biometric-photo upload or fixed interview process is invented. Follow the competent issuing/receiving authority's actual language and document-format instructions. The current card file does not establish blanket paid translation, notarisation, apostille or embassy authentication; none is selected automatically. 1. Prepare In-person DEI resident-card filing with the supporting file in the format described above 2. Submit according to the linked official application instructions
- Collection date/instructions and retained payment receiptActive version 0.6 says return on the date indicated with the payment receipt to collect the card. Retain any additional filing acknowledgement or collection instruction actually issued by DEI and follow it. The catalogue publishes forty-five days, not guaranteed approval or an automatic lawful-stay extension. Check the actual issued category, details and validity: ordinary three years, privileged ten years under Article 19. Do not substitute the undated in-design version's wording for the active collection procedure. Follow the competent issuing/receiving authority's actual language and document-format instructions. The current card file does not establish blanket paid translation, notarisation, apostille or embassy authentication; none is selected automatically. 1. Prepare Collection date/instructions and retained payment receipt in the format described above 2. Submit according to the linked official application instructions
Official citations
- Benin public-service catalogue: DEI resident-card service PS00409Published JSON export: active eService version 0.6, activated 5 July 2026catis.xroad.bjLast checked 2026-10-28; evidence version benin-resident-service-active-0-6-20261028
The sole active electronic version is 0.6, activated 5 July 2026. Ordinary file: request form, old card for renewal, passport/travel-document copy expiring more than one year after application, CIPE copy, one of the employment/income/job-promise/subsistence/third-party-support proofs, origin/last-residence criminal extract or equivalent for first application, Benin extract for renewal, fee receipt. Privileged file names old card on renewal, CIPE/passport copies, Benin criminal extract and evidence of the relevant established basis. Published non-ECOWAS fees: ordinary 250000FCFA, privileged 800000FCFA; delay forty-five days. Process: verify eligibility, collect records, pay online and print receipt, complete form, attend DEI resident-card section, return on given date with payment receipt. Inactive electronic versions, the 2020 manual record and the undated in-design electronic version are not merged into this file.
- Benin Secretariat-General of Government: Decree 2026-049 of 4 March 2026Current national residence rules: Articles 15, 17–22 and 27, PDF pages 5–8sgg.gouv.bjLast checked 2026-10-28; evidence version benin-resident-decree-2026-049-20261028
Ordinary residence requires subsistence means/third-party guarantee or another legitimate interest, and good character. Ordinary cards last three years, privileged cards ten, renewable. Article 20 requires passport/travel-document copy with expiry more than one year from application, CIPE copy, income/employment/job-promise/subsistence/support proof, origin or last-residence criminal extract/equivalent for initial application, Benin criminal extract for renewal, fee receipt. Article 22 identifies the competent issuing authorities. Article 27 takes effect on signature and repeals contrary earlier provisions. The decree does not prescribe the old universal medical certificate, photographs, municipal residence endorsement, whole-passport copy or repatriation deposit in this ordinary file.
- Benin National Agency for Identification of Persons (ANIP)ANIP initial RNPP/RAVIP registration: rendered public service textanip.bjLast checked 2026-10-28; evidence version benin-anip-ravip-rendered-20261028
RAVIP enrolment is in person only, for citizens and residents. Birth certificate is mandatory; accepted identity records include passport. The additional Beninese-parent record is for the stated foreign-born-child case, not every adult foreign resident. Published enrolment cost is free, processing up to one week. Online CIPE issuance does not make initial enrolment a fully remote procedure.
- Benin National Agency for Identification of Persons (ANIP)ANIP foreigner identification certificate: rendered public service textanip.bjLast checked 2026-10-28; evidence version benin-anip-cipe-rendered-20261028
Foreign residents in Benin are eligible for the CIPE. The certificate records identification/registration in RNPP. Service is online or in person; request using RAVIP receipt or NPI (newborn birth-declaration alternative is outside the adult cohort). Published price 1000FCFA, immediate processing, CIPE validity three years. This rendered-body-text hash is not a raw HTML hash; no identity, account request or payment was submitted.
Exceptions
- Requirements and accepted document formats can change. Follow the linked authority for your exact purpose and application stage.
- Use row-level processing labels: translation, notarisation, apostille, embassy attestation and MEA or HRD attestation are not interchangeable.
Relevant Enuncia services
- Document checklist review
FAQs
Are all documents for Benin immigration / permanent residence automatically translated?
No. Translation is shown per document row because official sources may accept some documents as issued while requiring translation for others.
Can I order document processing from this checklist?
Build your checklist using the route facts first. A processing option can be selected only where supported by the document row. Rows needing language or authentication confirmation remain under review before pricing.
Related guides
- Benin destination guide
Destination overview for all published source-backed routes.