The President of Benin, Patrice Talon, has just promulgated Law No. 2022-32 of December 20, 2022, revising the nationality code in the Republic of Benin and adopted by the National Assembly on November 29.
This law establishes the conditions for the attribution, acquisition, declaration, loss, forfeiture and reinstatement of Beninese nationality.
Is considered as Beninese, the child born of a father or a mother of Beninese nationality; any child born in Benin or whose birth certificate was drawn up on Beninese territory, as well as any abandoned child who was found on Beninese soil.
Nationality is considered to be the « legal and political link which attaches a natural person to a State ». It is obtained either by filiation (transmitted by a Beninese man or a Beninese woman to his descendants under the conditions set by law); either by adoption; by declaration; or by naturalization (granted to a foreigner under certain conditions including proof of a main residence in Benin for the last 5 years preceding the application).
It can also be obtained by marriage. The foreign spouse acquires Beninese nationality after a probationary period of five (5) years from the celebration of the marriage. When the marriage was celebrated abroad, the probationary period runs from the transcription of the act in the civil status registers of Beninese diplomatic or consular agents.
Benin authorizes the cumulation of nationalities. The revised Beninese Nationality Code enshrines equality between men and women in accordance with the Beninese Constitution.
By OMA Newsletter No. 1017 of 01/20/2023
Article published under the direction of Dr. Najib Kettani
The OMA, NGO with an Intercontinental vocation
For the development of cultural exchanges
Valuing human potential
The promotion and consolidation of Africa’s development, and
Inter-African integration
