Citizenship by Marriage (Law No. 2022-32)

To qualify for citizenship through this pathway, you must satisfy several strict criteria regarding the duration of your marriage and your personal conduct.

• Marriage Duration: You must have been legally married to your Beninese spouse for at least five (5) years before you can submit your application. This time is calculated from the date of the legal ceremony, not from the start of your relationship or cohabitation.
• Validity of Marriage: Your marriage must be legally recognized in Benin. If you were married outside of Benin, the marriage must be transcribed into the Beninese civil status registers (registres d'état civil) to be valid for this application.
• Community of Life: You and your spouse must be living together (maintaining a communauté de vie) at the time the application is filed. Separation or divorce during the five-year waiting period disqualifies you.
• Spouse’s Status: Your spouse must have been a Beninese national at the time of the wedding and must have maintained that nationality throughout the five-year period.
• Good Character: You must have a clean criminal record. Applicants who have been convicted of serious crimes or acts deemed "against the state" will be rejected.
• Language and Integration: While there is no formal "integration test," all administrative procedures and interviews are conducted in French. You are expected to demonstrate a level of integration into Beninese society.