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Pathway

Cameroon Business Residence

Cameroon Residency
Pathway overview

At a glance

If you plan to run a business or work for yourself in Cameroon, you need any required approval for that activity, a long-stay visa, and a residence card. Registering a company alone does not complete the immigration process.

Business permission
Meet the foreign-ownership rules and obtain any approval required for your activity and role
Funds required
Document how you will support yourself and pay for your return home
Residence documents
Long-stay visa, local address, criminal-record document, tax-compliance records, and proof of the business

Summary

Cameroon’s business residence route lets an eligible applicant live there to carry out a business or self-employed activity. Any required commercial or professional authorization must support that activity. A long-stay visa and residence formalities then support the stay. Ownership of a company or property alone does not replace approval for the activity and residence.

Could this pathway work for you?

Eligibility

Check that foreign ownership and your proposed role are allowed. Obtain permission from the authority responsible for your commercial, industrial, agricultural, professional, or other activity where required.

Document the business, your financial support, and the required arrangements for your return home. The 2025 residence-card checklist asks for a passport with a long-stay visa, proof of your local address, the specified special criminal-record document, tax-compliance records, and evidence of why you are staying.

Moving to Cameroon to run a business
  1. Check the activity Confirm foreign-ownership rules and required business approvals.
  2. Arrange the long-stay visa Prepare financial support and return-home arrangements.
  3. Apply for the residence card Gather local address, tax, and required personal records.

Business approval, the visa, and your residence card each have their own requirements.

What This Route Allows

You can live in Cameroon for the business activity and period approved, with any separate work or professional permission still required. Under the 2025 decree, the residence card lasts two years and can be renewed twice, subject to the requirements.

What This Route Is Not

Company registration, passive share ownership, or buying property alone does not grant residence. This is not citizenship by investment and does not guarantee permanent residence.

Next Steps

  1. Confirm the activity, foreign-ownership rules, and permission needed for your role.
  2. Arrange the business approvals and long-stay visa, and gather support and personal records.
  3. Complete the residence-card process and keep your business documents and permissions current.

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Discussed in these reports

Similar entrepreneur / start-up pathways in other destinations.

Sources