Immigration law refers to the established rules of a country to determine who is allowed to enter the country and how long they may stay there.
Cameroon is a growing economy and, as such, has become an attractive destination for nationals of other countries who come for business and investment opportunities as well as Job opportunities and other social reasons like marriages and adoption. For this reason, we have decided to develop this article containing the immigration laws for foreigners in Cameroon.
What is Immigration Law?
Immigration law refers to the established rules of a country to determine who is allowed to enter the country and how long they may stay there. It also provides how a non-citizen can become a legally naturalized citizen with full citizenship rights. Simply put, the Immigration law of a country determines who may enter, how long they may stay, and when they must leave that country.
The law governing the entry, stay, and exit of foreign Nationals in Cameroon is Law N° 97/012 of 10 January 1997. The modalities for applying this law are contained in decree N° 2007/255 of 4 September. 2007. Law N°2016/373 of 4 August 2016 completed and modified specific provisions of this law.
How to Get a Visa to Cameroon
There are different visa options: temporal visas, short stay, and long stay. The table below shows each visa type and its duration of validity.
Requirements to Get a Visa to Cameroon
- A valid passport or any other travel document that has a minimum of six months validity
- A valid international yellow fever vaccination card
- Two recent color passport-size photographs
- Two (02) visa application forms must be completed and signed by the applicant. Single visa application forms are usually rejected.
- copy of flight/trip reservation from the airline or travel agency confirming the trip itinerary to Cameroon
1. Transit Visa
- A visa or any other authorization document to enter the destination country.
- A receipt of payment of the visa application fee.
2. Tourist Visa (Maximum 30 days Validity)
- Proof of financial capability for the duration of your visit.
- Hotel reservation signed y the appropriate authority or a lodging certificate issued by a competent authority of the community the applicant is visiting.
- Proof of guarantee of repatriation.
- A document from a valid travel agency, where applicable.
- A receipt of payment of the visa application fee.
3. Short Stay Visa (Maximum 3 Months Validity)
- A document carrying the reason/explanation for your visit with accompanying proof.
- A mission order for official trips.
- A receipt of payment of the visa application fee.
- Proof of guarantee of repatriation.
4. Long Stay Visa (Duration Between 3 Months to 6 Months)
- For foreigners coming to work in Cameroon, a work contract is duly signed by the minister of labor.
- A competent authority of the school must sign a proof of registration at an institution of learning for foreign students.
- An internship letter which is signed by a competent authority of the institution where the internship will be carried out.
- A partnership contract and other related documents for business people
- Proof of repatriation guarantee.
- A receipt of payment of the visa application fee.
B. Special Visas
1. Visas for Minors (Below 18 Years old)
- Copy of the minor applicant’s birth certificate.
- Notarized letter of support jointly signed by both parents/legal guardians.
2. Official Visas (Courtesy and Diplomatic Visas)
- Diplomatic note / Note verbale.
- Official request from Government, International or Governmental Organization.
- Warrant for mission or mission order.
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