Eligibility Quiz
Are you 18 years of age or older?
Requirements
To qualify for this pathway, you must meet specific criteria regarding your age, your ancestral history, and the timing of your family's displacement from Africa.
- Age: You must be at least 18 years old.
- Historical Lineage: You must prove you have a sub-Saharan African ancestor who was deported from the African continent as part of the transatlantic slave trade.
- The "1944 Rule": This pathway is specifically for the descendants of the historical slave trade. If your ancestors migrated from Africa to the Americas or Europe after 1944 for economic or personal reasons, you are ineligible for this specific recognition.
- Nationality Restrictions: This pathway is generally not available to current nationals of other sub-Saharan African states, as they are typically covered under ECOWAS (Economic Community of West African States) protocols or standard naturalization laws.
- Direct Descent: Once an individual is recognized as an Afro-descendant under this law, their direct descendants are also eligible to establish their lineage through them.
- Security Clearance: You must have a clean criminal record and must not be deemed a threat to the national security of Benin.
Conditions & Warnings
Ancestors who migrated after 1944 are excluded; the lineage must trace specifically to the transatlantic slave trade era.
The initial Certificate of Eligibility is valid for only 3 years; you must travel to Benin in person within this window to finalize citizenship.
DNA tests are only accepted as supporting evidence and must be from laboratories accredited by the Republic of Benin.
Qualifications
No language requirement, but documents not in French must be translated by an accredited translator.
Fees
Equivalent in CFA accepted. Does not include costs for mandatory travel to Benin to finalize.