According to a statement made public on April 6 by the Minister of External Relations (Minrex), this measure will be effective from April 30, 2023.
Since April 6, 2023, we know a little more regarding the electronic entry visa to Cameroon. A press release from the Minister of External Relations specifies that “from April 30, 2023, all visa applications to Cameroon will be made exclusively online from the www.evisacam.cm platform”. This is the concretization of the decree setting the terms of application of law n ° 97/012 of January 10, 1997 relating to the conditions of entry, stay and exit of foreigners in Cameroon signed on July 2, March 2023 by the President of the Republic, Paul Biya.
According to the press release from the Cameroonian Minister of External Relations, it all starts with online pre-enlistment. Visa applicants are therefore invited to go to www.evisacam.cm to create a user account. Then, they are required to provide certain information such as personal data. The 2nd step is to pay the e-Visa fees online. Among other means of payment offered once the form is completed, a Visa or MasterCard credit card and PayPal. A notification of payment will be sent by email or sms. Then the processing of the request. This is done at the level of the Diplomatic Mission or the legally competent or geographically close Consular Post. The Minrex press release points out that for applicants located in areas far from the Post Office and not covered, an authorization to issue an online visa with a QR code will be issued.
“For those residing in the city where the competent post is located, a notification by email or text message is sent to them to make an appointment with a view to their presentation for the biometric enrollment formality. Either procedure takes place within 72 hours of pre-enrollment. This period is reduced to 24 hours as part of an express procedure,” he adds. Finally, 4th step, the affixing of the visa.
Who is affected by this digital visa?
The Minrex press release informs that only arrivals in Cameroon by air are eligible for the e-Visa, at least for the moment. “The e-Visa system will be gradually implemented at land and sea checkpoints and entry points shortly,” reads the said press release.
It should be noted that the affixing of the visa is carried out either at the entry control point, for holders of an online visa issuance authorization, or at the competent embassy or consulate, for applicants with performed their biometric enrollment in person. “Ultimately, the Cameroon e-Visa system responds to the concern to make the Cameroon destination more attractive, to respond to the grievances of the Cameroonian diaspora and to align our consular system with international standards in the matter,” confides the Minister of External Relations, Lejeune Mbella Mbella.
This electronic visa system makes it possible to centralize and protect the data recorded on the digital platform. But also to control the flows of entries and exits on the Cameroonian territory as well as the receipts of the State.
