Cameroon spouse visa: living in Cameroon with a Cameroonian partner

Article 20 of Decree No. 2023/147 lists three groups of foreign residents: foreigners in residence who have lived lawfully in Cameroon for at least six consecutive years, members of duly recognised religious congregations, and the spouse of a person of Cameroonian nationality, subject to the provisions of Article 21(1) of Law No. 97/012 of 10 January 1997 as amended in 2022. In practice the marriage itself is the ground for residence; the spouse does not have to accumulate years on a carte de séjour first.

A spouse who only wants to visit uses the short-stay visa. The Washington mission's checklist notes that when the marital link with a Cameroonian citizen is established, the usual invitation letter and hotel booking are not required for a short visit; the marriage certificate and the spouse's Cameroonian passport or birth certificate suffice.

For the long-stay visa, Article 36 of the decree asks for a passport valid for more than six months, a ticket or travel document to Cameroon, the vaccination certificates, a repatriation guarantee and an act proving the marriage. The Washington mission's long-stay checklist lists, for visits of this type, a copy of the marriage certificate and of the spouse's passport or birth certificate, or any combination of documents that establishes the relationship. Missions also expect proof of means and the flight reservation.

The long-stay visa costs 200,000 XAF under Ordinance No. 2024/001 (EUR 305 in London), and a short visit uses the 100,000 XAF short-stay visa. The stamp duty for the resident card is fixed by the annual finance law; the official pages consulted do not state the current amount, so confirm it with the emigration-immigration service where you apply.

Article 42(1)(c) lists what the spouse of a Cameroonian presents to obtain the resident card: a certified copy of the marriage certificate less than three months old, a certified copy (less than three months old) of the valid passport bearing the long-stay visa, a certificate of domicile issued by the administrative authority or the competent police commissioner and endorsed beforehand by the neighbourhood or village chief, a special criminal record extract, payment of the stamp duty fixed by the finance law, and a valid tax clearance certificate (attestation de non redevance).

The carte de résident is a green polycarbonate card with a chip, valid for ten years and renewable. After the application, the service issues a provisional identity document valid three months and renewable, which serves as presumption of identity until the card is ready. The card can be refused to a foreigner whose presence is a threat to public order, and it must be handed back on final departure when the exit visa is issued.

Renewal of the resident card is requested at least one month before it expires, with the current card and the same supporting documents. As a foreign resident, the spouse needs an exit visa to leave Cameroon: a return exit visa (up to three months), a three-month multiple exit visa, or, with the DGSN's approval, six-month or one-year multiple exit visas for residents who travelled abroad at least three or four times the previous year.