REPUBLIC OF CAMEROON PEACE-WORK-FATHERLAND

I
O 2 3 / 4 7, O 2 MARS 2023
DECREE No.l OF
to lay down the conditions of implementation of Law ·No.
97/012 of 10 January 1997 to lay down conditions of
entry, stay and exit for aliens in Cameroon

THE PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC,

Mindful of the Constitution;

Mindful of Law No. 97/012 of 10 January 1997 to lay down the conditions of

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entry, stay and exit of aliens in C9meroon, as amende.·· d and
supplemented by Law No. 2022/015 of 14 July 2022;
Mindful of Law NÔ. 2022/020 of 27 December 2022: Finance Law of the Republic

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of Cameroon for the 2023 financial year;
Mindful of Decree No. 2011/408 of 9 December 2011 to organize the
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Government, as amended and supplemented by Decree No. 2018/190
of 2 March 2018,

HEREBY DECREES AS FOLLOWS:

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CHAPTERI
GENERAL PROVISIONS
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ARTICLE 1: This decree lays down the conditions of implementation of Law No.
97/012 of 10 January 1997 to lay down the conditions of entry, stay and exit of
alien_s in Cameroon, as amended and supplemented by Law No. 2022/015 of 14
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July 2022.

ARTICLE 2: For the purpose of this decree, the following definitions shall apply:
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Online visa application: digital process from an interconnected system to obtain a

document allowing entry into a foreign country for a specified period.
Online visa authorization: electronic document obtained via a dedicated website
which allows a user, regardless of geographical location, to access a border post in
a foreign country.
Registration: process of formalizing a visa application, in particular:
(i) directly at a diplomatie mission or consular post;
(ii) directly at border posts following e-registration and consisting, as the
case may be, in taking fingerprints, a photograph of the applicant's face

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 and iris of both eyes for the biometric visa, upon issuance of . the
requested visa.

E-registration: electronic registration through a dedicated website allowing

applicants, regardless of geographical location or place of issuance of visa in
secured form, to submit an application to the consular services by entering their
persona! details with all requisite supporting documents and payment of the
required fee.

Border post: controlled passage for crossing a land, air, river and sea border on
Cameroonian territory, in accordance with the list drawn up by the compètent
authority.

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Biometric visa: highly secured document, in the form of a sticker to be affixed to
the passport of the holder having previously carried out the e-registratiori or
registration procedures to travel to Cameroon, and, comprising an electronic chip
containing the digitized photograph of the holder.concerned, his 2 (two) fingerprints

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or the iris of his eyes, the technical specifications of which are outlined in Article 27
below.

CHAPTER Il
rc CATEGORIES OF ALIENS

SECTION 1
TEMPORARY VISITORS
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ARTICLE 3: Apart from aliens in transit, aliens on a temporary visit shall include the
following:
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- private visitors;
- tourists;
- persans on official assignment;
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businesspersons;
- promoters;
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- guests or participants in an event organized in the country;

persons of private means;
- pensioners;
- healthcare evacuees.

ARTICLE 4: Private visitors shall be aliens who, having chosen to stay in

Cameroon for leisure, are lodged either by a member of their family or by family
friends.

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ARTICLE 5: Tourists shall be persons of foreign origin who undertake a pleasure
trip to Cameroon and stay either individually or as part of an organized or package
tour, in an accommodation establishment.

ARTICLE 6: Persons on official assignment shall be aliens who corne to Cameroon

in an· official capacity, within the framework their professional activities.

ARTICLE 7: Business persans shall be individuals engaged in a profit-making

occupational activity in a persona! capacity.

ARTICLE 8: Promoters shall be persans whose occupational activity consists in

providing services or capital for economic, scientific, cultural, artistic, social or other
investment.

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ARTiCLE 9: Guests or participants in an event organized within the national
territory shall be persons who corne to Cameroon, bearing an individual or
collective invitation to take part, individually or as a delegation, in an economic,

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scientific, technical; artistic, pastoral, cultural or sporting event.

ARTICLE 10: Persons of private means shall be persans of foreign origin who have
private income or real property in Cameroon, and who corne periodically to ensure
the management thereof.
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ARTICLE 11: Pensioners shall be aliens who receive a pension paid by an official
Cameroonian body.
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ARTICLE 12: Healthcare evacuees shall be persans of foreign origin allowed to
undergo medical treatment in Cameroon.
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SECTION Il
LONG-STAY ALIENS
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ARTICLE 13: The following shall belong to the category of long-stay ali;eris in
Cameroon:
- contract workers:
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independent workers; ·
- long-term trainees;
- students;
- family members of an alien staying in Cameroon;
- refugees.

ARTICLE 14: Contract workers shall be:

- private sector wage-earning aliens working in Cameroon;

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 - aliens working in the public or semi-public sector, under a contract of
employment;
- technical assistance staff.

ARTICLE 15: lndependent workers shall be persans engaged in a liberal

profession in the commercial, industrial, agricultural, pastoral, cultural or handicraft
sectors in Cameroon.

ARTICLE 16: Long-term trainees shall be aliens admitted for a training course in
Cameroon, for a period of more than 3 (three) months.

ARTICLE 17: Students shall be persans admitted to pursue further studies in a

university or vocational training establishment in Camer.oon.

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ARTICLE 18: Family members of an alien staying in Cameroon shall comprise the
spouse and minor children in the care of the said alien, authorized to stay with the
latter under family �ccompaniment or family reunfon.

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ARTICLE 19: The term "refugee" shall have the same meaning as that used in
conventions to which Cameroon is a signatory and the laws in force.
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SECTION Ill
RESIDENT ALIENS
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ARTICLE 20: The category of resident aliens shall include:

- persons mentioned in Article 13 above, who have regularly stayed in

Cameroon for a period of at least 6 (six) consecutive years;
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- the spouse of a persan of Cameroonian nationality, subject to the

provisions of Section 21 (1) of the abovementioned Law No. 97/012 of 10
January 1997.
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- members of duly recognized religious congregations._ ­

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PRES10ENCE OE LA REPUBLIQUE
PRESIOEN IC
CHAPTER Ill
ENTAIF
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ENTRYVISAS S
SER.YI(
RTIFI RMl
SECTION 1 RTIFIED PY
CATEGORIES OF

ARTICLE 21: Entry visas shall be classified in 3 (three) categories:

transit visa;
- short-stay visa;
- long-stay visa.

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ARTICLE 22: (1) The multiple entry and exit transit visa may be issued to an alien
in transit.

(2) lts validity may not exceed 5 (five) days.

ARTICLE 23: (1) The short-stay visa, valid for a single or multiple entries and exits,
may be issued to the temporary visiter travelling as a tourist or businessperson,
either individually or as part of a package tour.

(2) However, its validity may not exceed 6 (six) months.

ARTICLE 24: (1) The long-stay visa, valid for a single entry or multiple entries and

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exits; may be issued to the alien whose planned duration of stay in Cameroon
exceeds 6 (six) months.

(2) The validity of the long-stay visa may not exceed 12 (twelve)

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months.

ARTICLE 25: (1) Entry visas may not be transferred from one category to another.
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(2) They may be extended only in the event of a force majeure, duly
assessed by the Minister in charge of external relations, upon the approval of the
Delegate General for National Security.
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ARTICLE 26: With the exception of the long-stay visa, no other visa shall give
entitlement to engage in a profit-making or occupational activity, or to study in
Cameroon.
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ARTICLE 27: Entry visas in Cameroon shall have the following characteristics:

1- Ordinary visa:
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Dimensions: 105 mm x 74 mm, MRV-B;

- 2 (two) verification labels, 52.5 mm x 10 mm;
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- visa compliant with ICAO requirements;

- paper: secure sticker with no optic� -rig'l''i eners, with invisible security
fibres, sensitive to polar and non-polar solvents, and acids;
- numbering: mechanical serial numbering enabling traceability.

Security features:
- emblematic graphie design patented for the State of Cameroon;
- secure copy-proof background;
- emblematic visa;

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 - 15 mm diameter metallic, secure and personalized seal containing micro
and nano prints of emblems of Cameroon with a 90 ° switching effect; ·
- special, secure prints with absorbent infrared ink and transparent infrared
ink;
- optically variable ink (OVI);
- security cuts;
- 6+0 offset printing, 3 colour intaglio UV offset;
- invisible and visible offset security printing ink patented for Cameroon; ·
- twin UV prints of the Coat of Arms and the flag of the Republic of
Cameroon visible under UV 365 and 254 wave levels.
Additional personalization security features: ,,

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- secure printing ink;
- printing of machine-readable zone (MRZ) codes that can be decrypted with
appropriat? readers;

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- encoding of the visa applicant's fingerprints;
- visible and invisible security stamps.
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2- Diplomatie visa:
Dimensions: 105 mm x 74 mm, MRV-8;
- 2 (two) verification labels, 52.5 mm x
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- paper: secure paper sticker .. , no optical brighteners, with. invisible
security fibres, sensitive to polar and non-polar solvents and acids;
- numbering: mechanical serial numbering enabling traceability.
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Security features:
emblematic graphie design patented for the State of Cameroon;
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secure copy-proof background;

emblematic visa;
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. - 15 mm diameter metallic, secure and personalized seal containing micro

and nano prints of the emblems of Cameroon with a 90 ° switching effect
- special, secure prints with absorbent infrared ink and transparent infrared
ink;
- OVI;
- security cuts;
- 7+0 UV colour offset printing, invisible and visible offset security printing
ink patented for Cameroon;
- twin UV prints of the Coat of Arms and flag of the Republic of Cameroon
visible under UV 365 and 254 wave levels.

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 Additional personalization security features:
- secure printing ink;
- visible and invisible security stamps;
- encoding of the visa applicant's fingerprints.

SECTION Il
1- TERMS AND CONDITIONS FOR ISSUING ENTRY VISAS

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1 - COMMON PROVISIONS FOR ISSUING VISAS

ARTICLE 28: (1) Applying for a Cameroonian visa and payment of related charges

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shallbe done exclùsively online on the designated website.

(2) The payment of the charges referred to in (1) above shall be

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without prejudice to the provisions of the Agreements and Conventions to which
Cameroon is a party.

ARTICLE 29: (1) Visas or online visa issuance authorizations shall be granted by
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the competent diplomatie mission or consular office, within 3 (three) days of online
pre-registration.

(2) ln the case of an express procedure, the period referred to in (1)

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above shall be reduced to 24 (twenty-four) hours.

- However, aliens from countries where Cameroon is not represented by a

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diplomatie mission or consular office may apply for a visa authorization at the
nearest Cameroonian diplomatie mission or consular office abroad.

(4) Notwithstanding the presence of a diplomatie mission_ or

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consular office, an alien may, due to large physical distance, apply for visa
authorization online, provided that he/she resides outside · the city where the
diplomatie mission or consular office is located.

(5) ln case of refusai of the visa, the competent office shall notify. the
applicant within 3 (three) days of filing of the application.

ARTICLE 30 (1) Applying for an entry visa to Cameroon shall start with an online
pre-registration, followed by the payment of the fees provided for by the laws in
force.

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 (2) The Delegate General for National Security shall check and
approve the application within 24 (twenty-four) hours.

ARTICLE 31: The registration of any alien applying for an entry visa to Cameroon
shall be done at the competent or nearest diplomatie mission or consular office.

ARTICLE 32: Where the alien presents an online visa authorization at the border
post, the process of affixing the visa shall be as follows:
- checking of the documents submitted for the issuance of the visa;
- checking of the biometric elements to identify the holder;
- printing of the sticker;

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- affixing the sticker to the passport or travel document.

ARTICLE 33: The visa authorization shall be an e,lectronic document generated

after verification, in accordance with Article 29 ·above. lt shall have the following

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charàcteristics:
- Cameroon flag on the upper left corner;
- the inscription "Republic of Cameroon" at the centre in English and French;
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- coat of arms of the Republic of Cameroon to the right;
- the following information in chronological order:
• approved pre-registration;
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• applicant's identity as shown in his passport, in particular: surname,
first name, date of birth, place of birth, travel document number,
approval date and visa number;
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- QR code enabling access to all information about the applicant in

particular that concerning documents submitted during pre-registration
and home address;
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guidelines for the traveller, in particular visa application documents

submitted.
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- a valid passport or travel document with a validity of at least 6 (six)

months;
- an air ticket valid right to the final destination or any other proof of
continuation of the journey;

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 - a visa or authorization to enter the country of final destination, where
applicable;
- required international vaccination certificates.

Ill - SHORT-STAY VISA

ARTICLE 35: The issuance of a short-stay visa or an online issuance authorization

thereof shall be subject to the production of, as the case may be:

- a passport or travel document valid for at least 6 (six) months;

- an air ticket or a round-trip air ticket or, where necessary, a custorns

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clearance pass;
- required international vaccination certificates;
- proof of purpose of the visit, as well as of conditions and sufficielit means
of subsist�nce, for the duration of the stay;

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- an accommodation certificate issued by the person who undertakes to
lodge the visitor, signed by the mayor with territorial jurisdiction or an
invitation to an event organized on the national territory, or a firm hotel
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reservation for the planned duration of the stay; PRESIDENCE oe LA
PRESIDENCY
- a mission warrant, where applicable. se
SERVI ..............,.. E
IRS CAR{) Ill CE
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FIEE CON,F 1
IV - LONG-STAY VISA E
IED TRUE C
ARTICLE 36: The issuance of a long-stay visa or an online issuance authorization
thereof shall be subject to the production of, as the case may be:
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- a passport or travel document valid for more than 6 (six) months;

a plane ticket or any travel ticket valid up to Cameroon;
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- required international vaccination certificates.

- repatriation deposit;
a registration or re-registration certificate issued by the head of. the
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institution, for students;

- an internship certificate signed by the relevant authority, for interns;
- a contract of employment signed by the Minister in charge . of
employment, for aliens wishing to be salaried employees in Cameroon;
- an authorization to carry out a liberal profession or promote an
agricultural, pastoral, industrial, commercial, artistic or other activity,
issued by the relevant authority, where required;
- proof of marital relationship, for the spouse, or parental relationship for
minor children.

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 CHAPTERIV f
RESIDENCE PERMIT, RESIDENCE CARO AND REFUGEE'S CARO�

SECTION 1
RESIDENCE PERMIT

ARTICLE 37: (1) The residence permit shall be an identification document issued
to aliens duly authorized to stay in Cameroon.

(2) lt shall be valid for a period of 2 (two) years renewable once.

1- CHARACTERISTICS OF THE RESIDENCE PERMIT

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ARTICLE 38: (1) The residence permit shall be a blue laminated and - secured
polycarbonate document, with a pre-printed background in compliance with
ISO/IEC 7810 Standard in 10-1 format. lt shall be computerized, biometric, persona!
and contain an electronic chip.

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(2) The residence permit shall bear the following information in
English and French:

a) on the front:
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- the inscription "REPUBLIC OF CAMEROON" in green block letters;
- the Cameroon flag at the top left corner;
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- the electronic chip slightly beneath the flag;
- the inscription "RESIDENCE PERMIT' in red black letters vertically on the
card;
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- surname;
- first name;
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date of birth;
- nationality;
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- gender;
- height;
- profession;
- signature of relevant authority;
- bearer's photograph;
- the map of the Republic of Cameroon at the centre;
- a clear window at the bottom left corner of the document;
- a micro text.

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 b) on the back:

the bearer's distinctive marks;

- the bearer's address;
- the signature and full name of the signatory authority;
- the identification office;
- the single identification number;
- the date of issue;
- the expiry date;
- the Kapsiki peak overlooking the various landscapes of Cameroon;

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- a clear window with the card's serial number;·
- the inscription "CAMEROON" in black letters at the bottom of the card.

Il - RESIDENCE PERMIT ISSUANCE AND RENEWAL CONDITIONS

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ARTICLE 39: (1) The issuance of the residence permit shall be subject to the
production of:
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- a certified true copy of a valid passport bearing a long-stay visa, no more
than 3 (three) months old;
- a certificate of residence issued by the administrative authority or the
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police officer-in-charge with territorial jurisdiction, bearing the prior and
compulsory signature of the neighbourhood or village head;
- a copy of the special criminai record;
- a valid certificate of non-indebtedness;
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- evidence of payment of the stamp duty fixed by the finance law;

- justification of stay, as provided for in Article 35 above.
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(2) The renewal of the residence permit shall be subject to presentation of

the previous residence permit, at least 1 (one) month before its expiry, and. any
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other justification of stay.

(3) Submission of the application for a resident permit shall entail the
issuance of a provisional identification document indicating the applicant's identity,
parentage, height and scanned signature. This provisional identification document
dated and signed by the relevant unit head, shall bear the identification stamp,
receipt number, stamp category and the applicant's photograph.

(4) Possession of a provisional identification document shall constitute a

presumption of identity.

(5) This provisional identification document shall be v:�li

months, renewable. PRESIDENCE D
PRESI
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RE
TORY AFfAIRS CA RVICE
CERTIFIEE CO .tt!E
 SECTION Il
RESIDENCE C ARO

ARTICLE 40: (1) The residence card shall be an identification paper issued to the
alien authorized as resident in Cameroon.

(2) lt shall be valid for 10 (ten) years, renewable once.

1 - CHARACTERISTICS OF THE RESIDENCE CARO

ARTICLE 41: (1) The residence shall be a blue laminated and secured

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polycarbonate document, with a pre-printed background in compliance with
ISO/IEC 7810 Standard in ID-1 format. lt shall be computerized, biometric, persona!
and contain an electronic chip.

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(2) The residence card shall bear the following information in ·English
and French:

a) on the front:
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- the inscription "REPUBLIC OF CAMEROON" in green black letters;
- the Cameroon flag at the top left corner;
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- the electronic chip slightly below the flag;
- the inscription "RESIDENCE CARO" in red block letters vertically on the
card;
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- surname;
- first name;
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- date of birth
- nationality;
- gender;
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- height;
- profession;
- signature of relevant authority;
- bearer's photograph;
- the map of the Republic of Cameroon at the centre;
a clear window at the bottom left corner of the document;
- micro text.

b) on the back:

- the bearer's distinctive marks;

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 - the bearer's home address;
- the signature and full name of the signatory authority;
the identification office;
- the single identification number;
- the date of issuance;
- the expiry date;
- the Kapsiki peak overlooking the various landscapes of Cameroon;
- the clear window with card's serial number;
- the inscription "CAMEROON" in block letters at the bottom of the card.

Il - RESIDENCE CARO ISSUANCE AND RENEWAL CONDITIONS

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ARTICLE 42: (1) lssuance or renewal of the residence card shall be subject to the
presentation, as the case may be, of the following:

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a) for an alien sojourning or authorized as resident:
- residence permit renewed for the third time or a residence card, at least 1
(one) month to its expiry;
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- certificate of residence issued by the administrative authority or police
officer-in-charge with territorial jurisdiction, bearing the prior and
compulsory signature of the neighbourhood or village head;
- copy of the special criminal record;
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- certified true copy of a valid passport no more than 3 (three) months old,
bearing a long-stay visa;
- evidence of payment of the stamp duty fixed by the finance law;
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- valid debt clearance certificate;

b) for members of duly recognized religious congregations:

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- document of recognition of the congregation;

- identification document testifying membership, duly signed by the head
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of the said congregation;

- certified true copy of valid passport no more than 3 (three) months old;
certificate of residence issued by the administrative authority or police
officer-in-charge with territorial jurisdiction, bearing the prier and
compulsory signature of the religious leader of the congregation;
- a copy of the special criminal record.

c) for the spouse of a person of Cameroonian nationality:

- a certified true copy of the marriage certificate no more than 3 (three)
months old; PRESIDENCE DE LA R
PRE81DENC

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FMRS C�RO !NOE.
IEE CON.F
"-------..--. TRUE CO
 - a certified true copy of a valid passport no more than 3 (three) months
old, bearing a long-stay visa;
a certificate of residence issued by the administrative authority or police
officer-in-charge with territorial jurisdiction, bearing the prior and
compulsory signature of the religious leader of the congregation;
- copy of special criminal record;
- evidence of payment of the stamp duty fixed by the finance law;
- valid certificate of non-indebtedness;

_ (2) Submission of the application for a residence card, shall entail. the
issuance of a provisional identification document indicating the identification office,
the applicant's parentage, height and scanned �ignature. Such provisional

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identification document dated and signed by the relevant unit head, shall bear the
identification stamp, receipt number, stamp category, and applicant's photograph.

(3) Posse�sion of a provisional identification document shall constitute a

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presumption of identity.

(5) This provisional identification document shall be valid for 3 (three)

months, renewable.
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PRE81DENCY -�"""
SE.
SECTION Ill SERY PIIA'l"l•l�I TAIRE .
, SERVICf i
REFUGEE CARO IFIE " RME 1
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TIFIED T PY_.__,I
ARTICLE 43:(1) The refugee card shall be a t'Jentification document issue to the
alien granted the right of asylum.
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(2) lt shall be valid for a renewable period of 2 (two) years.

1 - CHARACTERISTICS OF THE REFUGEE CARO

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ARTICLE 44: (1) The refugee card shall be a red laminated and secured
polycarbonate document, with a pre-printed background in compliance with
ISO/IEC 7810 Standard in 10-1 format lt shall be computerized, biometric, persona!
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and contain an electronic chip.

(2) The refugee card shall bear the following information in English
and French:

a) on the front:
- the inscription "REPUBLIC OF CAMEROON" in green black letters;
- the Cameroon flag at the top left corner;
- the electronic chip slightly below the flag;
- the inscription "REFUGEE CARO" in red block letters vertically on the
card;
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 - surname;
- name;
date of birth
- nationality;
- gender;
- height;
- profession;
- signature of relevant authority;
- bearer's photograph;
the map of the Republic of Cameroon at the centre;
- a clear window at the bottom left corner of the document;

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- micro text.

(b) on the back:

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holder's distinctive marks;
holder's address;
signature and full name of the signatory authority;.,--����.............-,-----,..__..
rc PRESIDENCE DE E
identification office; PRE&tDEN
single identification number: SERY TAU�î
FFMRS ?.VIU
date of issuance; TIFtEE c . M�
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IFIED TRU PW
expiry date;
the Kapsiki peak overlooking the va_!1.. s-1
- a clear window with the card's serial number;
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the inscription "CAMEROON" in block letters at the bottom of the card.

Il - REFUGEE CARO ISSUANCE AND RENEWAL CONDITIONS

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ARTICLE 45: (1) The issuance of the refugee card shall be subject to production by
the alien of the following documents:
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- identification document issued by the United Nations High Commissioner

for Refugees;
- refugee certificate issued by the Minister in charge of external relations.

(2) Renewal of the refugee card shall be subject to production by the

alien_ of the following documents:

- previous refugee certificate, at least 1 (one) month before expiry;

- previous refugee card, at least 1 (one) month before expiry.

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 (3) The issuance and renewal of the refugee card shall be exempt
from stamp duty.

(4) Submission of the application for a refugee card shall entail the
issuance of a provisional identification document indicating the identification office,
the applicant's parentage, height and scanned signature. This provisional
identification document dated and signed by the competent unit head, shall bear
the identification stamp, receipt number, stamp type and category, as well as the
applicant's photograph.

(5) Possession of a provisional identification document shall

constitute a presumption of identity.

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(6) The provisional identity document "shall be valid for 3 (three)
months and may be renewed.
CHAPTERV
FAMILY ACCOMPANIMENT AND FAMILY REUNION

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SECTION 1
COMMON PROVISIONS ON FAMILY REUINON AND FAMILY
ACCOMPANIMENT
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ARTICLE 46: The following members of the family of the alien who wish to stay in
Cameroon for more than 3 (three) months, may benefit from family accompaniment
or family reunion measures:
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spouse;
- miner children or those who have reached the age of majority, but are still
attending school;
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- first-degree ascendants.

ARTICLE 47: The alien applying for family accompaniment or family reunion shall
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be bound to include in his file all supporting documents to prove family ties
between him and the family he wishes to accompany or reunite with.
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ARTICLE 48: Diplomatie missions, consular offices and emi-immigration services

shall facilitate family accompaniment and family reunion.

SECTION Il
FAMILY ACCOMPANIMENT
ARTICLE 49: Family accompaniment shall concern an alien, member of a family,
who wishes to accompany or reunite with in Cameroon, a relative authorized to stay
or as a resident, for a period not exceeding 3 (three) months, having on the ·spot
accommodation and stable and sufficient resources. - ue
PResaoeNce oe LA REREPUBLIC
PRESIDENCY O
SECR IAT GENERAI.
SERVICE IER LEGISLATIF ET REGLEMEN IRE
l IVEANO SlATUTORY AFFAIRS CARO IMOEX SE VICE
E
eoPIE CERTIFIEE CON_FOR
CERTIFIED TRUE COP
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ARTICLE 50: Application for family accompaniment shall be filed at the competent
diplomatie mission or consular office by the alien who wishes to stay in Cameroon
for a period not exceeding 3 (three) months.

SECTION Ill
FAMILY REUNION

ARTICLE 51: Family reunion shall concern an alien, member of a family, who has
to meet in Cameroon, an authorized sojourner or resident, having on the spot
accommodation and stable and sufficient resources.

ARTICLE 52: Application for family reunion shall be filed at emi-immigràtion

services by the alien authorized to sojourn or reside in Cameroon.

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CHAPTERVI
EXIT VISAS

ARTICLE 53: Exit visas shall be classified in the following 5 (five) categories:
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- one-way exit visa;
- round-trip exit visa;
- 3-month multiple exit re-entry visa;
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- 6-month multiple exit re-entry visa;
- 1-year multiple exit re-entry visa.
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ARTICLE 54: Without prejudice to the provisions of Article 54 (2) below, the one­
way exit visa shall be issued to the alien leaving the national territory permanentlt.

ARTICLE 55: (1) The round-trip visa may be issued to an alien authorized to
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sojourn or reside in Cameroon, who so requests.

(2) lts shall be valid for a period of 3 (three) months.

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ARTICLE 56: The 3-month multiple exit re-entry visa may be issued to an alien
authorized to sojourn or reside in Cameroon, who so requests, and whose
residence permit is valid for more than 3 (three) months.

ARTICLE 57: The 6-month multiple exit re-entry visa may be issued on the
approval of the Delegate General for National Security, to the alien authorized to
sojoùrn or reside, who travelled out of the country at least thrice during the year
preceding the application and whose residence permit is valid for more than 6 (six)
months.

ARTICLE 58: The 1-year multiple exit re-entry visa shall be issued on the
approval of the Delegate General for National Security, to the alien authorized to
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sojourn or reside, who travelled out of the country at least 4 (four) times during the
year .preceding the application and whose residence permit is valid for more than 1
(one) year.

ARTICLE 59: (1) The exit visa shall be issued, as the case may be, upon
presentation of the following documents:
- exit authorization from the supervisory authority or mission warrant for aliens
holding management positions in a public establishment or corporation.
- employee's caver letter, for employees of private enterprises;
- certificate of non-indebtedness issued by tax authorities;
- employer's exit authorization for contract employees.

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(2) However, and at the request of judicial authorities or the
Ministers in charge of finance, the Supreme State Audit, labour and/or social
security, posts and telecommunications, exit visas may be suspended for any alien
in breach of the laws and regulations in force.

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CHAPITRE VII
CONDITIONS FOR PAYMENT OF THE REPATRIATION DEPOSIT AND FOR
OBTAINING THE RELEASE THEREOF
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ARTICLE 60: (1) Repatriation shall be guaranteed during application for an entry
visa as follows:
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- for a sojourn not exceeding 3 (three) months and save in case of a transit
visa, by a standard non-transferable and non-negotiable round-trip
circular journey ticket, valid for at least the duration of the planned stay;
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for a stay of more than 3 (three) months, by a standard non-transferàble

and non-negotiable round-trip circular journey ticket, valid for at least 1
(one) year, or by an undertaking to defray duly signed by the employer on
behalf of the persan concerned, with regard to wage-earning aliens.
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(2) However, for a stay of more than 3 (three) months, and in case
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repatriation was guaranteed during the visa application provided for in (1) above,
the alien concerned shall be bound to regularize his situation within no more than 3
(three) months of his entry into Cameroon, by paying to the Cameroon Treasury a
deposit whose amount shall be equivalent to at least the tourist class air ticket from
Yaounde to the capital of his country of origin.

ARTICLE 61: The application for release of the repatriation deposit shall_ be
addressed to the Treasurer Paymaster General who received the payment,
including an attestation from the services in charge of emi-immigration, to prove
that the alien is leaving the national territory permanently.
 CHAPTER VIII
SPECIFIC ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION AND EXPULSION MEASURES

SECTION 1
CONDITIONS FOR TURNING BACK ALIENS

ARTICLE 63: The turnback of aliens shall be a measure taken upon entry into the
national territory by the head of the border or emi-immigration post.

ARTICLE 64: The alien transported and subject to expulsion shall be immediately
escorted to the aircraft or any other sea, river or land transport means carrying him
at the expense of the carrier.

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ARTICLE 65: The turnback measure shall be entered in the log book by the head
of the border or immigration post, and included in a report forwarded to the
Delegate General for National Security.

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SECTION Il
CONDITIONS FOR ESCORTING AN ALIEN TO THE BORDER
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ARTICLE 66: (1) Escorting an alien to the border shall be a measure taken by
order of the senior divisional officer with territorial jurisdiction, upon a reasoned
report by the emi-immigration services.
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(2) Any measure to escort an alien to the border must be duly
notified to the alien within 48 (forty-eight) hours of signature of the order referred to
in (1) above.
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(3) The measure to escort an alien to the border shall be

immediately enforceable at the behest of emi-immigration services.
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SECTION Ill
EXPULSION
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ARTICLE 67: Expulsion shall be decided by order of the Prime Minister, Head of
Government.

ARTICLE 68: The expulsion measure shall be immediately enforceable at the

behest of emi-immigration services.

CHAPTER IX
MISCELLANEOUS AND FINAL PROVISIONS

ARTICLE 69: The residence permit, residence card or refugee card may be
refused any alien whose presence constitutes a threat to public order.
PR.
ATOE
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LATIV! ANDSTATUTotY AFF4t�S C X SERVm!E
. PiE C�RTIIFIEE C RM ,
CERTIPIPn TDII t:N;r tl
ARTICLE 70: ln case of final departure, the alien authorized to stay as a resident or
refugee must hand over his residence permit, residence card or refugee card, as
the case may be, at the time of issuance of his exit visa.

ARTICLE 71: Aliens in irregular status shall have a period of 3 (three) months with
effec_t from the date of publication of this decree to comply with the regulations in
force.

ARTICLE 72: (1) An inter-ministerial committee is hereby set up to monitor the

implementation of this decree. The Committee shall be composed as follows:

Chairperson: - a representative of the Presidency of the Republic;

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Vice-chairpersons:
- a representative of the Minister in charge of external relations;
- a representative of the Delegate General for National Security;

Members:

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- a representative of the Minister in charge of territorial administration;
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- a representative of the Minister in charge of economy;
- a representative of the Minister in charge of industrial development;
- a representative of the Minister in charge of trade;
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PRESIDE
- a representative of the Minister in charge of defence; PR

- a representative of the Minister in charge of justice; ENTAIRI

-- STATUTORY AFFAI X SERV!CJ
PIE CERTIFIEE
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a representative of the Minister in charge o RMe

CERTIFIED T.f.t py
- a representative of the Minister in charge o ployment;
- a representative of the Minister in charge of labour;
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a representative of the Director-General of External Research;

(2) The Director of the Frontier Police shall provide secretarial

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services for the Committee.

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ARTICLE 73: The Committëe shall be empowered to make proposais for the
implementation of regulations relating to the conditions of entry, stay and exit of
aliens in Cameroon.

ARTICLE 74: The Committee shall meet once every six months in ordînary
session, when convened by its Chairperson and in extraordinary session as
needed.

ARTICLE 75: Committee members shall be paid a session allowance charged to

the budget of the Delegation General for National Security.
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ARTICLE 76: Ali previous prov1s1ons repugnant hereto, in particular those of
Decree No. 2007/255 of 4 September 2007 to lay down the conditions of
implementation of Law No. 97/12 of 10 January 1997 to lay down the conditions of
entry, stay and exit for aliens in Cameroon, as amended and supplemented by
Decrees No. 2008/052 of 30 January 2008 and No. 2016/673 of 04 August 2016,
are hereby repealed.

ARTICLE 77: This decree shall be registered, published according to the

procedure of urgency, and inserted in the Official Gazette in English and in French.

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