Republic of Cameroon · residence general · Leads to settlement
Carte de Resident
By Sam Parks · Last reviewed:
Cameroon's ten-year resident card for foreign nationals admitted as residents, including people moving from a twice-renewed stay card.
- Processing time
- DGSN identity-title process using online pre-enrolment, evidence review and enrolment unless an exception applies.
- Government fees
- DGSN lists 300,000 FCFA for Africans, 750,000 FCFA for non-Africans, 500,000 FCFA for French nationals, and 75,000 FCFA for expatriate families, religious people, non-working spouses and dependent children aged over 12 and under 18.
- Typical duration
- Ten years.
- Sponsorship required
- No
- Leads to permanent residency
- Yes
Overview
DGSN says the carte de resident is an identification document issued to any foreigner admitted as resident in Cameroon, and that possession is compulsory for foreign nationals admitted as residents. The card is valid for ten years. For a foreigner in stay status or admitted as resident, the application or renewal file includes a stay card renewed for the second time or a resident card valid at least one month before expiry, a certified valid passport copy dated less than three months, a domicile certificate, a special criminal-record extract and a valid tax-compliance certificate. DGSN also gives separate evidence categories for religious-congregation members and family cases.
Eligibility
Typical criteria
- ✓The applicant is a foreigner admitted as resident in Cameroon or moving from the qualifying stay-card position.Delegation Generale a la Surete Nationale (DGSN), Cameroon ↗
- ✓For the general route, the applicant has a stay card renewed for the second time or a resident card valid at least one month before expiry.Delegation Generale a la Surete Nationale (DGSN), Cameroon ↗
- ✓The applicant has a certified valid passport copy dated less than three months.Delegation Generale a la Surete Nationale (DGSN), Cameroon ↗
- ✓The applicant can provide domicile, special criminal-record and valid tax-compliance evidence.Delegation Generale a la Surete Nationale (DGSN), Cameroon ↗
Common blockers
- !The applicant has not reached the required stay-card position for the general resident-card route.Delegation Generale a la Surete Nationale (DGSN), Cameroon ↗
- !The current card is not valid at least one month before expiry for renewal handling.Delegation Generale a la Surete Nationale (DGSN), Cameroon ↗
- !Passport, domicile, criminal-record or tax-compliance evidence is missing or stale.Delegation Generale a la Surete Nationale (DGSN), Cameroon ↗
Typical evidence
- ·Stay card renewed for the second time or existing resident card valid at least one month before expiry.Delegation Generale a la Surete Nationale (DGSN), Cameroon ↗
- ·Certified copy of valid passport dated less than three months.Delegation Generale a la Surete Nationale (DGSN), Cameroon ↗
- ·Domicile certificate.Delegation Generale a la Surete Nationale (DGSN), Cameroon ↗
- ·Special criminal-record extract.Delegation Generale a la Surete Nationale (DGSN), Cameroon ↗
- ·Valid tax-compliance certificate.Delegation Generale a la Surete Nationale (DGSN), Cameroon ↗
Application pathway
Check the route fit
Confirm that the applicant is admitted as resident or has the qualifying stay-card history.
Build the evidence pack
Prepare the current card, passport and supporting evidence within DGSN validity rules.
Submit through the official channel
Complete online pre-enrolment and physical enrolment through the DGSN identity-title process.
After approval
Maintain the ten-year resident card and renew before the one-month-before-expiry threshold.
Official application links
Where to actually go next
These are the official pages to use for this route. Open them before preparing documents: the forms, fees, appointment systems, and sponsor steps can change without warning.
- ChecklistApplicantRead DGSN resident-card requirements ↗
Use this official Cameroon source to confirm the current requirements, filing channel and evidence for read dgsn resident-card requirements.
Delegation Generale a la Surete Nationale (DGSN), Cameroon · verified
Also explored by
Compare Republic of Cameroon with
Related routes
Carte de Sejour
Cameroon's stay card for foreign nationals regularly admitted to stay in Cameroon, valid for two years and renewable twice.
Family Resident Card
Family-facing resident-card route for spouses and expatriate family members, using DGSN's resident-card evidence and lower family fee category.
Carte de Sejour Renewal or Replacement
Renewal, loss, theft or deterioration handling for the Cameroon stay card, using DGSN evidence rules and the one-month-before-expiry renewal condition.
Frequently asked questions
How long is the Cameroon resident card valid?+
DGSN says the carte de resident is valid for ten years.
Can a stay-card holder move to a resident card?+
DGSN lists a stay card renewed for the second time among the evidence for the foreigner in stay status or admitted resident route.
Need tailored advice?
We do not provide legal advice. For an application that depends on your exact circumstances, consult a regulator-listed immigration advisor.
Find a regulated advisor