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Ordinary Resident Card - Income-Generating Activity

BeninStarting a business

Explore the five recorded questions, answers and sources for this pathway.

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Is this for a founder, startup entrepreneur, self-employed person, freelancer, company owner or another business profile?

The decree does not create a separate business or self-employment residence card. The ordinary resident status is open to a foreigner who shows means of subsistence, a guarantee of third-party support, or another legitimate interest to reside in Benin, and who is of good moral character. Among the documents for any resident card, the applicant provides proof of employment or of an income-generating activity, or of a promise of an employment contract, or proof of means of subsistence or of a third-party guarantee. The official source does not name a founder, startup entrepreneur, self-employed, freelancer or company-owner profile for the ordinary resident card.

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Limits of the record
  • The official source does not state the complete answer to this question for this route.

What must actually exist or be demonstrated: business plan, company, innovation, clients, contracts, economic activity, job creation or other substance?

Under Article 17, the applicant must justify means of subsistence or a guarantee of third-party support, or have another legitimate interest to reside in Benin, and must be of good moral character. The decree does not require a business plan, company registration, innovation, clients, contracts, economic activity or job creation for this status.

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Limits of the record
  • The captured decree is not a complete route dossier; additional procedural, family, fee, exemption, employer, institution, or effective-date details may require other official sources.
  • Decree No. 2026-049, Article 17
    Peut bénéficier du statut de résident ordinaire, I’étranger qui remplit les conditions suivantes : - justifier de moyens de subsistance ou d’une garantie de prise en charge par un tiers, des moyens de subsistance ou avoir tout autre intérét légitime a résider au Bénin ; - jouir d’une bonne moralité.

What investment, capital, income, revenue, funding or viability evidence is central to this pathway?

Article 17 requires means of subsistence, or a guarantee of third-party support, and good moral character; the decree does not set an investment amount, capital, income, revenue or viability threshold for this route.

See recorded sources
Limits of the record
  • The captured decree is not a complete route dossier; additional procedural, family, fee, exemption, employer, institution, or effective-date details may require other official sources.
  • Decree No. 2026-049, Article 17
    Peut bénéficier du statut de résident ordinaire, I’étranger qui remplit les conditions suivantes : - justifier de moyens de subsistance ou d’une garantie de prise en charge par un tiers, des moyens de subsistance ou avoir tout autre intérét légitime a résider au Bénin ; - jouir d’une bonne moralité.

What business/self-employed activity may the holder conduct? Are there important restrictions? What is the family position where clearly stated?

Article 16 gives resident foreigners in Benin the same rights and freedoms as Beninese citizens. The official source does not establish a route-specific activity restriction or family-inclusion rule.

See recorded sources
Limits of the record
  • The captured decree is not a complete route dossier; additional procedural, family, fee, exemption, employer, institution, or effective-date details may require other official sources.

What approval/application sequence applies, how long is the status granted, how is it renewed, and what longer-term residence direction is officially stated?

The ordinary resident card is valid for three years and is renewable; after two renewals, privileged status may be possible if Article 18 conditions are met. The official source does not state the application sequence.

See recorded sources
Limits of the record
  • The captured decree is not a complete route dossier; additional procedural, family, fee, exemption, employer, institution, or effective-date details may require other official sources.

These are the answers currently recorded in the catalogue. A missing or partial answer is not an eligibility decision.

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