Renewing your biometric identity card online is now possible in Benin: since September 2026, renewal of the national biometric identity card (CNIB) can be started on the e-services of the National Agency for the Identification of Persons (ANIP). You apply on a computer or through the ANIP BJ mobile app. Collecting the card, however, still requires a visit in person.
What ANIP announced
The announcement was made in Parakou, during International Identity Day in mid-September. The aim is simple: fewer trips for holders whose card needs renewing. The eservices.anip.bj platform is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
A renewal can have several causes. These include an expired card, a change in identity data or a civil status correction. Loss, theft or damage to the card are also covered. In addition, you can apply for yourself or for a relative.
The CNIB at a glance
| Item | What ANIP states |
|---|---|
| Who must hold it | Every Beninese citizen aged 18 or over; a minor may obtain one at the request of a parent or guardian |
| Fee | 6,000 FCFA |
| Validity | 5 years |
| Format | Card with an electronic chip and barcode, linked to the national identification system |
| Processing | Manual validation by ANIP, unlike most documents, which are issued automatically |
Renewing your biometric identity card online: the steps
- Log in to your personal account on eservices.anip.bj or in the ANIP BJ app, after verifying your identity.
- Select the service for the biometric identity card.
- Enter the requested information and upload your documents.
- Pay the 6,000 FCFA fee online.
- Track your application in the « Mes documents » section.
- Once the request is approved, collect the card in person.
Documents to prepare
- a secure birth certificate (required);
- a copy of the personal identification certificate (CIP) (required);
- an identity photo (required);
- proof of profession (optional);
- proof of blood group (optional).
The secure birth certificate and the CIP can also be requested on ANIP's e-services. However, you must already be registered in the national register of natural persons.
How RAVIP and the CIP fit in
Everything starts with RAVIP, the administrative census that gives every Beninese citizen a personal identification number (NPI). Without an NPI, neither the CIP nor the CNIB is available online. In Belgium, an ANIP mission came to Liège at the end of 2023: read our article on the RAVIP mission in Liège.
The CIP then plays a pivotal role. It is a supporting document for the CNIB, and also for passport renewal through ePASS. Finally, keep your e-services login details safe: they work for all ANIP documents.
Collection: the real question for the diaspora
ANIP is clear: the card must be collected by the applicant in person. Someone else may only do so with authorisation from ANIP's Directorate General. Going digital therefore does not cover the whole process.
For Beninese citizens living in Europe, this matters. In its announcement, ANIP does not mention any collection point abroad. In 2021, however, the government stated that the consular section of the Embassy of Benin in France, in Paris, offered RAVIP enrolment and on-site issue of the secure birth certificate, the CIP and the CNIB. These arrangements may have changed since.
Before paying, ask ANIP where you will be able to collect your card. The agency's helpdesk answers on WhatsApp at +229 01 48 50 00 00. You can also write to the Embassy of Benin in Belgium from your personal account.
What this means for Beninese citizens in Belgium
In practice, you can now prepare your application from Belgium, without visiting a counter. This is useful if you plan a stay in Benin: the request can be approved before you arrive, and you collect the card on site. If you are not travelling, however, first check whether collection at a diplomatic mission is possible.
For travel outside the ECOWAS area, the CNIB does not replace a passport. Consider renewing your passport with ePASS or see our biometric passport page. Free consular registration is also available on iDiaspora. At the Liège consulate, the consular card remains the reference document for your applications. Need help with a file? Contact our staff, who will set up an appointment.
Sources
- ANIP: Carte d'identité biométrique (documents, fee, validity, collection)
- ANIP: E-services platform
- Bénin Web TV: La carte d'identité biométrique peut désormais être renouvelée en ligne (September 2026)
- We Are Tech: Le Bénin numérise le renouvellement de la carte d'identité biométrique (September 2026)
- SRTB: Comment renouveler sa carte d'identité biométrique en ligne
- Government of Benin: Enrôlement des Béninois de la diaspora Europe au RAVIP (June 2021)
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