Benin: Knowledge Base profile
Updated 12 March 2026
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About: Benin
This document contains useful information about Benin which will assist His Majesty’s Passport Office staff process passport applications.
Contacts
If you have any questions about the document and your line manager or senior caseworker cannot help you or you think that the document has factual errors then email the Guidance team.
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Publication
Below is information on when this version of the document was published:
- version 3.0
- published for Home Office staff on 02 March 2026
Changes from last version of this document
This document has been updated with information about parental responsibility in Benin.
Benin: names
This section gives HM Passport Office operational staff information about names in Benin.
Change of name
A person can add or remove a forename at a local court:
- where they were born
- in Cotonou, Benin; if they were born outside of Benin.
Benin: nationality
This section gives HM Passport Office operational staff information about nationality in Benin.
Dual nationality is recognised in Benin.
Benin: legitimacy and parental responsibility
This section gives HM Passport Office operational staff information about legitimacy in Benin.
Legitimacy
Benin recognises a difference between legitimate and illegitimate births.
A child will be considered:
- legitimate if the parents:
- were married at the time of the birth
- marry after the date of birth and the biological father acknowledges paternity through the courts
- illegitimate if their parents never marry
Parental responsibility
In Benin, a child’s:
- mother automatically has parental responsibility for her child unless it is removed by a court
- father will have parental responsibility if he:
- is married to the mother; or,
- is not married to the mother but is named on the birth certificate; or,
- has a court order granting him parental responsibility