Benin has set up a national public key infrastructure (PKI) that gives every citizen a digital identity: a way to log in securely to government online services and to sign documents electronically. The Mobile ID Bénin app is the phone version. This guide explains what it is really for, how to get it and what you need to know before trying it from Belgium.
At a glance
- Publisher
- Government of Benin (portal run by ASIN, the agency for information systems and digital affairs)
- Price
- Free app; no published fee for the digital identity
- Devices
- Android. Announced for iPhone, but not found on the App Store
- Use
- Authentication on online services linked to the national PKI
- Requirements
- NPI, valid biometric identity card or CIP, phone for the SMS
- Processing time
- Two working days to create the digital identity
The three forms of digital identity
The official public services catalogue distinguishes three formats:
- Local ID: on a USB token or on the identity card, for signing and authentication;
- Virtual ID: stored securely on a server, for signing PDF documents remotely;
- Mobile ID: in the app, used only for authentication. The certificate is unlocked with a PIN, fingerprint or facial recognition.
To sign a document, then, you need Virtual ID. According to the portal, documents signed with these certificates have the same legal value as a handwritten signature, under Benin's digital code (code du numérique).
Getting your digital identity
You apply on identite-numerique.bj, which is open to Beninese citizens and residents. You need your NPI (find it with ANIP BJ), a valid biometric identity card or CIP, an e-mail address and a phone that receives the validation code by SMS. The portal uses the data recorded during the RAVIP (the administrative census for identification): if it is incorrect, you must first have it corrected by ANIP. The temporary password also arrives by SMS.
What to know before you start
Mobile ID has not been updated since August 2024 and has just over 1,000 downloads; its few reviews are negative. No public service publishes the list of procedures that accept it. For most everyday procedures, such as a passport or civil status records, your NPI and the code received by phone are enough.
From Belgium, no source says whether a foreign number is accepted for the validation SMS. If you need to sign a Beninese document electronically, contact ASIN support before starting the process.
Activating your digital identity on Mobile ID
- 1Create your digital identityOn identite-numerique.bj, in the registration section, enter your NPI, the code received by SMS, a photo and your e-mail address, then accept the terms. The temporary password is sent to you by SMS.
- 2Install Mobile IDDownload the app from Google Play and choose your PIN.
- 3Log in to the portalOn identite-numerique.bj, log in with your credentials (password and one-time code).
- 4Create your Mobile ID certificateClick “Créer une identité Mobile Id” (create a Mobile ID identity) and follow the instructions. A message confirms that the certificate has been created. You can then renew it yourself on the portal.
Screenshots : Mobile ID Bénin
Frequently asked questions
What is the Mobile ID Bénin app for?
Secure authentication on online services linked to the national public key infrastructure. Remote electronic signing goes through Virtual ID.
How do I get a digital identity in Benin?
Apply on identite-numerique.bj with your NPI, a valid biometric identity card or CIP and a phone for the SMS. The stated processing time is two working days.
Do I need an NPI for Mobile ID?
Yes. The portal uses your NPI to retrieve the information recorded during the RAVIP.
Is Mobile ID available on iPhone?
The portal says so, but the app could not be found on the App Store when we checked.
Does a Beninese electronic signature have legal value?
According to the digital identity portal, documents signed with a certificate from the national PKI have the same legal value as a handwritten signature. Recognition by a Belgian authority is not guaranteed: check with the authority concerned.
Sources
- Fiche Google Play de Mobile ID Bénin
- Portail de l'identité numérique : services
- Portail de l'identité numérique : avantages
- Catalogue des services publics : identité numérique (PS01333)
- ASIN : procédure de gestion des certificats PKI (PDF)
Guide checked in October 2026. The consulate does not publish any of these apps. For questions about how they work, contact the body that publishes them.