IRCC police certificate in Cameroon: the Bulletin No. 3 trap

A Bulletin No. 3 from the criminal record is not a police certificate. Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) says so in plain terms on its page about Cameroon. A file that contains only this bulletin therefore has no police certificate.

The only document accepted: the Judicial Police certificate

IRCC requires a police certificate for permanent residence, citizenship and some temporary residence programs. For Cameroon, it only accepts the one issued by the Judicial Police in Yaoundé. Bulletin No. 3 still matters: the Cameroonian authorities require it before they issue the certificate.

Step 1: Bulletin No. 3, based on where you were born

Where you apply depends on where you were born, not on the city where you live. Were you born in Bamenda, Buea or elsewhere in the English-speaking zone? Or in the Adamaoua, North or Far North regions, in Ngaoundéré, Garoua or Maroua? Then you request Bulletin No. 3 from the Ministry of Justice in Yaoundé. Foreign nationals also go through the Ministry.

If you were born anywhere else, in Douala, Yaoundé, Bafoussam or Ebolowa for example, you apply to the Court of First Instance of your place of birth. Born in Bafoussam and living in Douala? You go to the court in Bafoussam, not to a court in Douala.

Step 2: the certificate, from the Judicial Police in Yaoundé

With Bulletin No. 3 in hand, you apply for the certificate at the Directorate of the Judicial Police in Elig-Essono, Yaoundé, whether you live in Garoua or in Buea. If you were born in one of the three northern regions or in the English-speaking zone, both steps therefore take place in Yaoundé.

To recognise the right document, there is no need to look for a sample online: Bulletin No. 3 comes from a court or the Ministry of Justice, and the certificate from the Judicial Police.

If you live outside Cameroon

IRCC explains what to do: send the original of your birth certificate and a power of attorney to someone living in Cameroon. For Express Entry, the Cameroonian certificate must be issued after the last time you stayed in Cameroon for 6 months in a row or longer.

Express Entry: who needs one, and for which countries

A certificate is required for you and for each family member aged 18 or older, whether a spouse or a child. You need one for every country where that person stayed for 6 months in a row or longer during the last 10 years. Two years in Gabon, then back to Douala four years ago: that means two certificates. Nothing is required for any time before age 18, or for time spent in Canada.

When you submit, IRCC wants a colour scan of the original. Certified true copies are not accepted.

When to apply: between the pool and the 60-day deadline

Getting a police certificate can take a long time, IRCC warns. It suggests you consider applying for one as soon as your profile is in the Express Entry pool. Once you receive an invitation to apply (ITA), you have 60 days to submit your application for permanent residence.

But for the country where you live, the certificate must be issued no more than 6 months before you submit your application. If you live in Cameroon, a certificate issued on 10 January no longer meets that rule for an application submitted on 20 July. Requested too early, it has to be redone if the invitation is slow to come; requested too late, it may be missing when the 60 days are up.

If the certificate does not arrive in time

If a certificate is missing at the end of the 60 days, you can provide a letter of explanation and proof that you made your best effort to get it on time, such as a payment receipt or a tracking number. An officer reviews these documents. If they are not satisfied, your application may be rejected as incomplete. So keep every receipt.

Cost, processing time and validity

IRCC's page on Cameroon gives neither the cost nor the processing time of Bulletin No. 3 or of the certificate, and we do not publish figures we cannot verify. Ask at the counter about current processing times, without waiting for the invitation. As for validity, what counts for IRCC is the date of issue, under the rules above.

New to Express Entry? We explain it from the very beginning here: /en/article/entree-express-explique-depuis-zero

And for an opinion on your profile, the assessment is free: /en/evaluation.html