Republic of Cameroon · residence general
Carte de Sejour
By Sam Parks · Last reviewed:
Cameroon's stay card for foreign nationals regularly admitted to stay in Cameroon, valid for two years and renewable twice.
- Processing time
- Mandatory online pre-enrolment through the identity-title process, followed by physical enrolment and DGSN handling unless DGSN grants an exception.
- Government fees
- DGSN lists 150,000 FCFA for Africans, 300,000 FCFA for non-Africans, 200,000 FCFA for French nationals, 50,000 FCFA for students, and 75,000 FCFA for several listed lower-fee categories.
- Typical duration
- Two years, renewable twice.
- Sponsorship required
- No
- Leads to permanent residency
- No
In short
As of 25 July 2026, the Carte de Sejour for Republic of Cameroon is an unsponsored Cameroon immigration route. Sources: official Republic of Cameroon government pages, reviewed 25 July 2026.
Cite this: https://visaatlas.org/visas/cameroon/carte-de-sejour#answer
What is the Carte de Sejour in Republic of Cameroon?
Carte de Sejour is an unsponsored Cameroon route. Indicative government fees are DGSN lists 150,000 FCFA for Africans, 300,000 FCFA for non-Africans, 200,000 FCFA for French nationals, 50,000 FCFA for students, and 75,000 FCFA for several listed lower-fee categories; indicative processing time is Mandatory online pre-enrolment through the identity-title process, followed by physical enrolment and DGSN handling unless DGSN grants an exception; typical duration is Two years, renewable twice. This route does not lead to permanent residence.
Verified against Delegation Generale a la Surete Nationale (DGSN), Cameroon on 28 June 2026.
Overview
DGSN says the carte de sejour is an identification document issued to any foreigner regularly admitted to stay in Cameroon. Possession is compulsory for foreign nationals regularly admitted in Cameroon. The card is valid for two years and renewable twice. DGSN says the procedure uses mandatory online pre-enrolment, unless the Delegate General for National Security grants an exception. For a first request, the file includes a certified passport copy dated less than three months and bearing a long-stay visa, a domicile certificate from the mayor or competent police commissioner, a special criminal-record extract, a valid tax-compliance certificate and justifications for the stay.
Additional sources
Primary source
MINREX - e-Visa procedure for Cameroon ↗ · Ministry of External Relations of Cameroon (MINREX)
Link last verified:
Eligibility
Typical criteria
- ✓The applicant is a foreign national regularly admitted to stay in Cameroon.Delegation Generale a la Surete Nationale (DGSN), Cameroon ↗
- ✓For a first request, the passport is valid, certified within the last three months and bears a long-stay visa.Delegation Generale a la Surete Nationale (DGSN), Cameroon ↗
- ✓The applicant has a domicile certificate from the mayor or territorially competent police commissioner.Delegation Generale a la Surete Nationale (DGSN), Cameroon ↗
- ✓The applicant can provide a special criminal-record extract, valid tax-compliance certificate and justifications for the stay.Delegation Generale a la Surete Nationale (DGSN), Cameroon ↗
Common blockers
- !The passport does not bear the required long-stay visa for a first stay-card request.Delegation Generale a la Surete Nationale (DGSN), Cameroon ↗
- !The applicant cannot show current domicile, criminal-record, tax-compliance or stay-justification documents.Delegation Generale a la Surete Nationale (DGSN), Cameroon ↗
- !The applicant treats short-stay entry as sufficient for residence documentation.Delegation Generale a la Surete Nationale (DGSN), Cameroon ↗
Typical evidence
- ·Certified copy of the valid passport, dated less than three months, bearing the long-stay visa.Delegation Generale a la Surete Nationale (DGSN), Cameroon ↗
- ·Domicile certificate from the mayor or competent police commissioner.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 ↗
- ·Justifications for the stay, such as work, study, family, religious or cooperation evidence.Delegation Generale a la Surete Nationale (DGSN), Cameroon ↗
Application pathway
Check the route fit
Enter or regularise the stay on the correct long-stay basis.
Build the evidence pack
Complete DGSN online pre-enrolment unless an express exception applies.
Submit through the official channel
Prepare passport, domicile, criminal-record, tax-compliance and stay-justification documents.
After approval
Complete physical enrolment and keep the card current through renewal before expiry.
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 stay-card requirements ↗
Use this official Cameroon source to confirm the current requirements, filing channel and evidence for read dgsn stay-card requirements.
Delegation Generale a la Surete Nationale (DGSN), Cameroon · verified
- Official guidanceApplicantCheck the long-stay visa route first ↗
Use this official Cameroon source to confirm the current requirements, filing channel and evidence for check the long-stay visa route first.
Ministry of External Relations of Cameroon (MINREX) · verified
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Related routes
Long-Stay eVisa
Cameroon online long-stay entry visa, valid up to twelve months and normally used before applying for residence documentation where the stay continues in Cameroon.
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.
Carte de Resident
Cameroon's ten-year resident card for foreign nationals admitted as residents, including people moving from a twice-renewed stay card.
Frequently asked questions
How long is the Cameroon carte de sejour valid?+
DGSN says the stay card is valid for two years and renewable twice.
What does DGSN require for a first stay-card request?+
DGSN lists a certified valid passport copy bearing a long-stay visa, domicile certificate, special criminal-record extract, valid tax-compliance certificate and stay justifications.
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 in CameroonHow we verified this
We check every figure on this page against the primary government source, record the date it was last checked, and re-check it on a regular schedule. Rules change, so always confirm time-sensitive details with the official source before you rely on them. Visa Atlas is an information-only publication and does not give legal advice.
Primary source: Delegation Generale a la Surete Nationale (DGSN), Cameroon
Last checked: 28 June 2026