Benin Travel Advisory 2026

Current U.S. State Department advisory

Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution

Be aware of heightened risks to safety and security. Most popular travel destinations worldwide sit at this level. Advisory as of January 6, 2026.

Official source: travel.state.gov

US vs UK: how the advice compares

🇺🇸 United States — travel.state.gov

Level 2· Exercise Increased Caution

Level 2 of 4 · as of January 6, 2026

🇬🇧 United Kingdom — FCDO (GOV.UK)

Advises against all travel to parts of the country

Last updated December 15, 2025 · gov.uk advice

Latest UK update note: “FCDO now advises against all but essential travel to the remaining areas of the Alibori and Atacora departments. FCDO continues to advise against all but essential travel and all travel to other areas in Benin (‘Warnings and insurance’ page).”

See all countries where the two governments disagree on the US vs UK comparison page.

Advisory level timeline

January 6, 2026 — current
Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution
Latest official advisory as captured in our snapshot.
No advisory level changes recorded for Benin since we began tracking in July 2026. We log every future change here, with dates and official change notes.

Is Benin safe? What the official advisory says

in Benin due to unrest , crime , terrorism , and kidnapping . Some areas have increased risk. Read the entire Travel Advisory.

Do Not Travel to areas of Benin bordering Burkina Faso ; Niger ; and the Nigerian states of Kebbi , Niger , and Kwara due to crime , terrorism , and kidnapping .

Do not travel to the border region in northern or northeastern Benin for any reason.

U.S. government employee travel restrictions

U.S. government employees working in Benin are not allowed to travel to the following areas without Ambassador approval due to safety risks:

Alibori Department
Atacora Department
Borgou Department in areas north, east, and west of Parakou
Donga Department in the area north of Djougou
Official travel in Borgou Department north, east, and west of Parakou as well as official travel in Donga Department north of Djougou is authorized for day trips only.
Safety risks prevent emergency consular services to U.S. citizens in the areas of Benin bordering Burkina Faso; Niger; and the Nigerian states of Kebbi, Niger, and Kwara.
There are no safety risks in Benin that would stop the U.S. government’s ability to offer routine or emergency services, except in the identified areas of concern.

Crime

Most coastal and southern areas of Benin are safe. However, violent crime can occur in remote locations. These crimes often happen at night and include kidnapping, assault, and armed robbery.

Condensed from the official State Department advisory of January 6, 2026 — read the full advisory before you travel.

Benin travel advisory FAQ

What is the current travel advisory level for Benin?

As of January 6, 2026, the U.S. State Department rates Benin at Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution. Be aware of heightened risks to safety and security. Most popular travel destinations worldwide sit at this level.

What does Level 2 mean?

Level 2 (Exercise Increased Caution) — Be aware of heightened risks to safety and security. Most popular travel destinations worldwide sit at this level.

When did the Benin travel advisory last change?

The current advisory was published on January 6, 2026. No level changes have been recorded since we began tracking in July 2026 — this page will log every future change.

Does the UK government agree with the US advisory for Benin?

The UK Foreign Office (FCDO) position: Advises against all travel to parts of the country (last updated December 15, 2025). The US and UK use different systems — the US assigns a 1–4 level, while the UK either advises against travel (entirely or in part) or issues no overall warning.