Middle Africa · UN member
Cameroon: Travel Guide & Requirements
Republic of Cameroon · République du Cameroun
Cameroon is a country in Middle Africa with its capital in Yaounde. It has a population of 29.9 million (#51 in the world) and covers 475,440 km². The official languages are English and French. The currency is the Central African CFA franc (XAF, Fr).
Where is Cameroon? Map of Cameroon
Central Africa, bordering the Bight of Biafra, between Equatorial Guinea and Nigeria.
- Region
- Middle Africa
- Coordinates
- 6° N, 12° E
- Neighbours
- 6 — see list
- Coastline
- 402 km
- Cameroon
- Neighbours
- Capital
- Largest cities
Map of Cameroon showing Yaounde (capital) and the largest cities: Douala, Bamenda, Bafoussam, Maroua, Ngaoundéré, Kumba, Nkongsamba and Buea.
Travel requirements
What you need to travel to Cameroon
- Passport
Cameroon's eVisa portal lists a passport or other travel document valid for at least six months among the documents for transit and short-stay visas, and valid for more than six months for long-stay visas.
- Visa or eTA
Depends on your passport: of 198 passports, 6 need no visa, 192 need an eVisa. Check yours or see Cameroon entry requirements for every passport.
- Return or onward ticket
Cameroon's eVisa portal lists a return plane ticket or circular transport ticket among the documents for a short-stay visa, and an airline ticket valid to the destination or other proof of onward travel for a transit vi…
- Proof of funds
Cameroon's eVisa portal lists proof of the purpose of the visit, as well as sufficient means of subsistence, among the documents for a short-stay visa.
- Travel insurance
No official requirement. The UK government says emergency medical facilities are extremely limited and that serious medical treatment requires medical evacuation to Europe.
- Vaccinations
WHO's country list says proof of vaccination against yellow fever is required for all travellers aged 1 year or over entering Cameroon.
- Travel advice
High risk — US and UK advice.
Entry rules: TravelRequirements.info — Entry Requirements Dataset (CC BY 4.0), each rule cited to an official government source. Always confirm with the airline and the official source before you travel.
Before you go
10 things to know before you travel to Cameroon
- Safety: Travel to Cameroon carries a high risk: the US State Department rates Cameroon Level 2 (“Exercise Increased Caution”), and the UK Foreign Office advises against all travel to parts of the country.
- Best time to go: December to February and July — when daytime highs in Yaounde are around 26–29°C.
- Money: the Central African CFA franc (XAF) — 1 US dollar is about 584.5354 XAF.
- Plugs: type C and E, 220 V, 50 Hz — standard 220–240 V: devices from the US or Japan (110–120 V) need a converter unless they are dual voltage (100–240 V).
- Emergency numbers: Police 112, Ambulance 112, Fire 112.
- Language: English and French are official.
- Driving: on the right — speed limits are 60 km/h in built-up areas and 110 km/h outside built-up areas.
- Time zone: UTC+1 in Yaounde.
- Capital: Yaounde. About 29.9 million people live in Cameroon.
- Outdoors: 23 national parks.
Key facts
Cameroon at a glance
Languages spoken: 24 major African language groups, English (official), French (official)
Geography & history
About Cameroon
Powerful chiefdoms ruled much of the area of present-day Cameroon before it became a German colony known as Kamerun in 1884. After World War I, the territory was divided between France and the UK as League of Nations mandates. French Cameroon became independent in 1960 as the Republic of Cameroon. The following year, the southern portion of neighboring British Cameroon voted to merge with the new country to form the Federal Republic of Cameroon. In 1972, a new constitution replaced the federation with a unitary state, the United Republic of Cameroon. The country has generally enjoyed stability, which has enabled the development of agriculture, roads, and railways, as well as a petroleum ind…
Read the full history
Powerful chiefdoms ruled much of the area of present-day Cameroon before it became a German colony known as Kamerun in 1884. After World War I, the territory was divided between France and the UK as League of Nations mandates. French Cameroon became independent in 1960 as the Republic of Cameroon. The following year, the southern portion of neighboring British Cameroon voted to merge with the new country to form the Federal Republic of Cameroon. In 1972, a new constitution replaced the federation with a unitary state, the United Republic of Cameroon. The country has generally enjoyed stability, which has enabled the development of agriculture, roads, and railways, as well as a petroleum industry. Nonetheless, unrest and violence in the country's two western, English-speaking regions have persisted since 2016. Movement toward democratic reform is slow, and political power remains firmly in the hands of President Paul BIYA.
Location
Central Africa, bordering the Bight of Biafra, between Equatorial Guinea and Nigeria
Climate
varies with terrain, from tropical along coast to semiarid and hot in north
Terrain
diverse, with coastal plain in southwest, dissected plateau in center, mountains in west, plains in north
Highest point
Fako on Mont Cameroun 4,045 m
Natural resources
petroleum, bauxite, iron ore, timber, hydropower
Natural hazards
volcanic activity with periodic releases of poisonous gases from Lake Nyos and Lake Monoun volcanoes volcanism: Mt. Cameroon (4,095 m), which last erupted in 2000, is the most frequently active volcano in West Africa; lakes in the Oku volcanic field sometimes…
National symbols
lion
Driving
Speed limits & road rules in Cameroon
The default speed limits in Cameroon are 60 km/h in built-up areas and 110 km/h outside built-up areas. The legal alcohol limit for drivers is 0.8‰. Posted signs always take priority over these defaults.
- 6060 km/hBuilt-up areasTowns and cities
- 110110 km/hOutside built-up areasCountry roads
- International Driving PermitNot a party to the IDP conventionsCheck with the embassy whether your licence is accepted
- Driving sideDrive on the rightOvertake on the left
- Alcohol limit0.8‰ blood alcohol (0.08% BAC)
- Seat beltsRequired by law
- Child seatsNo national child-restraint law
- Motorcycle helmetsRequired for riders
- Road deaths (2021)10.6 per 100,000 peopleClose to the world median (12.4)
Speed limits: OpenStreetMap wiki — Default speed limits (CC BY-SA 2.0). Road-safety laws: WHO Global Health Observatory. Compare speed limits and alcohol limits by country. Defaults for cars; local signs, weather and vehicle type can lower them.
Safety
Is Cameroon safe to visit?
Travel to Cameroon carries a high risk: the US State Department rates Cameroon Level 2 (“Exercise Increased Caution”), and the UK Foreign Office advises against all travel to parts of the country.
US State Department
UK Foreign Office (FCDO)Latest update: FCDO no longer advises against all but essential travel to the majority of Adamawa Region. FCDO continues to advise against all but essential or all travel to parts of Cameroon.
Updated 9 Feb 2026 · Full travel advice
Sources: US Department of State travel advisories (public domain) and UK FCDO foreign travel advice (contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0). Checked daily. Advice can change quickly — always read the official page before you travel.
Weather
Best time to visit Cameroon
The best time to visit Cameroon is December to February and July, when daytime highs in Yaounde are around 26–29°C. March to June, August to September and November are also a good time to go. February is the warmest month (29°C by day), January the coldest (19°C at night), and October the wettest with about 231 mm of rain.
- Jan29°C19°C
- Feb29°C20°C
- Mar28°C21°C
- Apr28°C21°C
- May27°C21°C
- Jun27°C20°C
- Jul26°C19°C
- Aug26°C19°C
- Sep26°C20°C
- Oct26°C20°C
- Nov27°C20°C
- Dec28°C19°C
Best time Good Less ideal
Before you go
Plugs, voltage & emergency numbers in Cameroon
Plugs & sockets
220 V, 50 Hz · Standard 220–240 V: devices from the US or Japan (110–120 V) need a converter unless they are dual voltage (100–240 V).
Emergency numbers
112 works from any mobile phone, even without a SIM card in most networks. All countries →
Sources: Wikipedia — Mains electricity by country and List of emergency telephone numbers (CC BY-SA 4.0).
National parks
23 national parks in Cameroon
- 33,732 km² protected
- oldest from 1932
Largest: Mbam Djerem National Park · Faro National Park · Nki National Park
Currency · 26 October 2026
Central African CFA franc exchange rates today
Cameroon uses the Central African CFA franc (XAF, Fr). One US dollar buys 584.5354 XAF; over the last 30 days the XAF has lost 1.5% against the dollar.
What other currencies cost in XAF
Currency converter
Daily reference rates from the open-source currency-api (CC0), 26 Oct 2026. Banks and exchange offices add a margin.
World rankings
Where Cameroon ranks
How Cameroon compares with the rest of the world — open any card for the full ranking.
Airports
Airports in Cameroon
45 airports and airfields — 3 large, 7 medium and 34 small, plus 1 heliports. 5 have scheduled passenger flights.
Borders
Neighbouring countries
Cameroon borders 6 countries along 5,018 km of land borders. Coastline: 402 km.
Military
Cameroonian armed forces
Cameroon ranks #100 of 145 in the Global Firepower military strength ranking, with a defence budget of $627 million (2025).
People
Population & society
Religion
Largest cities: Yaounde (4.5 million), Douala (4.1 million)
Economy
Economy
Main industries
petroleum production and refining, aluminum production, food processing, light consumer goods, textiles, lumber, ship repair
Export partners
Netherlands 21%, France 14%, UAE 13%, India 9%, China 8% (2023)
Top exports
crude petroleum, natural gas, gold, cocoa beans, wood (2023)
Travel tools
Handy before every trip to Cameroon
Next public holiday
Christmas Day — Friday, 25 December 2026. Then New Year's Day (1 Jan).
Cameroonian passport
Ranked #167: 21 countries visa-free, 25 with visa on arrival, 2 with an eTA and 45 with an eVisa.
Cameroonian passport photo
Exact size, head position and background for Cameroon's passport and visa photos — make one free with AI checks.
Calling Cameroon
Dial +237 before the local number. Internet domain .cm.
Climate footprint
9.6 million tonnes of CO₂ in 2024 — 0.33 t per person.
Entry requirements
Visa rules for every passport visiting Cameroon: visa-free stays, eVisas, visas on arrival and documents to bring.
News
Latest travel news about Cameroon
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Nigerian passport holders can enter 24 destinations without arranging a visa in advance, according to the IziVisa Passport Ranking Index, which ranks…
Cameroon Border Arrest: French Tourist Held in Equatorial Guinea on Spy Claims
Authorities in Equatorial Guinea have detained a Frenchman holding a tourist e-Visa, accusing him of espionage and links to an exiled opposition grou…
UK student visa delays reach four months as refusals rise, universities warn
UK universities say international students are losing places and money as Home Office visa decisions take up to four months instead of three weeks, w…
Frequently asked questions about Cameroon
What do I need to travel to Cameroon?
How long must my passport be valid for Cameroon?
Where is Cameroon?
What is Cameroon known for?
What is the capital of Cameroon?
What language is spoken in Cameroon?
What currency does Cameroon use?
What is the calling code of Cameroon?
Which countries border Cameroon?
How strong is the Cameroonian passport?
What is the speed limit in Cameroon?
Is Cameroon safe to visit?
When is the best time to visit Cameroon?
What plug type does Cameroon use?
How many airports does Cameroon have?
Sources: CIA World Factbook (public domain); World Bank Open Data (CC BY 4.0); names, languages and currencies: mledoze/countries (ODbL); flag: flag-icons (MIT); coat of arms: Wikimedia Commons (file page); exchange rates: Daily reference rates from the open-source currency-api (CC0); airports: OurAirports.