Cameroon foreign employment and residence in 2026
A foreign national taking salaried employment in Cameroon should separate labour-contract authorization, the long-stay visa, and the residence permit.
The 2023 immigration decree says a long-stay visa application for an alien wishing to be a salaried employee can require a contract of employment signed/endosed by the minister in charge of employment.
MINEFOP role
The Ministry of Employment and Vocational Training (MINEFOP) states that its Directorate of Labour Regulation is responsible for workforce regulation, including endorsement of employment contracts and monitoring of national and expatriate labour.
This labour step is not replaced by an e-visa application.
Long-stay immigration step
Contract workers are listed among Cameroon's long-stay aliens. The long-stay visa is for a planned stay exceeding six months and can be valid for up to twelve months.
Article 26 also makes clear that short-stay or tourist status is not the correct authorization for taking employment.
Residence permit
Once legally resident, the foreign employee must address the DGSN residence-permit process. The 2025 rules require a valid passport with long-stay visa, residence certificate, special criminal record, tax-compliance certificate and justification for the purpose of stay.
The residence permit is valid for two years and renewable twice under the current 2025 identification decree.
See residence permit and resident card.
Verified against Presidency and MINEFOP sources on 19 September 2026.
Return to the Cameroon immigration hub, explore Africa, review our methodology, and read the legal disclaimer.
Official and supporting sources
- Presidency — Decree No. 2023/147legislation · accessed 2026-09-19
- MINEFOP — Directorate of Labour Regulationgovernment · accessed 2026-09-19
- MINEFOP — Foreign worker visasgovernment · accessed 2026-09-19