Studying in FranceCampus France Benin 2027: the complete guide, from Cotonou to the visa
Campus France Benin: 70,000 FCFA to pay before 15 November 2026, first submission by 20 November, interview until 15 March 2027, recommendation criteria, visa at Capago. The full 2027 journey, with sources.
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Information checked on 6 October 2026.
Campus France Benin opened the campaign for the 2027 intake on 1 October 2026. Two dates matter straight away: 15 November 2026, the deadline to pay the application fee, and 20 November 2026, the deadline for the first submission. This guide follows the journey specific to Benin: which procedure to follow, where the office is, which recommendation criteria the office applies, how much to pay, how the interview works, then the visa at Capago and arrival in France. For the platform's general logic, see also our complete guide to Campus France.
Campus France Benin in a few figures
France's appeal is not fading in Benin. According to Campus France's mobility fact sheet, France hosted 8,361 Beninese students in 2024-2025, more than double the number five years earlier (+120%). In practice, competition plays out on the quality of the file, not only on meeting deadlines.
Which procedure to follow from Benin
Campus France Benin distinguishes three routes depending on your diploma and the programme you want.
| Your situation | Where to apply | What follows admission |
|---|---|---|
| Beninese baccalauréat, entering first-year bachelor's or PASS (medicine) | Études en France (standard procedure) | Visa |
| Bachelor's year 2 or 3, professional bachelor's, master's 1 or 2 | Études en France (standard procedure) | Visa |
| BTS, CPGE, DCG and other programmes on Parcoursup | Parcoursup | Pre-consular procedure "Je suis accepté" |
| French or European baccalauréat, entering first year | Parcoursup | Pre-consular procedure |
| Arts (design, fashion, photography) and architecture | Campus Art | Pre-consular procedure |
| Non-connected private school | Directly with the school | Pre-consular procedure |
More than 350 institutions recruit through the Études en France platform. The standard procedure, the one in this guide, covers most Beninese school-leavers and students.
The Campus France Benin office: Cotonou and Parakou
The office is based at the Institut français de Cotonou, avenue Jean-Paul II. Drop-in sessions take place at the Institut français de Parakou, announced on the Campus France Benin Facebook page. For a question, write to campusfrance@if-benin.com.
The guidance appointment with an adviser is free and booked from your Études en France account. Mind the calendar: these appointments run from April to October; from October to March, advisers focus on interviews. Use October to book one.
Since 14 September 2026, Campus France Benin has also offered a free support programme:
| Day | Time | Activity |
|---|---|---|
| Monday to Friday | 10 am | Workshop "Building your study project", no registration |
| Tuesday | 3 pm | Facebook live on the procedure |
| Wednesday | 3 pm | Information session at the AUF and the Institut français |
| Thursday | 3 pm | Q&A on the mobility project |
According to the official calendar, information sessions, workshops and Q&As run until 29 October 2026.
Campus France Benin's recommendation criteria
Before you even create a file, Campus France Benin asks you to check your profile. These criteria are not eligibility rules but the recommendations the office applies when reviewing files.
The free CFB Recommandation tool offers an anonymous self-assessment. It guarantees nothing, but it saves you from paying 70,000 FCFA for a file with no chance.
The Campus France Benin procedure step by step
Campus France Benin 2027 dates
| Date | Step |
|---|---|
| 1 October 2026 | Études en France platform opens |
| 15 November 2026 | Deadline to pay the 70,000 FCFA |
| 20 November 2026 | Deadline for the first submission |
| 10 December 2026 | Deadline for the last submission after corrections |
| Until 15 March 2027 | Interviews |
| Depends on each institution | Institutions' answers |
| 31 May 2027 | Final choice, then the campaign closes |
| 15 June 2027 | Submission deadline for the pre-consular procedure "Je suis accepté" |
The last submission after corrections is indeed 10 December 2026: the PDF calendar and the official visual the office posted on 28 September 2026 both confirm it; the 15 December its web page showed for a while no longer applies. Note too that 20 November falls well before the national 15 December date used by other offices: the overview is in our Campus France 2027-2028 calendar. The month-by-month detail is in our Campus France Benin 2027 calendar.
The Campus France application fee in Benin
The fee is 70,000 FCFA, non-refundable.
This fee guarantees neither admission nor a visa. The full departure budget, tuition and CVEC (student life contribution) included, is in our article on Campus France fees.
French test: Beninese nationals exempt
Because French is Benin's only official language, Beninese nationals do not have to present a TCF or DELF for the Campus France procedure. Two caveats: an institution can always require a certificate, and an applicant of another nationality living in Benin must check their own situation. The country-by-country detail is in our article on the French test for Campus France.
The Campus France interview in Benin
Once your file is complete, you receive a notice for an individual interview, held until 15 March 2027. Bring all the originals of the documents in your file: the adviser checks them. They then ask about your background, your project, your motivation and your academic level, to check that the project is mastered and coherent. Prepare with our guide to the Campus France interview.
Answers, final choice and prior agreement
Each institution answers on its own calendar, and you get an email with each answer. If all are negative, the procedure ends: our options after a Campus France rejection help you bounce back. With a positive answer, confirm your final choice before 31 May 2027 in the "Je suis accepté" section, then download the prior enrolment agreement (API). Campus France Benin must sign and stamp it before your visa application.
The student visa from Benin: Capago
The long-stay visa application goes through Capago Benin, the consulate's service provider.
A minor must come with a parent. Documents, fees and timelines are detailed in our guide to the French student visa from Benin. On resources, the consulate expects at least €877.50 per month for applications lodged since 1 August 2026: our guide to proving your resources lists the accepted proofs, and the one on the student visa application covers the whole file. Once in France, you have three months to validate your VLS-TS online.
Housing and budget before you leave
Campus France Benin stresses two points of the visa file: accommodation and the financial guarantor. Start looking for housing as soon as you are admitted. Our article on CROUS housing for international students explains how to apply for a room in a university residence, and our comparison of the student budget in Paris, Lyon and Lille helps you put figures on the months ahead.
Arriving with the Beninese community
You prepare the file alone; arrival goes better with people around you. On Compatri, the Beninese diaspora page gathers Beninese communities city by city, in France and in Belgium, where compatriots meet every 1 August for Benin's Independence Day. Two articles extend this guide: Beninese students in France and their community, and Beninese people in Belgium for those also looking at Brussels. Joining the community of your future city is free, even before universities answer. The group "Étudiants africains" (African students) also connects students from several countries, and our article on African student associations in France presents the local contacts.
Compatri is not a service of Campus France or of the State, and does not replace the official source: only information from Campus France Benin and the consulate is binding.
Official sources
Frequently asked questions
What is the Campus France Benin 2027 deadline?
The 70,000 FCFA fee must be paid before 15 November 2026, and the file first submitted before 20 November 2026. The last submission after corrections is set for 10 December 2026, as confirmed by the office's official visual.
How much does Campus France cost in Benin?
The application fee is 70,000 FCFA, paid at Société Générale du Bénin with your BJ number, or at Orabank for students in Parakou. It is non-refundable and guarantees neither admission nor a visa.
Where is Campus France in Benin?
The Campus France Benin office is at the Institut français de Cotonou, avenue Jean-Paul II. Drop-in sessions are held at the Institut français de Parakou, announced on the office's Facebook page. Questions go by email to campusfrance@if-benin.com.
Do you need the TCF for Campus France Benin?
Not for Beninese nationals: since French is Benin's only official language, they are exempt from a French test. An institution may still require one, and an applicant of another nationality must check their own situation.
Where do you apply for a student visa in Benin?
At Capago Benin, the consulate's provider, after filling in the form on France-Visas. The appointment is booked and paid online; other fees are paid on site. Campus France Benin must first have signed and stamped your prior enrolment agreement.