Oui da Benin
say "yes" da Benin / dis "oui" au Bénin
A play on the name of the city of Ouidah – and "da," the Soulaani pronunciation of "the" and (in this case) "to". Soulaani is an autonym (a self-determined name) chosen by the ethnic group otherwise known as Black American, African American, Negro, Colored, or Freedmen.
By us, for us
As applicants ourselves, we know the questions. Now it's time for some answers! We help Afro-descendants around the world navigate the official process of having their Beninese citizenship recognized via myafroorigins.bj – run the most popular questions by our chatbot and get answers based on official information shared by Benin, the MyAfroOrigins support team, and feedback from countless applicants.
For more in-depth questions that no one has the answers to yet, fill in the tracker. The more of us who contribute the most comprehensive feedback possible, the more this data can benefit current and future applicants.
Not sure if we can help? Ask the bot – it's powered by the same expertise behind this site.
The Program
Under Law N° 2024-31 (amended 2025), the Republic of Benin officially recognizes citizenship for Afro-descendants – people whose ancestors were trafficked away from Africa as part of the African slave trade, including the Trans-Atlantic trade and Indian Ocean, Red Sea, and Trans-Saharan routes.
Who Can Apply
Anyone 18 or older who is a citizen of a non-African country – and neither you nor your parents hold citizenship of an African country – and who can prove an ancestor of Afro-descent was born in an area where enslaved Africans were trafficked to. You don't need to trace back to slavery – one ancestor born before 1944 is enough.
Where your ancestors were taken
An official list of recognized deportation territories exists, but it is widely considered incomplete – it is missing several key areas. The law itself is broader than the list. Apply based on the law, regardless of whether your country appears on it. Italy is not on the list, and per official support, applications based on Italy are unlikely to succeed – but if you can genuinely document an ancestor trafficked there before 1944, it may still be worth applying and letting the decision-makers judge. São Tomé and Mauritius are on the list, but their own citizens are not eligible – only people who hold citizenship of a non-African country but have ancestral ties there.
Mexico and Panama are not on the list by name, but applicants from both countries have been approved – Mexico falls under the historical colonial designations of "Antilles" or "Honduras" on the official list. Territories not explicitly named aren't automatically excluded.
✦ Lesser-known territories – you may be eligible even if you didn't expect it
10 steps from account to ceremony
The process originally was expected to take about 3 months, but now takes significantly longer. Plan accordingly.
Start your application at myafroorigins.bj
Your application date is set the day you START your application – not the day you submit. Starting it early effectively moves you ahead in line. Once you begin filling out the form, that date is locked in.
Gather all documents except the background check
Get everything else ready first. The background check is time-sensitive and should be the last thing you do.
Get your criminal background check
From your country of residence. Must be issued within 3 months of when the government first reviews your application – get it right before submitting.
Do not get this early - it expires!
Submit your application
Online at myafroorigins.bj. Application fee: $100 USD. Max file size: 2MB per file.
Reach Validated Level 1
The 3-month clock starts here. Many applicants never receive the Level 1 email – check your status manually on the platform regularly.
Receive your Certificate of Eligibility
Confirms you are eligible but does not yet grant citizenship. Valid for 3 years. You'll get an email when it's ready – it can be downloaded directly from the website.
Wait for your Decree
A separate official document from the Ministry of Justice and Ministry of Foreign Affairs, issued in batches – can take 3+ months after the certificate. You'll receive it by email, nothing to do except wait – if it seems overdue, email support to ask for a resend.
You need the decree before you can book your spot at the citizenship ceremony in Benin.
Book your appointment
Once you have the decree, book your spot at the citizenship ceremony in Benin. Go to the ANIP office (the National ID Agency) once you arrive to complete registration.
You'll also need to get a Beninese SIM to use local payment apps in order to pay for your documents.
Travel to Benin to complete the process
At ANIP, register your biometrics to get your NPI (National Personal Identification Number) – required for the ceremony and for Beninese documents like your birth certificate transcription and CIP-A. Bring your eligibility certificate, decree, birth certificate, passport, and a visa if required, plus a phone with an active Beninese SIM that can receive SMS. Yellow Fever vaccination is required for anyone over 9 months old. Plan to stay 1–2 weeks.
Under the 2025 law, citizenship is transmissible to minor children via a recognized parent, but not all ANIP employees are aware of the process yet – be prepared to advocate for yourself.
Attend the citizenship ceremony
Receive your nationality certificate! Once recognized as a citizen, you can apply for a Beninese passport. Most people opt for the expedited VIP service – you may even receive it at the ceremony itself! The standard option requires going in person to the DEI (Emigration & Immigration Office) in Cotonou. Passports are identical to those of any other Beninese citizen.
Register for the ceremony at forms.justice.bj/afro-descendants – approved applicants who complete this will receive an invitation with ceremony details, fees, and logistics.
What you need to apply
Required
- Proof of Afro-descendant status
- Criminal background check (from country of residence – get this last)
- Valid ID
- Proof of address
- Proof of employment or occupation
Optional but helpful
- Additional genealogical records
- DNA test from a Benin-accredited lab
- Notarized letters vouching for your Afro-descent
- Church or parish records
- Census records, newspapers, obituaries
- Plantation records, UNESCO archives
Share your progress
Help build the most comprehensive picture of how long this process actually takes – and learn from others who've been through it. Share your timeline, your documents, your tips, and your experience in Benin. Anonymous by default. Each of us is a piece of the puzzle. The more of us who contribute the most comprehensive feedback possible, the more this data can benefit future applicants.
Not sure where to start?
Ask in English, French, Spanish, Portuguese, Dutch, or German.
Oui da Benin FAQ chatbot — questions about Beninese citizenship for Afro-descendants
Have a question?
If you have questions, you're welcome to reach out. We're also happy to hear from anyone who can help improve the translations on this site to make it accessible to as many eligible applicants as possible, or who has suggestions to improve the usefulness of the tracker for current and future applicants.
We speak English and French. You're welcome to reach out in other languages too, but we may need to communicate via translation. Dutch and German translations are already live – more languages are coming soon. If you can help improve any translation on this site, or if you speak Haitian Creole, Antillean Creole, Papiamentu, Sranan Tongo, or another language spoken by eligible communities, please reach out.