Ministère de l'Intérieur et de la Sécurité Publique - Registre des associations et fondations (MISP)

The Ministry of the Interior and Public Security runs the Register of Associations and Foundations, which since 19 December 2025 is the sole legal mechanism for declaring, registering and monitoring associations, foundations and NGOs in Benin, whether national or foreign. All creations and changes to statutes or administrative details must be declared online through the national public services portal.

Associations form without prior authorisation but must declare their existence online on service-public.bj; legal personality starts on the date the declaration receipt is issued, which press reports say must happen within 60 days. The same online channel is used for any later change to statutes or administrative data. Validated information is published in the Journal of the Register of Associations and Foundations, available on the Interior Ministry website. The regime covers associations (including religious and mutual associations), foundations and NGOs, but not political parties, trade unions or traditional chieftaincy structures. Under the previous rules, a 2022 ministry communiqué required changes in management or statutes to be reported within three months; whether this deadline is kept is not confirmed.