How to send money to Benin in 2026: to an account, to a mobile wallet and for buying a plot
Money in Benin is credited in West African CFA francs pegged to the euro, and then spreads across mobile wallets: from 2 November 2026 the recipient receives transfers between wallets and banks free of charge and with no limit on the amount. A plot in Cotonou or Porto-Novo is bought under a title deed checked online in the land register.
In short
- One euro always equals 655.957 CFA francs.
- On 9 October 2026 one dollar buys 585.28 francs.
- Receiving transfers to a wallet is free from 2 November 2026.
- The national land register has been online since 9 April 2019.
In detail
Ways to send money to Benin in 2026: a bank, a wallet, a transfer service
We checked the routes for sending money to Benin on 9 October 2026. A recipient in Cotonou or Porto-Novo receives money in West African CFA francs to a bank account in 1-3 business days, to a mobile wallet by phone number, or through a money transfer service with an ID document. On that date one dollar buys 585.28 francs, and one euro always costs 655.957 francs.
| Route | Now | Currency credited | Time | What you need |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bank transfer to a CFA franc account | works | West African CFA francs | 1-3 business days | the account number, the bank's international code, the recipient's name |
| Transfer to a mobile wallet | works | CFA francs | from a few minutes | the recipient's phone number |
| Money transfer service | works | CFA francs | from a few minutes | the recipient's ID document |
| Transfer between a bank and a wallet inside the country | works, receiving free of charge from 2 November 2026 | CFA francs | seconds | the recipient's account or wallet |
Is a transfer to Cotonou held up by a bank review? There are usually more options than it seems: tell a manager about the payment, and they will find a working route.
Money to family in a mobile wallet: what changes in Benin from 2 November 2026
On 2 October 2026 the Central Bank of West African States approved new rules for transfers between wallets, banks and payment institutions, and from 2 November they apply in Benin and seven other countries of the union. From that day all such transfers inside the country go through the common instant payment platform the central bank opened a year earlier.
The recipient receives money free of charge, with no limit on the amount or the number of transactions. Sending up to 8,000 francs ($15) a day with one operator is also free, and for larger sums the operator charges from 0 to 0.8%. By the central bank's estimate, about 75% of electronic money transfers in the union will go through free of charge. The platform works around the clock, and a relative in Abomey or Parakou gets the money the same minute, even at the weekend.
So money from abroad is conveniently credited to one relative's account and then sent on to the family's wallets with no fee for receiving. So that the transfer arrives where it is needed most, we will suggest the best way to send money to Benin. The capital is covered on the Porto-Novo page.
A plot in Benin: the title deed and a land register check
2017 is the year Benin updated its land code and made the title deed the only final proof of the right to land: once registered, a title is not reviewed. Since 9 April 2019 the national land register has worked online, and a buyer sees the plot and the progress of the title through the land agency's services.
Rural land is owned by citizens of Benin and companies under its law, while a foreigner from a country with which reciprocity applies takes it on a long-term lease. A house purchase in Cotonou is handled by a notary: the price is transferred to the notary's account under the contract, and the bank matches the payment with the title.
Before payment the title number is checked in the land register, and for a large sum a specialist will check the seller's documents before the transfer. That way the money goes only for a plot whose rights are already recorded in the state register.
What a bank in Cotonou will ask: levels up to $10,000, up to $100,000 and above
- Up to $10,000. The recipient's name, the account or phone number and a clear purpose are enough: family expenses, study, medical treatment.
- $10,000-100,000. The bank will ask for a statement of the sender's account and a contract for the payment: a lease, a study agreement, a purchase of goods.
- From $100,000. The bank looks at the source of the money, the notarial contract and the title of the plot. So that the package is complete, a manager will put it together with you.
Documents on the source of the money are covered in the article on proof of source of funds, and the payment for a sold flat in the article on moving home sale proceeds abroad. For those moving to West Africa with all their savings, the capital relocation page will help.
Sending money to neighbouring countries
- How to send money to Togo: the western neighbour and a house in Lome
- How to send money to Cote d'Ivoire: the union's largest economy
- How to send money to Cameroon: the Central African franc
- How to send money to France: the euro and a fixed rate to the CFA franc
- How to send money to Nigeria: a 10-digit account number
The overall plan for capital during a move is on the capital relocation page.
FAQ
Can a plot in Benin be checked online in the land register?
Is a title deed enough to prove the right to a plot in Benin?
Is reciprocity needed for a foreigner to lease rural land in Benin?
From what date do all transfers between wallets in Benin go through the common platform?
We will suggest the best way to send your money
We will choose a transfer method for your amount and country, prepare the documents on the origin of the money for the bank, make the transfer through licensed partners and follow it until the money is credited. Ask your question in the chat - the manager will suggest the best terms and the cost. The legal side with banks and government bodies is handled by Murblz specialists and locally licensed partners.
Details and cost are with the manager in the chat. Describe your situation and we will reply right away.
Check transfer termsHow we handle a transfer: 4 stages → · Country rules checked