Cameroon is marking the third anniversary of its e-Visa on April 30, following the system’s official launch on April 30, 2023.
To mark the occasion, Cameroon’s Ministry of External Relations shared a recap graphic on social media, emphasizing the system’s role in making travel to the country easier.
According to the ministry’s post, more than 541,000 visitors have benefited from a “safe and smooth experience” since the portal was introduced. The message is aimed both at international travelers and at the Cameroonian diaspora, two groups directly affected by the gradual digitization of consular procedures.
For the authorities, the e-Visa is part of a broader policy to modernize public administration and promote Cameroon as a destination, an effort that began when the project was launched. When the system was presented in 2023, the ministry said the portal was designed to allow applicants to obtain an entry visa for Cameroon within 72 hours after submitting their request.
More than 541,000 visitors to Cameroon since the e-Visa launch
The main figure highlighted by Cameroonian diplomacy is therefore the “over 541,000 visitors” welcomed through the e-Visa system since its launch.
That total represents significant growth compared with the system’s first year of operation. In April 2024, Cameroonian authorities had already reported nearly 158,000 visitors welcomed through the electronic visa, one year after it took effect.
Introduced to replace a large share of in-person procedures at embassies and consulates, Cameroon’s e-Visa allows travelers to submit their application online, fill out the form, upload supporting documents and pay the visa fee remotely. The official Evisacam portal, available at evisacam.cm or evisacam.com, is presented as Cameroon’s online visa application platform, accessible “quickly and securely.”
A process designed to simplify pre-departure formalities
Cameroon’s Ministry of External Relations, known as MINREX, describes the e-Visa as a process built around online pre-enrollment. Applicants must have, among other things, a computer or smartphone, an internet connection, a valid passport, a Visa or Mastercard bank card, and supporting documents scanned separately. Once the application has been approved, the traveler receives an “approved pre-enrollment” certificate with a QR code. Biometric data is then collected on arrival in Cameroon, before the visa is issued by the relevant authorities.
The procedure may then vary depending on the traveler’s situation. When the project was launched, authorities said applicants living far from consular posts could receive an online visa issuance authorization with a QR code, while applicants living near a competent post could be called in for biometric enrollment.
Cameroon therefore presents its e-Visa as both a simplification tool and a way to secure entries into the country. The goal is to allow travelers to handle the formalities before departure, while maintaining processing by diplomatic missions, consular posts or the relevant authorities, depending on the case.
Cameroon’s system is not limited to a single type of visa. According to MINREX information, a short-stay visa can be issued for up to six months, while a long-stay visa can be valid for up to 12 months. MINREX also states that entry visas may, depending on the case, be issued for multiple entries.
The official fees listed by the ministry are 100,000 CFA francs for a standard short-stay visa, 150,000 CFA francs for an express short-stay visa, 150,000 CFA francs for a standard long-stay visa and 200,000 CFA francs for an express long-stay visa. The transit visa, valid for a maximum of five days, remains free of charge according to the same official presentation.
Consular cards, laissez-passer and consular posts
Beyond the electronic visa itself, the graphic shared by Cameroonian diplomacy also presents several figures related to digital consular services.
The ministry reports more than 5,700 consular cards issued to members of the Cameroonian diaspora in six months, as well as more than 510 ordinary and mortuary laissez-passers. The visual also mentions 46 consular posts serving users, two operational international airports — Douala and Yaoundé-Nsimalen — and more than 30 government departments and partner organizations associated with the system.
Those figures show that the eVisa Cameroon portal now extends beyond tourist and business visa applications alone.
From the outset, the e-Visa project was presented as a step in the digital transformation of Cameroon’s public administration. At the time, the Ministry of External Relations said the system was intended to make procedures easier for users of consular services, while bringing Cameroon’s processes closer to international standards.
Three years later, the results highlighted by Cameroonian diplomacy confirm the central role this portal now plays in travel formalities for Cameroon. For travelers, the e-Visa remains the main gateway for preparing an entry authorization request before departure. For the authorities, it is also a tool for management, monitoring and destination promotion, at a time when many African countries are continuing to digitize visas, arrival cards and consular services.
