Benin BJ
Benin's ANAC (Agence Nationale de l'Aviation Civile) requires authorisation for every drone operation regardless of size or purpose, submitted through its online e-Services portal. For visitors this takes the form of a temporary authorisation that should be applied for at least 30 days before arrival, is valid up to 90 days (extendable), and requires a flight plan, drone/pilot details, and temporary third-party liability insurance. Processing for the lightest category (under 5 kg) is reported at 2–3 weeks. This is a realistic but slow process for a tourist — plan well ahead, since an undeclared or unauthorised drone is typically confiscated at customs.
Your plan
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2 things to sort out before you fly
- Register your drone in Benin
Registration/authorisation is required for every drone via ANAC's online e-Services portal, using a 9-category system based on maximum take-off weight (under 5 kg / 5–25 kg / over 25 kg) crossed with use (recreational, private, commercial). No public fee schedule specific to a tourist's temporary authorisation was confirmed; the commercial fee (~600,000 XOF/€915 for 6 months) is separate and likely not what applies to a short personal visit. Allow about 30 days before your trip.
- Carry liability insurance
Required. Check that your policy covers flights in Benin.
- Bringing your drone in
No drone-specific duty-free personal allowance was confirmed. Visitors are expected to obtain ANAC's temporary authorisation before arrival and declare the drone at customs together with that authorisation; without it, confiscation is the typically reported outcome. A temporary ANAC authorisation, applied for at least 30 days in advance, is the functional import/use certification for visitors — it should specify intended flight locations and dates and be accompanied by a flight plan and temporary insurance proof. Batteries: No Benin-specific lithium-battery rule was found; standard international air-travel limits apply.
- Before each flight
All drone operations in Benin require ANAC authorisation ('Autorisation d'Exploitation de Drones'), regardless of purpose or size, submitted online via ANAC's e-Services portal with an applicant form and supporting documentation (Appendix 3) · Flight altitude is capped at 100 m (328 ft) AGL for standard operations · Visual line of sight is mandatory for standard operations; beyond-visual-line-of-sight (BVLOS) requires special authorisation and, for higher-risk operations, a SORA-style risk analysis aligned with EASA standards
Flying
- All drone operations in Benin require ANAC authorisation ('Autorisation d'Exploitation de Drones'), regardless of purpose or size, submitted online via ANAC's e-Services portal with an applicant form and supporting documentation (Appendix 3)
- Flight altitude is capped at 100 m (328 ft) AGL for standard operations
- Visual line of sight is mandatory for standard operations; beyond-visual-line-of-sight (BVLOS) requires special authorisation and, for higher-risk operations, a SORA-style risk analysis aligned with EASA standards
- Minimum distance of 10 km from all aerodromes, including Cotonou-Cadjèhoun airport
- Restricted/sensitive areas include classified industrial sites, public events, UNESCO heritage sites, and protected zones in the Atacora and Borgou regions (e.g. national parks)
- Third-party liability insurance is described as mandatory for all operations, including tourist/temporary ones
Commercial use: Commercial operators need an ANAC-certified pilot with a verifiable certification number and a per-site flight authorisation for each mission (processing reported at 7–10 business days per mission on top of the base authorisation). The baseline ANAC commercial operating authorisation is reported at around 600,000 XOF (~€915), valid 6 months; higher weight categories and BVLOS/SORA-type operations face longer processing (Category 2: 4–8 weeks; Category 3: 8–12 weeks).
Registration & classes
| Registration | Yes (all drones) Registration/authorisation is required for every drone via ANAC's online e-Services portal, using a 9-category system based on maximum take-off weight (under 5 kg / 5–25 kg / over 25 kg) crossed with use (recreational, private, commercial). No public fee schedule specific to a tourist's temporary authorisation was confirmed; the commercial fee (~600,000 XOF/€915 for 6 months) is separate and likely not what applies to a short personal visit. |
|---|---|
| Pilot test | Sometimes ANAC pilot certification (mandatory for commercial operators; not mandatory but recommended for recreational/private). Formal pilot training/certification is not mandatory for recreational or private categories, though ANAC recommends it. Commercial operators must use an ANAC-certified pilot with a verifiable certification number and keep training records. |
| Remote ID | Unknown No Remote ID broadcast requirement was confirmed in available sources. |
| Insurance | Yes Third-party liability insurance is reported as mandatory for all drone operations in Benin, including temporary/tourist authorisations, which is stricter than most neighbouring countries. |
| Foreign registration accepted | No Visitor ('tourist') authorisations are reported valid up to 90 days, with extension options if you need to stay longer. Applications should specify intended flight locations and dates, and include a flight plan and proof of temporary insurance. Contact ANAC directly close to your travel date given reports of conflicting information between what's published and what staff communicate. |
Weight classes
| Class | Weight | Rules |
|---|---|---|
| Category 1 | < 5 kg | Recreational, private and commercial sub-categories all still require ANAC authorisation; lightest documentation/processing burden (reported 2–3 weeks). |
| Category 2 | 5 kg – 25 kg | Same recreational/private/commercial sub-categories with heavier documentation; processing reported at 4–8 weeks. |
| Category 3 | > 25 kg | Heaviest documentation and scrutiny; processing reported at 8–12 weeks — not relevant to typical tourist equipment. |
Import & export
- No drone-specific duty-free personal allowance was confirmed. Visitors are expected to obtain ANAC's temporary authorisation before arrival and declare the drone at customs together with that authorisation; without it, confiscation is the typically reported outcome.
- A temporary ANAC authorisation, applied for at least 30 days in advance, is the functional import/use certification for visitors — it should specify intended flight locations and dates and be accompanied by a flight plan and temporary insurance proof.
- Batteries: No Benin-specific lithium-battery rule was found; standard international air-travel limits apply.
- Apply for ANAC's temporary authorisation at least 30 days before arrival — this is not a same-day or on-arrival process.
- Declare the drone at customs together with your ANAC authorisation documents.
- Operators report receiving conflicting information when contacting ANAC directly, so confirm current requirements close to your travel date.
Export
- No drone-specific export rule was found.
Costs
| Operator registration | Unknown Validity: Reported as up to 90 days for a visitor's temporary authorisation, with extension possible; the baseline commercial operating authorisation is valid 6 months. |
|---|---|
| ANAC pilot certification (mandatory for commercial operators; not mandatory but recommended for recreational/private) | Unknown |
| Import taxes | ? % duty + ? % VAT Usually only for drones you buy abroad and bring in to keep. |
Guides
Flying a drone in Benin as a visitor Visitors
- Apply for temporary authorisation at least a month ahead
Submit ANAC's drone operating authorisation request via the e-Services portal, including your drone details, planned flight locations and dates, and a flight plan. Open
- Arrange temporary insurance
Third-party liability insurance is reported as mandatory for all operations in Benin, including short visitor authorisations.
- Declare the drone at customs
Carry your ANAC authorisation and present it with the drone on arrival; undeclared or unauthorised drones are typically confiscated.
- Fly within the limits
Stay within visual line of sight, at or below about 100 m (328 ft), and at least 10 km from any aerodrome; avoid heritage sites, protected parks, and other restricted areas.
- Confirm details close to your trip
Public reports mention conflicting information from ANAC staff — verify current fees, forms and timelines shortly before travelling.
Sources
- ANAC Bénin e-Services — Autorisation d'Exploitation de Drones · accessed 24 Sept 2026
- PropelRC — Drone Laws in Benin (June 2026): Complete ANAC Guide · accessed 24 Sept 2026
- Ohm Works — Drone Benin: the 2026 complete guide · accessed 24 Sept 2026
How the score is built
- Operator registration−15
- Pilot test (unknown)−5
- Remote ID−3
- Mandatory insurance−6
- Night flight unknown−3
- Low ceiling (100 m)−5
- Visitors need a flight permit−20
- Visitors must register locally−10
- Long lead time (30 days)−8
- Import permit−40
- Duty + VAT ≈ 15 %−9
- Radio / type certification−12
Every score starts at 100 and loses points for each requirement. How scoring works