Cameroon Visa Application Guide
Cameroon Visa Application Guide
Cameroon, officially the Republic of Cameroon, is a Central African country located on the coast of the Atlantic Ocean, home to 27 million people and where more than 250 languages are spoken. Yaoundé is the capital of Cameroon and the country's second largest city after Douala. Home to many wild animals living in Africa, such as cheetahs, chimpanzees, giraffes and rhinos, and thus a notable destination for hunting and safari, Cameroon hosted over one million tourists in 2021, according to the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO).
Foreign nationals who will travel to Cameroon for tourism or other purposes must apply to the foreign missions of the Republic of Cameroon prior to their travels and obtain an entry permit, in other words a visa, with the exceptions specific to nationality and passport type, in accordance with Cameroon's visa policy. The visa is recorded in the form of a sticker on the applicant's passport or travel document and is checked and stamped at the border gate during entry to the Republic of Cameroon.
Does Cameroon Require Visa from Foreign Citizens?
Visa requirements for Foreign citizens traveling to Cameroon vary depending on the duration of travel and passport type.
Foreign citizens who are members of official delegations and hold special (green), service (grey) and diplomatic (black) passports are exempt from visas for their travels to Cameroon, provided that their stay does not exceed 90 days within a 180-day period. Foreign citizens who are holders of ordinary (maroon) passports and special, service and diplomatic passports who are not members of official delegations are subject to visas for their travels to Cameroon, regardless of the length of the trip.
A visa issued by the authorities is at the top of the list of requirements for traveling to Cameroon . People who are not visa exempt must apply for a visa type appropriate for their travel purposes before traveling to Cameroon.
Cameroon Visa Types
If you want to travel to Cameroon for a temporary period of time, for touristic purposes such as participating in a tour or trip, vacation or honeymoon, you need to obtain a tourist Cameroon visa.
Cameroon visa types that can be obtained for different travel purposes other than touristic travel are listed below.
- Cameroon transit visa
- Cameroon visit visa
- Cameroon business visa
- Cameroon education visa
- Cameroon work visa
- Cameroon family reunification visa
Tourism, visit and business visas are grouped under short-term Cameroon visas; education, work and family reunification visas are grouped under long-term Cameroon visas.
Cameroon Tourist Visa Application Process
Tourist visa applications are accepted and evaluated directly by the Cameroonian Ankara Embassy within visa application hours.
You can apply for a tourist Cameroon visa by following the steps listed below.
- Fill out the visa application form completely with accurate information.
- Prepare the necessary documents for tourist visa application.
- Deliver the application form and documents to the Cameroonian Embassy in Ankara by hand or send them by post.
- Pay the tourist visa application fee.
If your application file is complete, your application will be processed and evaluated by the Cameroonian Embassy in Ankara within 5 days.
Documents Required for Cameroon Tourist Visa Application
The documents required for the Cameroon tourist visa application are listed below.
- Passport valid for at least 6 months and undamaged
- Visa application form filled with complete and accurate information
- ID card or residence permit showing legal residence in Foreign country
- 2 biometric photos
- Flight or other transportation reservations
- Hotel or other accommodation reservation
- Proof of financial capacity
- Yellow fever and COVID-19 vaccination certificate
- Receipt showing that visa fee has been paid
The documents required for a Cameroon visa for tourism purposes must be prepared completely and accurately and submitted directly to the Cameroonian Embassy in Ankara within the visa request days and hours.
Cameroon Tourist Visa Application Form
For all Cameroon visa applications, including tourist visas, the application form must be filled out completely with accurate and up-to-date information. Incomplete or incorrect information will result in your visa application being rejected.
In the application form for a Cameroon visa for tourism purposes, you must select the "Tourism" option in the question regarding your travel purpose.
The Cameroon visa application form can be downloaded from the website of the Cameroon Ankara Embassy in "pdf." format. The downloaded application form can be filled out on the computer or by hand.
A sample Cameroon visa application form is given below.
The application form can be downloaded and filled out, or it can be filled out online using the online application form on the website of the Cameroonian Embassy in Ankara .
Cameroon Visa Application Fee
Cameroon visa application fee varies depending on the type of visa to be applied for.
The application fee for a Cameroon short-term transit, tourism, business and family visit visa is 115 euros, while the application fee for long-term education, work and family reunification visas is 230 euros.
How Many Days Does It Take to Get a Cameroon Visa?
Cameroon visas are issued within 5 days from the date of application. Express visa applications, which are made with an additional fee of 10 euros, are finalized within 24 hours after the application.
How Long Does a Cameroon Visa Last?
Cameroon visa durations vary depending on visa type.
Visa validity periods for Cameroon visa types are given in the table below.
| Visa Type | Duration |
| Cameroon tourist visa | 1-30 days |
| Cameroon transit visa | 1-5 days |
| Cameroon visit visa | 1-30 days |
| Cameroon work visa | 1-90 days |
| Cameroon education visa | 3-6 months |
| Cameroon work visa | 3-6 months |
| Cameroon family reunification visa | 3-6 months |
The first entry into Cameroon must be made within a period of 3 months from the date the visa is issued.
If your visa expires during your stay in Cameroon, you can request a visa extension from the competent authorities of the General Delegation of National Security of Cameroon by submitting the requested documents.
What are the Reasons for Cameroon Visa Rejection?
Cameroon visa applications are most often rejected due to incorrect or incomplete documents submitted during the application process. A visa refusal decision can also often be made if there is insufficient financial resources for travel or if it is thought that the person will not leave the country when the visa expires.
Cameroon Visa Policy and Exempt Countries
According to Cameroon's visa policy, citizens of the Central African Republic, Chad, Republic of Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Mali and Nigeria can visit Cameroon without a visa for up to 90 days.
The countries that Cameroon provides visa exemption to are marked in green on the map below.
Frequently Asked Questions
Below you can find the most frequent questions we receive from our clients who will travel to Cameroon as Vizem.net, regarding visa procedures and the application process, and the answers given by our consultants.
Where to Track and Inquire about Cameroon Visa?
Cameroon visa tracking and inquiries can be made by contacting the Cameroonian Ankara Embassy by phone or e-mail.
For Cameroon visa applications made with Vizem.net consultancy, visa tracking and inquiry procedures can be done online, and the visa status can be inquired by phone between 09:00 - 18:30 or followed with the 5-stage SMS service.
Does Cameroon issue visa on arrival?
Cameroon is not a country with a visa on arrival requirement and you must apply for a visa through foreign missions for your travels to Cameroon.
Diplomatic and service passport holders may obtain a visa on arrival if they have a duty order and a return ticket. Note the visa exemption granted to citizens of China, Italy and Türkiye for diplomatic or service passports.
An agreement allowing Emirati citizens to obtain a Cameroon visa on arrival with ordinary passports was signed in October 2019, but has not yet entered into force. UAE citizens with a service passport can obtain a visa on arrival for a maximum of 30 days.
Does Cameroon Issue E-Visas?
No, currently the Republic of Cameroon does not have an electronic visa application.
While not yet issuing an ETA , the Cameroonian Ministry of Foreign Affairs has announced that it has begun work to introduce a new e-visa system to allow foreign visitors to obtain their visas online in April 2022.
Where Should I Apply for a Cameroon Visa?
Cameroon visa applications are accepted and processed by the Cameroonian Ankara Embassy.
There is no agreement between the Cameroon Embassy and any intermediary institution, and applications must be made directly to the visa unit of the Cameroon Ankara Embassy .
Can I Apply for My Cameroon Visa by Mail?
You can apply for a Cameroon visa by sending your fully prepared visa documents to the Cameroonian Embassy in Ankara by post. Applications made by post are only accepted if your visa documents are complete and correct.
Applications made by mail must include a tracked and prepaid return envelope to be sent to you by the Embassy. The Embassy's address and the applicant's full name and address must be written on the envelope. If an envelope that meets these requirements is not included, your applications made by mail will not be evaluated.
Can I Apply for a Cameroon Visa Online?
You can apply for your Cameroon visa online from the Cameroon Ankara Embassy website. You can access the application platform from the online consular services page of the Cameroon Ankara Embassy website.
The visual of the Cameroon visa online application platform is as follows.
What is the Penalty for Violation of Visa in Cameroon?
Foreign nationals who stay in Cameroon for longer than the visa they hold allows, i.e. who violate their visa, are declared persona non grata. They may be banned from entering Cameroon for a period of time and will not be able to apply for a visa and enter Cameroon for a period of time.
All visitors must have a valid Cameroon visa for the entire duration of their stay. The fine for a visa violation is 5,000 CFA francs per day. Visa violations may also result in legal action being taken against you, so it is important to arrange for a visa extension in advance.
Do I Need an Exit Visa to Travel from Foreign country to Cameroon?
You do not need to obtain or present an exit visa when travelling from Foreign to Cameroon. According to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, leaving a country is a recognized right for individuals and requiring an exit visa to prevent this is considered contrary to customary international law.