Cameroon

CMR

Often called 'Africa in miniature', Cameroon encompasses rainforests, savanna, mountains, and coastline within a single country. It shares a border with Nigeria to the west and the Central African Republic to the east, and sits at the economic heart of the CEMAC zone, using the CFA franc pegged to the euro. Yaoundé serves as the political capital while Douala is the commercial hub and main port. The country is officially bilingual in French and English, though Anglophone regions in the northwest and southwest have faced political tensions since 2016. The economy is driven by oil, agriculture, and timber. Naturalisation requires five years of lawful residence, and Cameroon does not recognise dual citizenship for naturalised citizens.

Passport Rank

#93

Visa-Free

destinations

Country Details

Capital: Yaoundé
Currency: Central African CFA Franc (XAF)
Languages: French, English
Population: 27,914,536
Tax System: Residence Based
Dual Citizenship: Not allowed
Naturalisation: 5 years
Schengen / EU: No
Climate: Equatorial in the south and along the coast; semi-arid and hot in the north
English Proficiency Rank: #62

Indices

Cost of Living

Safety

Healthcare

Quality of Life

Tax Summary

Tax System: Residence Based
Territorial Taxation: No — worldwide income taxed for residents
Naturalisation: 5 years of legal residency
Dual Citizenship: Not allowed

Cost of Living by City

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Monthly cost of living per major city in USD: rent, groceries, utilities, transit pass
City	Rent 1BR centre	Rent outside	Groceries	Utilities	Transit pass
Yaoundé	—	—	—	—	—
Douala	—	—	—	—	—
Bafoussam	—	—	—	—	—

Monthly USD figures. Typical central 1-bedroom rent, grocery basket for one, household utilities, monthly transit pass.

Climate

Douala

28.5°J

28.9°F

28.5°M

28.1°A

27.9°M

26.9°J

25.9°J

25.6°A

26.2°S

26.8°O

27.5°N

28.3°D

Rainfall range: 30–690 mm/month · Daylight 12h (winter) to 12h (summer)

Yaoundé

24.8°J

25.8°F

25.7°M

25.2°A

24.9°M

23.9°J

23.3°J

23.3°A

23.7°S

24.2°O

24.5°N

24.4°D

Rainfall range: 20–295 mm/month · Daylight 12h (winter) to 12h (summer)

Visa Categories & Immigration Authority

Major Visa Categories

Tourist
Business
Long-stay
Work
Family
Student
Investor

Authority: Délégation Générale à la Sûreté Nationale
Official Portal: www.dgsn.cm
Phone: +237 222 22 18 18
Email: contact@dgsn.cm

Naturalisation Details

Residence Years: 5
Language Test: Yes (French + English (official))
Civic Test: No
Oath Required: Yes
Dual Allowed: No
Fee: $650
Processing: ~15 months

Safety

GPI Rank

#137

Global Peace Index ranking (lower is safer)

Common Risks

⚠Advance-fee fraud (feymen): well-dressed contacts cultivate trust before presenting business or investment schemes requiring upfront payment
⚠Police and gendarmerie checkpoint shakedowns on inter-city roads demanding invented document or road-tax fees from foreigners
⚠Airport and taxi overcharging: drivers quote 3–5x the legitimate fare to new arrivals at Douala and Yaoundé airports

Examples of areas to avoid: Yaoundé — Mokolo Market area: high petty crime and bag-snatching, especially after dark, Douala — New Bell district: historically the most crime-prone area, avoid after dark, Northwest and Southwest regions (Bamenda, Buea): active Anglophone armed conflict since 2017; all major foreign governments advise against non-essential travel

Related Guides

Exit tax: countries that charge you to leave

Country-by-country reference of departure taxes, deemed-disposition rules, and wealth-locking regimes that trigger when tax residency ends.

Sources & last verified

Last verified 2026-06-15