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Cameroon tourist visa: how to apply
The Cameroon visa is applied for online only, on evisacam.cm: 100,000 CFA francs (about €153) for a short stay, with a reply in 72 hours. No visa on arrival without an approved application. Chad, the Central African Republic, Congo and Nigeria are exempt. Apply at least two weeks ahead.
A Cameroon visa is applied for online only, on the official portal evisacam.cm, and then affixed in your passport at an embassy or at the port of entry. The standard short-stay visa costs 100,000 CFA francs, about €153, and the reply is announced within 72 hours. There is no visa on arrival for anyone without an approved online application.
It all depends on your passport: Chad, the Central African Republic, Congo and Nigeria are exempt, most other nationalities are not. Apply at least two weeks before you leave, and check your own case with our Cameroon visa tool.
Who needs a Cameroon visa?
Whether you need a visa depends on the country that issued your passport. For the vast majority of travelers, the answer is yes. The UK government puts it plainly: “You must have a visa to enter Cameroon.” France Diplomatie (the French foreign ministry's travel advice), the Government of Canada and the U.S. Department of State say the same for their citizens.
A few neighboring countries are exempt. The sources do not all agree on the full list, hence this cautious table.
| Your passport | Visa for Cameroon | What the sources say |
|---|---|---|
| Chad, Central African Republic, Nigeria | No | Exemption listed by the Embassy of Cameroon in Egypt and in the authorities' list reported in July 2026 |
| Congo | No | Exemption announced in October 2023, confirmed in the July 2026 list |
| Gabon, Equatorial Guinea | Check | Announced as exempt in October 2023, missing from the list reported in July 2026 |
| Other African countries | Yes, generally | E-visa on evisacam.cm |
| France, Belgium, Switzerland, Canada, United States, United Kingdom and most other countries | Yes | E-visa on evisacam.cm, before departure |
Exempt citizens still need a passport valid for at least six months. If you are Gabonese or Equatoguinean, call the Embassy of Cameroon in your country before you leave. For other passports, our Cameroon entry requirements page gives the rule with its sources.
Tourist visa or temporary visa?
The portal does not actually use the term “tourist visa.” It offers a transit visa, a short-stay visa (up to 180 days) and a long-stay visa. For a vacation, the short-stay visa is the one you need.
France Diplomatie adds a useful point: for a stay of more than 30 days or a business trip, you need a temporary visa (up to 6 months) or a long-stay visa. So choose the right category from the start of the form.
Can you get a Cameroon visa on arrival?
Not in the usual sense. The UK government is clear: “You cannot get a visa on arrival at either Yaoundé or Douala airport.” What does exist is an electronic authorization with a QR code, obtained online before departure. On arrival, your fingerprints are taken and the visa sticker is placed in your passport.
Applications for an entry visa to Cameroon are made online only.
In other words, the airport prints the visa, but it does not grant it. Without an approved, printed authorization, do not travel: no official source provides for a visa without an online application. And the High Commission in London points out that a visa does not guarantee entry.
What if you arrive by road?
Be careful. The High Commission of Cameroon in London writes that an online authorization can be presented at a land border post. But the UK government states that you cannot get an e-visa at land or sea borders, and asks for a visa obtained in advance from an embassy.
Go with the more cautious rule. If you enter Cameroon by road, for example from Gabon, Chad or Nigeria, have an Embassy of Cameroon affix the visa in your passport before the trip.
Applying on evisacam.cm, step by step
The Cameroon visa application has four stages, according to the Cameroonian missions in Belgium, Canada and the United Kingdom (see the London High Commission's FAQ). Type the address evisacam.cm yourself: many intermediary websites offer to handle the process, for a higher price.
1. Create an account and fill in the form
On the home page, click “Register.” The High Commission in London notes that your email address must not exceed 70 characters. You receive a temporary password to change at your first login, then a code to validate your address.
Then complete the pre-enrollment form and upload your documents. They must be scanned, one by one. The missions in Canada and Japan warn that photographed documents and screenshots are rejected.
2. Pay online
Payment is made online only, in CFA francs, by bank card or mobile payment. The application only counts once the fee is paid. The fee is not refunded, even if the visa is refused.
| Visa (ordinary passport) | Price in CFA francs | Price shown in London |
|---|---|---|
| Standard short stay, up to 6 months | 100,000 CFA francs | €153 |
| Express short stay, up to 6 months | 150,000 CFA francs | €229 |
| Standard long stay, up to 12 months | 200,000 CFA francs | €305 |
| Transit under 5 days | Free | Not stated |
Sources: Embassy of Cameroon in Japan (July 2026 update) and the High Commission in London, accessed in October 2026. The embassy in Japan warns that bank charges may be added to the amount.
3. Wait for the reply
Processing is announced within 72 hours after payment, or 24 hours for express. The embassy in Japan specifies working days. A missing document sends the file back for correction, with no need to create a new account.
4. Receive the authorization or the appointment
There are two cases. If you live near an Embassy or Consulate of Cameroon, you may be called in for biometric enrollment, and the sticker is affixed there. If you live far from one, you receive an authorization with a QR code to print: fingerprints and sticker are then done at the port of entry.
Our advice
Print the QR code authorization twice and keep the originals of the documents you uploaded. The embassies ask you to show them at enrollment.
Documents to prepare for a short stay
The list comes from the Cameroonian missions in the United Kingdom and Japan. The authorities may ask for other documents.
- Your passport. It must be valid for at least six months. France Diplomatie and the Government of Canada count those six months from the date you leave Cameroon: that is the most cautious rule.
- A round-trip ticket, or a circular ticket.
- Your vaccination certificate, including yellow fever.
- Proof of accommodation: an accommodation certificate endorsed by the mayor of your host's town, an invitation, or a firm hotel booking.
- Proof of the purpose of your trip and of sufficient funds, plus proof of your occupation (employment certificate or employer letter).
- For a minor: a legalized parental authorization, a copy of the accompanying parent's passport and proof of parentage.
For a hotel, ask for a confirmation in your name, showing the dates of your stay. Our article on the hotel booking for the Ivory Coast visa explains which document to request from a hotel: the principle is the same.
When should you apply for a Cameroon visa?
The official processing time is short, but your margin should be wide. The High Commission in London asks you to apply at least 10 days before entry, and no more than six months ahead. The UK government adds that some applicants run into technical problems with the website.
The High Commission in Canada also notes that processing can take several extra days during peak seasons: April to August, then October to December. If you are traveling for the year-end holidays, your application falls right in the busy season.
Our advice
Start the process at least two weeks before departure, and three in peak season. A rejected document or a blocked payment can cost you several days.
Yellow fever and health: what you will be asked for
A yellow fever vaccination certificate is mandatory to enter Cameroon. The Institut Pasteur states that it is required from all travelers aged 1 and over, whatever country they come from. France Diplomatie, the UK government and the Government of Canada confirm it.
Get vaccinated at least 10 days before departure, at an approved center. A single dose is valid for life according to the WHO since 2016. A second dose is only useful if you were vaccinated before the age of 2, during pregnancy, or if you have HIV or a weakened immune system.
Our advice
You may be asked for the certificate on arrival. Keep your yellow card with your passport and your printed authorization, never in checked luggage.
For stays longer than four weeks, the Government of Canada says a polio vaccine dose may be required. The U.S. Department of State presents it as required. Have it recorded on your card if you are staying a long time.
Malaria is present year-round throughout the country, according to the Institut Pasteur. See your doctor about preventive treatment, and seek care immediately if you have a fever during your stay or within three months after returning.
Traps that cost time or money
The same problems keep coming up.
- Fake websites. Intermediaries copy the e-visa's name. They charge more and collect your data. Always start from evisacam.cm.
- Abnormal bank charges. In December 2025, the Cameroonian authorities reported abnormal debits linked to online payment. Affected users must file a claim on claim.evisacam.cm. Check your statement after paying.
- The wrong visa type. A short stay for a vacation, not a transit visa. Beyond 30 days, follow France Diplomatie's advice on the temporary visa.
- Photographed documents. Scan your documents: a phone photo can get your file rejected.
- A passport that is too close to expiry. Six months of validity after you leave Cameroon, and one blank page for the sticker.
- Forgetting the yellow card. The certificate is mandatory for entry, so keep it with your passport.
Watch out
Fees are never refunded, even if the visa is refused. Reread the form and check each document before you pay.
Before you go: safety by region
A visa says nothing about the situation on the ground. France Diplomatie classifies part of the country as areas to avoid. The Government of Canada and the U.S. Department of State make similar recommendations.
Watch out
France Diplomatie advises against all travel to the entire Far North region, the entire North-West region, the Mayo-Louti department, a 30 km strip along the borders with Nigeria, Chad and the Central African Republic, and several areas of the South-West. It advises against all but essential travel to the rest of the North and South-West, two departments of Adamaoua and some areas of the West.
Elsewhere, increased vigilance applies, in the Littoral and South regions, including Douala and Kribi. France Diplomatie also advises against driving at night, and against visiting Mount Cameroon for now. Also check your own government's travel advice.
Our Cameroon page covers Yaoundé, Douala, Kribi and the chiefdoms of the West, along with health, money and safety on the ground. If you are combining the trip with West Africa, our guide to the Ivory Coast e-visa follows a similar logic.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a Cameroon visa cost in 2026?
The standard short-stay visa costs 100,000 CFA francs, about €153, and 150,000 CFA francs for express, according to Cameroonian embassies in 2026. Bank charges may be added. Nothing is refunded if the visa is refused.
How long does it take to get a Cameroon visa?
The reply is announced within 72 hours after payment, or 24 hours for express. Processing takes longer in peak seasons. Apply at least two weeks before departure.
Do I have to go to the consulate?
Not always. If you live near an embassy, you may be called in for fingerprints. Otherwise, the QR code authorization is enough to travel, and the visa is affixed on arrival at the airport.
Does the visa allow multiple entries?
It can be single or multiple entry, according to the High Commission in London. The sticker shows the exact validity and the length of stay allowed: read it as soon as it is affixed.