Every document and every task for a Benin citizenship by descent application under Law No. 2024-31, in the order they actually need to happen.
Built for the African diaspora, including African Americans, tracing lineage back to Benin and West Africa.
The tracker above tells you what to do. It does not explain why, or what I actually did when the process got confusing, apostilles, the translation gray area, the portal itself. I wrote all of that up separately, plus the real templates I used. None of this is required to use the free tracker, it's just here if you want it.
I built this while going through the process myself, because I could not find a single place that laid out what you actually need and in what order.
I marked things Required, Recommended, and Optional based on my own application, and I want to be upfront that those labels are my best read, not the official word.
A lot of this is situational. Depending on your lineage, the records that exist for your family, and what the platform actually asks you for, things I marked Required may not apply to you at all. Some of the translations and apostilles listed may never come up in your case.
So treat it as a list of everything that could come up rather than a list of things you must produce. Honestly, its main use for me was keeping track of what I had already done, and that is probably what it will be best for you too.
Apostilles and certified French translations may not be required to upload. The portal may accept your documents without them.
They may be still required when you petition in person in Benin. Do not read the upload accepting you as permission to skip them.
Law No. 2024-31 is new and the application process is being actively refined. This tracker carries a version number, and updated versions are free.
Always confirm current requirements at myafroorigins.bj. This organizes the process. It does not replace the official source.
I made it. I am a systems engineer, and organizing complicated multi-step processes is literally my job. I was going through this application anyway, so I built the tracker as I went.
It is free because it should be. There is no email signup, no upsell inside it, and nothing to buy. If it saves you the reverse-engineering it saved me, that is the whole point.
If you spot something wrong or the process changes on you, tell me and I will update it.
This is an educational organizing tool, not legal or immigration advice. I am not a lawyer and I am not affiliated with the Beninese government or with myafroorigins.bj. Your situation may need documents this does not list.
Yes. This tracker was built with the African diaspora in mind, including African Americans, since Benin's Law No. 2024-31 is aimed at people who can trace their lineage to the region, wherever they live now.
No lawyer is required. The process is designed to be self-service through the portal, though some applicants choose a consultant for document review before submitting.
Timelines vary by applicant, but some have received their Certificate of Eligibility within roughly six weeks of submission, with the presidential decree following shortly after.
Each applicant submits an independent application, even when family members share the same ancestral line. There is no automatic extension to a spouse or children through one person's application alone.
Benin recognizes dual citizenship, so it does not require giving up US citizenship. If you hold a security clearance, disclosure to your facility security officer is required.
Acceptable evidence includes AncestryDNA or similar accredited genetic testing, along with genealogical documentation such as birth and death certificates tracing your lineage.
The portal allows correction requests during review. This tracker cannot tell you how your specific case will be handled, since that depends on the reviewer and your documents.
This process is still evolving. If you'd like an email when something major shifts, or when the guide and toolkit get a real update, drop your email below. No spam, I'll only send something when there's actually something worth saying.
Both versions are the same content. Pick whichever suits how you work.