Benin
Warnings and insurance
Download a more detailed map (PDF)
Your travel insurance could be invalidated if you travel against advice from the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO).
Areas where FCDO advises against travel
Northern border regions
FCDO advises against all travel to the Parc du W National Park and the hunting zones of Mékrou and Djona. The park is tri-national, sharing an open border with Burkina Faso and Niger. There is a risk of terrorist attacks and kidnapping throughout the park.
FCDO also advises against all travel to:
- the area between the Parc du W and the border with Niger
- the Pendjari National Park and adjacent hunting grounds
- all other areas within 5km of the border with Burkina Faso
Eastern Benin
FCDO advises against all but essential travel to the area between the Interstate Highway (RNIE) 2 from Tchaourou to Malanville and the Benin-Nigeria border, due to increasing criminality.
Find out more about why FCDO advises against travel.
Before you travel
No travel can be guaranteed safe. Read all the advice in this guideguide. andYou anymay specificalso travelfind adviceit thathelpful applies to you:to:
- see general advice for women travellers
- read our
disabledguide travellerson disability and travel abroad
- see general advice for LGBT+ travellers
- read about safety for solo and independent travel
- see advice on volunteering and adventure travel abroad
Travel insurance
If you choose to travel, research your destinations and get appropriate travel insurance. Insurance should cover your itinerary, planned activities and expenses in an emergency.
About FCDO travel advice
FCDO provides advice about risks of travel to help Britishyou nationals make informed decisions. Find out more about FCDO travel advice.
Follow
Get andtravel contactadvice FCDOupdates
Sign travelup onto get Twitter,email Facebooknotifications when andthis Instagram.travel Youadvice canis alsoupdated.
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Update history
2025-12-15 16:50
FCDO now advises against all but essential travel to the remaining areas of the Alibori and Atacora departments. FCDO continues to advise against all but essential travel and all travel to other areas in Benin (‘Warnings and insurance’ page).
2025-12-10 13:08
New information about dual nationals returning to the UK (‘Entry requirements’ page).
2025-12-07 11:14
Latest update: Update on the attempt coup (See ‘Political situation’ on the ‘Safety and security’ page)
2025-06-02 11:18
This travel advice was reviewed for style and accuracy.
2025-05-15 16:17
Updated information about the general risks from terrorism (‘Safety and security’ page).
2024-03-04 14:31
This travel advice has been rewritten to make it easier to read and understand.
2023-06-22 11:30
Information about the global terrorism risks to British nationals abroad on all FCDO travel advice pages.
2023-03-17 10:26
Removal of outdated information (‘Coronavirus’ page), updated information on curfews (‘Safety and security’ page) and updated information on visas to neighbouring Togo (‘Entry requirements’ page).
2022-07-06 11:54
Updated information on the lifting of COVID testing requirements for entry and departure (‘Entry requirements’ page)
2022-06-15 14:51
Update to information and advice on the threat from terrorism in Benin, reflecting an increased threat (‘Summary’ and ‘Terrorism’ pages)
2022-05-19 15:00
Factual update about the re-opening of the land border with Togo to fully vaccinated travellers (‘Entry requirements’ page ‘If you are transiting Benin’ section)
Warnings and insurance
Your travel insurance could be invalidated if you travel against advice from the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO).
Areas where FCDO advises against travel
Northern border regions
FCDO advises against all travel to the Parc du W National Park and the hunting zones of Mékrou and Djona. The park is tri-national, sharing an open border with Burkina Faso and Niger. There is a risk of terrorist attacks and kidnapping throughout the park.
FCDO also advises against all travel to:
- the area between the Parc du W and the border with Niger
- the Pendjari National Park and adjacent hunting grounds
- all other areas within 5km of the border with Burkina Faso
Eastern Benin
FCDO advises against all but essential travel to the area between the Interstate Highway (RNIE) 2 from Tchaourou to Malanville and the Benin-Nigeria border, due to increasing criminality.
Find out more about why FCDO advises against travel.
Before you travel
No travel can be guaranteed safe. Read all the advice in this guideguide. andYou anymay specificalso travelfind adviceit thathelpful applies to you:to:
- see general advice for women travellers
- read our
disabledguidetravellerson disability and travel abroad - see general advice for LGBT+ travellers
- read about safety for solo and independent travel
- see advice on volunteering and adventure travel abroad
Travel insurance
If you choose to travel, research your destinations and get appropriate travel insurance. Insurance should cover your itinerary, planned activities and expenses in an emergency.
About FCDO travel advice
FCDO provides advice about risks of travel to help Britishyou nationals make informed decisions. Find out more about FCDO travel advice.
Follow
Get andtravel contactadvice FCDOupdates
Sign travelup onto get Twitter,email Facebooknotifications when andthis Instagram.travel Youadvice canis alsoupdated.
Follow signFCDO:
Update history
2025-12-15 16:50
FCDO now advises against all but essential travel to the remaining areas of the Alibori and Atacora departments. FCDO continues to advise against all but essential travel and all travel to other areas in Benin (‘Warnings and insurance’ page).
2025-12-10 13:08
New information about dual nationals returning to the UK (‘Entry requirements’ page).
2025-12-07 11:14
Latest update: Update on the attempt coup (See ‘Political situation’ on the ‘Safety and security’ page)
2025-06-02 11:18
This travel advice was reviewed for style and accuracy.
2025-05-15 16:17
Updated information about the general risks from terrorism (‘Safety and security’ page).
2024-03-04 14:31
This travel advice has been rewritten to make it easier to read and understand.
2023-06-22 11:30
Information about the global terrorism risks to British nationals abroad on all FCDO travel advice pages.
2023-03-17 10:26
Removal of outdated information (‘Coronavirus’ page), updated information on curfews (‘Safety and security’ page) and updated information on visas to neighbouring Togo (‘Entry requirements’ page).
2022-07-06 11:54
Updated information on the lifting of COVID testing requirements for entry and departure (‘Entry requirements’ page)
2022-06-15 14:51
Update to information and advice on the threat from terrorism in Benin, reflecting an increased threat (‘Summary’ and ‘Terrorism’ pages)
2022-05-19 15:00
Factual update about the re-opening of the land border with Togo to fully vaccinated travellers (‘Entry requirements’ page ‘If you are transiting Benin’ section)