[Please refer to How to Read a Country Entry for help interpreting this material. It was produced prior to March 2001 as part of a US government report entitled Citizenship Laws of the World. The accuracy and depth of these country listings varies significantly, and some information may be incorrect. At best, this page presents only part of the story for a particular country. Additional information for this country may be available in Country Information]

BENIN

CITIZENSHIP: Citizenship is based upon the Law of Civil Rights.

BY BIRTH: Birth within the territory of Benin does not automatically confer citizenship. The exception is a child born to stateless or unknown parents.

BY DESCENT: Child of a Beninese mother or father, regardless of the country of birth.

BY NATURALIZATION: Beninese citizenship may be acquired upon fulfillment of the following conditions: Person must have obtained the right to permanently reside in the country, and then have resided there for at least 10 years.

DUAL CITIZENSHIP: RECOGNIZED.

LOSS OF CITIZENSHIP:

VOLUNTARY: Voluntary renunciation of Beninese citizenship is permitted by law. Person must be at least 21 years old. Contact the Embassy for details and required paperwork.

INVOLUNTARY: The following are grounds for involuntary loss of naturalized Beninese citizenship: Naturalized citizenship was obtained through fraud or false statement. If naturalized citizen is convicted and jailed for a serious offense (and if the person will be deported after sentence is served).

ANY QUESTIONS concerning citizenship, or requests for renunciation of citizenship, should be directed to the address below:

Embassy of the Republic of Benin Consular Section 2737 Cathedral Ave., NW Washington, DC 20008

Embassy/Consular Telephone: 202-232-6656 Fax: 202-265-1996

Copyright (C) 2002-2007 All rights reserved.