Beninese citizens can now travel to the Bahamas without the need for a visa, following a new bilateral agreement with Bahamian authorities. This agreement comes on the heels of a similar deal with Sri Lanka, demonstrating Benin’s expanding diplomatic presence on the international stage.
The agreement between Benin and the Bahamas was signed on the sidelines of the G77 + China Summit, representing a milestone in the relationship between the two nations. According to the agreement, all Beninese passports – whether diplomatic, official, or regular – will henceforth be accepted without a visa by the Bahamas, reflecting a reciprocal advancement for citizens of both countries.
In the Henley & Partners report for the year 2024, Benin is ranked 79th in terms of travel freedom, with its citizens able to travel to more than 60 destinations without needing a visa. This agreement increases the number to 64 destinations. By contrast, the Bahamas is ranked 29th, with visa-free access to 158 countries.
The Bahamas is an archipelago in the Atlantic Ocean consisting of 700 islands and islets, part of North America, where English is the official language. Nassau is the capital of this country where the Bahamian dollar is the official currency. According to the World Bank, the Bahamian population stood at 407,906 in 2021, with the country covering an area of 13,877 km².
