Applying for a French visa from Cameroon: instructions

Citizens of Cameroon who plan to visit France for a short stay must hold a Schengen visa. This visa, also called a "type C" visa, allows free entry and movement for up to 90 days within any 180-day period in the Schengen Area, which consists of 29 countries... including France! The good news is that since January 2020, the process for applying for a French visa in Cameroon has been simplified. Gone are the long queues in front of the embassy or consulate!
Follow the new procedure below.

Where should I apply for a French visa in Cameroon?

Any visa application submitted by someone residing in Cameroon (whether a Cameroonian citizen or a foreign national residing legally in Cameroon who must apply for a Schengen visa) will be processed by the French Embassy in Yaoundé or by the French Consulate General in Douala.
Only these two official representations are authorized to make decisions regarding visas.

What is the procedure to follow for a French visa application in Cameroon?

Before submitting your visa application, you must follow the following procedure:

1. You must log in and create a personal account on France-Visas (france-visas.gouv.fr), the official visa website for France.
2. You must fill out the online French visa application form. Print and sign it. You will attach this form to the application file you will present at your appointment with the consular service.
3. You must review the list of documents and supporting documents to attach to your application file.
4. You will then be directed to book a French visa appointment online for free via the French Embassy website in Cameroon. Depending on your place of residence, you will either have an appointment at the visa service of the French Embassy in Yaoundé or at the visa service of the French Consulate General in Douala. You must print the appointment receipt that you will present on the day of the interview to submit your file and have your biometric data (fingerprints and photo) collected. You will receive a confirmation email for your appointment.

ATTENTION! French consular authorities warn visa applicants in Cameroon about fraudulent websites. Only France-Visas is the official website for visa applications and authorized to specify the supporting documents to attach to your file.

Where should I submit my French visa application in Cameroon?

The location for submitting your French visa application depends on your place of residence in Cameroon.
At the French Embassy in Cameroon (in Yaoundé) if you reside in one of the following regions:

• Adamawa
• Center, except the Nyong-et-Kéllé department
• East
• Far North
• South, except the Ocean department

At the French Consulate General in Douala (even if you have a passport issued in Yaoundé) if you reside in one of the following regions:

• Littoral
• West
• North-West
• Departments of Ocean and Nyong-et-Kéllé

Contacts

1. French Embassy in Cameroon (in Yaoundé)
Address: Plateau Atémengué BP 309 Yaoundé – Cameroon
Phone: (+237) 222.22.79.50
Email: visa.yaounde-amba@diplomatie.gouv.fr

2. French Consulate General in Douala
Address: Ave. des Cocotiers Quartier Bonanjo - BP 869 Douala – Cameroon
Phone: (+237) 233 50.17.00 (Tuesday and Thursday from 3:00 PM to 5:00 PM)
Email: visas.douala-fslt@diplomatie.gouv.fr

What are the processing times for my visa application to France?

As with any visa application, don’t wait until the last minute! Preparing the file, gathering certain supporting documents, securing an appointment, and processing the visa application all take time.

You can submit a French visa application up to 6 months before your planned travel date.
It is recommended to make an appointment to submit your visa application at least 15 days to 3 weeks before your planned departure date.
Attention! Some periods of the year are busier (such as the summer and winter school holiday periods), with more visa applications.
"Appointment availability may exceed reasonable times (several weeks)," according to the France-Visas website. It is therefore highly recommended to apply even earlier during these busy periods.

What documents do I need to provide for a short stay French visa application?

At your appointment with the visa services, you must bring your complete application file with all required documents and supporting documents (both originals and copies) as specified during your online registration. These documents may vary depending on the purpose of your trip and your profile.
The list below is not exhaustive.
Among the required documents are:

• Your passport: issued within the last 10 years, valid for at least 3 months after the date you plan to leave the Schengen Area, with 2 blank pages.
• The French visa application form (Cerfa n°14076*04), duly filled out and signed.
• The France-Visas receipt.
• Two identical, recent passport photos that meet the standards.
• Proof of your legal residence (residence permit) in Cameroon if you are not a Cameroonian citizen.
• Proof of the purpose of your trip: round-trip ticket reservation or itinerary, proof of family relationship with the host in case of a family visit, etc.
• Proof of accommodation: attestation d’accueil (if the host’s income is not stated on the attestation, attach their tax notice and the last 3 pay slips), hotel reservation, etc.
• Proof of your financial means: the last 3 bank statements, last 3 pay slips, or pension statements.
• Proof of your ties to your home country: these may differ depending on your status (employee, civil servant, merchant, self-employed, retired, student, etc.) and will be specified when you apply online.
• Travel medical insurance certificate: this is mandatory.

Visa Application for France in Cameroon: Special Cases

For Holders of Official Passports

After completing their visa pre-application on France-Visas, holders of diplomatic passports or service passports are received, without an appointment, by the consular section of the French Embassy in Yaoundé.
Their visa application must be made at least 48 hours before departure.
Holders of these types of passports who are applying for a visa as part of their duties are exempt from visa fees.

Airport Transit Visa Application

People holding a regular passport issued by Cameroon who must transit through a French airport before reaching their final destination (outside the Schengen area) are required to have an airport transit visa (referred to as type "A").
To apply for a VTA, they must log in to the France-Visas website to know the procedure to follow and the supporting documents to attach to their application. They must also pay VTA visa fees (80 €) during their appointment.

Note: A VTA does not allow its holder to enter the Schengen area, including France. They must remain in the international zone of the airport they are transiting through.

How Does the Visa Appointment Process Work?

Forget the two-hour wait in line before you can submit your visa application! From now on, you must arrive at the time of the appointment that has been confirmed to you. Please note that for security reasons and to avoid overcrowding, you will only be able to access the visa service of the Embassy or Consulate 15 minutes before your appointment time.
You must appear in person at the appointment, bringing your valid passport, the completed, dated, and signed visa application form, the file containing all the original required supporting documents in the order of the requested document list, as well as another file with photocopies of all the required documents. You must also have the payment method for the visa fees.
An agent will check if your file is complete before submitting it to the decision-making visa issuing service.
Your biometric data (fingerprints and photo) will be collected, and you must pay the visa fees. You will be given a receipt with a payment receipt number, which you will need to present when you come to collect your passport.

Reminder: A complete file does not guarantee the automatic issuance of a visa. To know if your France visa application has been accepted, you will receive a notification via email, SMS, or in your personal space.

What is the Visa Application Fee for France?

The visa application fees are collected by the French authorities and are non-refundable even in case of visa refusal. The fees are set in euros but must be paid in local currency (FCFA).

• The fees for a short-stay visa for France are as follows:
  Adult: 80 €
  Child aged 12 to 18 years: 80 €
  Child aged 6 to under 12 years: 40 €
  Child under 6 years: free
  Spouses of French nationals and family members of EU-EEA-Swiss nationals: free
   
• For a short-stay visa for Guadeloupe, Guyane, Martinique, Réunion, Saint-Martin, and Saint-Barthélemy:
  Adult: 60 €
  Child aged 12 to 18 years: 60 €
  Child aged 6 to under 12 years: 35 €
  Child under 6 years: free
  Spouses of French nationals and family members of EU-EEA-Swiss nationals: free
   
• For a short-stay visa for New Caledonia, French Polynesia, Wallis and Futuna, Saint Pierre and Miquelon, Mayotte, and the French Southern and Antarctic Lands: 9 €
  Spouses of French nationals and family members of EU-EEA-Swiss nationals: free

Am I required to take travel insurance to come to France?

Yes. In accordance with the Schengen Visa Code, Cameroonian applicants for a short-stay visa must necessarily attach proof of travel insurance to their application. Without this certificate, your France visa application will be refused. This travel insurance must cover you in case of accidents, health issues, medical emergencies, and repatriation. The travel health insurance must provide a minimum coverage of 30,000 euros.

Why choose AXA Schengen travel insurance to obtain a France visa?

AXA Schengen insurance meets all the standards required for obtaining a Schengen visa. Indeed, the AXA Schengen travel insurance covers various medical expenses, repatriation, as well as necessary assistance during your entire stay within the Schengen Area. Its three distinct plans: Low Cost insurance, Europe Travel insurance, and Multi Trip insurance, adapt to your needs and budget.
Benefit from a particularly attractive price, a fully secure payment method, and a simplified and fast online process. In just a few clicks, you get your certificate to include in your visa application file!

Covid: Entry conditions for France

To know the latest information regarding entry conditions to France during the health crisis (vaccination, tests, quarantine, etc.), we invite you to check the Ministry of the Interior's website as you approach your departure date for France.

For more information

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• How to obtain a visa for France in Tunisia?
• How to obtain a visa for France in Ivory Coast?
• How to obtain a visa for France in the Democratic Republic of Congo?
• How to obtain a visa for France in Madagascar?
• How to obtain a visa for France in Gabon?
• How to obtain a visa for France in Senegal?
• Marriage in France: What visa should you apply for to come to France?
• What is a tourist visa for France?
• How to obtain a student visa for France?
• How to obtain a work visa for France?

Frequently Asked Questions about France Visa from Cameroon

Where should I apply for a France visa in Cameroon?

After completing a pre-application on France-Visas - the only official site for visa applications to France - you will book an appointment online and free of charge with the consular service corresponding to your place of residence in Cameroon. You will submit your France visa application at the French Embassy in Yaoundé or at the Consulate General of France in Douala.

How can I know if my France visa application made in Cameroon has been accepted?

By logging into your personal account on France-Visas and entering your visa fee receipt number, you can track the status of your application. You will be notified of the decision by email/SMS or through your personal account, and you will be invited to collect your passport in person.

Can I extend my short-stay France visa?

In principle, no. However, in very specific cases, it is possible to request an extension of your short-stay visa. This must be done before your visa expires.