POSTERN

Benin

Ordinary resident card backed by employment. A US citizen with an existing job or promise of a labour contract can document that basis for the ordinary resident card, alongside good character, passport or travel document valid more than one year, foreigner identification certificate, first-application criminal record and fee receipt. Employment authorization, where required, follows the separate employment rules.

Free, with the law behind every answer

Ordinary resident card backed by employment

Three-year renewable ordinary residence if approved. The resident card does not grant unrestricted employment rights.

Who qualifies

  • A US citizen with an existing job or promise of a labour contract can document that basis for the ordinary resident card, alongside good character, passport or travel document valid more than one year, foreigner identification certificate, first-application criminal record and fee receipt. Employment authorization, where required, follows the separate employment rules.
    Benin Presidency, decree 2026-049, arts. 17 and 19-22

You keep your U.S. citizenship.

1

Does it fit your family?

One question, from the program’s own rules.

Do you have a binding job offer in that country?

Not legal advice.

2

What it takes.

Time
Processing runs from submission of the complete file to the issuing authority’s decision.
Cost
Budget for the application documents, certification, police or medical records and travel in addition to any charge collected at filing.
The hard part
Securing a genuine employer commitment and the separate employment authorization.
3

Citizens by 2031.

If your first permit is issued in 2027 and you keep living there, this is the road.

  1. 2027
    First residence permit

    3 years, renewable for 3 years at a time.

  2. 2030
    Apply for citizenship

    With a language test and a civics test.

  3. 2031
    Citizenship
Language
Sufficient knowledge of French or a Beninese language as part of assimilation.
Civics
Knowledge of Beninese culture and society and the rights, duties and essential values of the Republic.
Time away
Habitual lawful residence in Benin for the three years before applying, with assimilation and good character; the Council of Ministers decides by decree.
Two passports
Yes. You keep your U.S. citizenship.
  • Three years on the ordinary work-backed residence card can reach the naturalisation threshold, subject to assimilation and separate work authorization.
  • How long the decision takes isn’t published; we allow a year.
The law behind these dates
4

Living there.

Time you must spend there
The program sets no minimum number of days. Renewal still expects it to be your home.
Tax
Where you become tax resident follows the days you spend there and where your home is. We map it for your family before you move.

We never file a tax return. We tell you what applies and brief the professional who does.

5

Start today.

  1. Secure the employer’s offer and supporting records, then begin the published work or residence application.Open sgg.gouv.bj ↗
  2. Gather these documents.
    • The signed job offer, salary, and recognized qualifications
    • Request your FBI Identity History Summary
    • Health cover for the move
6

Postern can’t run this for you yet.

The official application forms, submission and recovery specification are not complete. Postern cannot run this application yet.

Options open to you today →
7
ISSUED TO

YOUR FAMILY

Cover