Abstract In this work we propose the use of the ionic liquid 1-H-3-methylimidazolium bis(trifluoromethanesulfonyl)imide ([h-mim] Ntf2) as conductive filler in a tailor-made porous, polymeric polybenzimidazole (PBI) support as proton conductive membrane for high temperature (>100 °C) fuel cell applications. PBI is chosen because of its excellent thermal and mechanical stability, while the choice for the ionic liquid is based on its high proton conductivity, low water sorption, thermal stability and low viscosity. The morphology of the porous PBI support is especially tailored for this application using a delayed immersion precipitation process. The macrovoid free porous structure has a volume porosity of 65% and a pore size of approximately 0.5 μm. Pores filling with ionic liquid by direct immersion of the PBI support into molten ionic liquid at 50 °C introduced the membrane proton conductivity. After impregnation the proton conductivity of this PBI/IL membrane reached a value of 1.86 mS cm−1 at 190 °C. Fuel cell performance of these membranes clearly exceeds that of Nafion 117 at temperatures above 90 °C. A power density of 0.039 W cm−2 is obtained at the intended operation temperature of 150 °C, which proofs that the developed PBI/IL membrane can be considered as a serious candidate for high temperature fuel cell applications.