Canada visitor visa from Cameroon: fees and processing time
If you are a Cameroonian citizen, you need a visitor visa, also called a temporary resident visa, to travel to Canada as a tourist or to see a relative. Wherever you live, one step usually takes place in Yaoundé.
What the visitor visa costs, in dollars and CFA francs
Fees are set by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) and paid online with the application. The visa costs CAN$100 per person, up to CAN$500 per family. Biometrics cost CAN$85 per person, up to CAN$170 per family.
With biometrics, a single applicant therefore pays CAN$185, about 75,000 FCFA at the 16 September 2026 rate, including about 41,000 FCFA for the visa. This is the European Central Bank (ECB) rate. Our costs page shows today's rate; multiply it by 185: /en/check-list.html#couts
Apply online, give biometrics in Yaoundé
You apply online through the IRCC Portal. You then receive a biometric instruction letter for your fingerprints and photo. You have 30 days from the date on that letter to give them in person. Booking an appointment is free.
In Cameroon, IRCC's official list shows only one visa application centre, in Yaoundé. It is run by the International Organization for Migration (IOM) with VFS Global, a private company. Whether you live in Douala, Bafoussam, Garoua, Bamenda or Buea, you will give your fingerprints in Yaoundé. For the address and opening hours, see the “Find a visa application centre” page on canada.ca.
The centre makes no decisions: IRCC officers do. Children aged 13 and under and people aged 80 and over when they apply are exempt from biometrics. Biometrics are valid for 10 years: if you gave them less than 10 years ago, they are automatically attached to your new application.
Is there a Canadian embassy in Cameroon?
Canada has a High Commission in Yaoundé, the equivalent of an embassy. Visa applications are not submitted there: they go through IRCC's online portal, then through the Yaoundé centre for biometrics.
Processing time
As of 16 September 2026, IRCC gives 46 days for a visitor visa application made from Cameroon. The clock runs from the day IRCC receives a complete application until the decision, including the time to give biometrics. IRCC updates it every week, so check it on its “Check processing times” page before you set your dates.
The documents that matter to the officer
The officer must be convinced that ties such as a job, a home, assets or family will bring you back to Cameroon, and that you have enough money for your stay. Your passport should be valid for at least 6 months from your planned travel date. Include bank statements covering at least 6 months, with balances. The employer letter, on letterhead and dated no more than 3 months before you apply, states your position, start date and salary.
Flight details, proof of accommodation or registration for an event show the purpose of your trip. Past visas from the last 10 years show that you have obtained visas before. If a person or a business invites you, include their letter; IRCC sets what it must contain. The letter does not make your host legally responsible for you, and it does not guarantee a visa.
Common mistakes
A passport that expires less than 6 months after the trip, an employer letter more than 3 months old, bank statements that don't show the declared salary: all of these can be fixed before you apply. A late biometrics appointment delays processing. Another misunderstanding: a biometric instruction letter does not mean your visa is approved. IRCC says it is a step that comes before your application is assessed.
No one can guarantee a visa
IRCC says it plainly: “No one can guarantee you a job or a visa to Canada or permanent residence.” Be wary of anyone who promises a visa or sells a biometrics appointment.
Before you apply, we check that your documents are complete and consistent. The decision stays with IRCC. If you are really thinking about settling in Canada, get a free assessment of your profile for permanent residence: /en/evaluation.html