Loading...
Loading...
Available to most nationalities for tourism or short business visits from a Cameroonian embassy. Some ECOWAS and bilateral agreement countries may enter visa-free; others must apply in advance with a valid passport and invitation or hotel booking.
Entry visa for foreigners intending to reside in Cameroon for extended periods. Must be converted to a resident card at the immigration office within 60 days of arrival. Does not authorize employment without a separate work permit.
Employer-sponsored permit for foreigners taking up employment in Cameroon. The Cameroonian employer applies to the Ministry of Labour; the employee then obtains a resident card. Open to all nationalities.
Granted to long-term residents who have held successive 1-2 year resident cards. Allows the holder to live and work in Cameroon; requires proof of continued employment or business activity and clean criminal record.
Cameroon requires advance visas for most foreign nationals, obtainable at Cameroonian embassies or consulates. Some ECOWAS and African Union nations have bilateral visa-free agreements with Cameroon. Tourist and short-stay visas are typically valid for 30 to 90 days, while long-term residence requires a Resident Card issued by the Ministry of External Relations.
Foreign nationals seeking employment in Cameroon must obtain a work permit from the Ministry of Labor, in addition to a work visa issued by the Ministry of External Relations. The employer typically initiates the process, submitting employment documentation and evidence that the role could not be filled by a Cameroonian national. Permits are usually issued for one to two years and are renewable.
Spouses and dependent children of long-term residents or work permit holders can apply for dependent visas or resident cards through the Ministry of External Relations. The process requires relationship documentation and is coterminous with the primary holder's residency status.
Cameroon imposes personal income tax at progressive rates up to 35% on residents' income. Corporate income tax is levied at 30% for large enterprises, with lower rates for small and medium enterprises under the simplified regime. VAT is 19.25%, and Cameroon has signed a limited number of tax treaties with European and African partners.
Healthcare infrastructure in Cameroon is concentrated in Yaounde and Douala, where private clinics offer higher quality care for expatriates. Public hospitals are significantly under-resourced, and international health insurance with medical evacuation coverage to Europe or South Africa is strongly recommended for all foreign residents.
Cameroon operates within the CEMAC monetary zone and uses the CFA franc. Major banks include Ecobank, Societe Generale Cameroun, Afriland First Bank, and BICEC. Opening a bank account requires a valid passport, resident permit, and proof of address; mobile money services like Orange Money and MTN Mobile Money are widely used for everyday transactions.
Cameroon offers investment incentives through the Investment Charter and the Cameroon Investment Promotion Agency (CPA), with specific incentives for investors in priority sectors including agribusiness, manufacturing, and tourism. Foreign investors can obtain a long-term resident permit by demonstrating registered business activity and investment. There is no formal golden visa or investor citizenship program.