France to shorten visa acquisition time for Cameroonians to one week

Acquiring French visas in Cameroon will take only one week instead of the usual 45 days beginning from February 1, 2023, French Ambassador, Thierry Marchand, told journalists in Yaounde on Monday, January 16.

At a press conference with journalists, Marchand, a French military general who was appointed Ambassador on September 15, 2022, said they have simplified the visa acquisition process to make the process less cumbersome.

“To me, 45 days is a lot of time and I see no reason for the long delay,” the Ambassador said.

“From February 1, 2023, every normal French visa should take one week. The system has been made more simpler now,” he further said.

“There will be a new process for booking appointments. The number 8080 will allow you to access a Cameroonian structure that has the responsibility of giving you an appointment,” Thierry Marchand added.

The French Embassy in Cameroon said on Monday that it issued close to 20,000 in 2022, among them 5,000 student visas.

Owing to the strong links it still shares with its former colonies, France has been the favourite destination of many French-speaking Cameroonians and politicians.

Easing the French visa acquisition process will mean many Cameroonians flowing into France.

The move has been lauded by some Cameroonians who were already fed up with having to wait for 45 days to get the document.

Mimi Mefo Info