Cameroon
Regulations on entry, stay, residence, and treatment access for people living with HIV
The categories of restriction are:
- Unclear restrictions - it is not clear to what extent restrictions apply.
Restrictions on entry to Cameroon
We found no evidence of any official restrictions on entry to Cameroon based on HIV status.
According to UNAIDS and the US Department of State, Cameroon does not have any HIV-related restrictions on entry.
The FAQ section on the official e-visa portal also details the documents required for visitation and transit, and none of those documents makes reference to HIV or the general health of the applicant.
According to the information available on the website of the Embassy of Cameroon in Washington, the documentation required for a transit or stay visa does not include HIV tests or health certificates.
Proof of yellow fever vaccination is required, but if you cannot get a yellow fever vaccine for medical reasons, a signed and stamped exemption note/request from a primary care provider is permitted.
Restrictions on short-term stay in Cameroon
We found no evidence of any official restrictions on short-term stay in Cambodia based on HIV status.
According to UNAIDS and the US Department of State, Cameroon does not have any HIV-related restrictions on short-term stay.
According to the information available on the website of the Embassy of Cameroon in Washington, and the FAQ section on the official e-visa portal, none of the required documents for a short-stay permit makes reference to HIV or the general health of the applicant.
According to the information available on the website of the Cameroon Evisa, a private (non-official) service, to obtain a work permit, ‘applicants must provide a medical certificate that shows they are in good health and free from contagious diseases.’ However, there is no evidence that this requires HIV testing or disclosure, and Decree No. 1 to lay down the conditions of implementation of Law No. 97/012 of 10 January 1997 to lay down conditions of entry, stay and exit for aliens in Cameroon does not include any HIV test or any health requirement.
Restrictions on long-term stay in Cameroon
Sources are mixed on whether Cameroon imposes restrictions on long-term stay of people living with HIV.
According to UNAIDS and the US Department of State, Cameroon does not have any HIV-related restrictions on long-term stay.
None of the information on the website of the Embassy of Cameroon in Washington, and the FAQ section on the official e-visa portal, states that the documentation required for a long-stay permit makes reference to HIV or the general health of the applicant.
According to the information available on the website of the Cameroon Evisa, a private (non-official) service, to obtain a residence permit, the applicant must undergo an HIV test.
However, Decree No. 1 to lay down the conditions of implementation of Law No. 97/012 of 10 January 1997 to lay down conditions of entry, stay and exit for aliens in Cameroon does not include any HIV test or any health requirement.
Furthermore, the official website of the national police details the process to obtain a residence permit without mention of any HIV test or other health requirements.
Treatment access in Cameroon
The following summarises available information on access to healthcare for people living with HIV in Cambodia. There is no evidence that non-nationals are restricted from accessing treatment in the same way as nationals.
IOM reports that Cameroon offers migrants the same access to government-funded health and education services as nationals, regardless of their migration status.
According to Ordinance No. 73-17 (1973) on the organisation of social security, all migrant workers with work permits have equal access to social protection as nationals. All migrant workers who benefit from a contract of employment covered by the social security system are entitled to the same social benefits as nationals. These include prenatal allowances, maternity allowance, daily maternity leave allowance, medical expenses benefits, family allowances and benefits in kind, old-age pension, invalidity and death pension, and compensation for accidents at work and occupational diseases.
Sources
- UNAIDS
- US Department of State
- Official e-visa portal
- Embassy of Cameroon in Washington
- Cameroon E-Visa services website
- Decree No. 1 to lay down the conditions of implementation of Law No. 97/012 of 10 January 1997 to lay down conditions of entry, stay and exit for aliens in Cameroon
- Official website of the national police
- International Organization for Migration
The HIV Justice Network's Global HIV Criminalisation Database
People living with HIV may be criminalised in Cameroon. While there are no HIV-specific laws in force, we are aware of reported prosecutions of alleged HIV ‘exposure’, non-disclosure, and/or transmission under general criminal laws.
Visit the Cameroon page on the Global HIV Criminalisation Database to see more information about known HIV criminalisation laws in this country, an overview of how the laws are used, and any significant advocacy developments.
UNAIDS Global AIDS monitoring data
This information about access to HIV services comes from UNAIDS https://lawsandpolicies.unaids.org/, a platform to view data on HIV-related laws and policies. This is information provided by national authorities and civil society and may contradict other sources.
Migrant populations
Laws/policies enable documented migrants to access HIV services under the same conditions as citizens | Yes |
Laws/policies enable documented migrants to access HIV services under the same conditions as citizens implemented (countries with such laws/policies) | Yes |
Laws/policies enable undocumented migrants to access HIV services under the same conditions as citizens | Yes |
Laws/policies enable undocumented migrants to access HIV services under the same conditions as citizens implemented (countries with such laws/policies) | Yes |
Migrants are able to access HIV services | Yes |
Refugees and asylum seekers
Laws/policies enable asylum seekers to access HIV services under the same conditions as citizens | Yes |
Laws/policies enable asylum seekers to access HIV services under the same conditions as citizens implemented (countries with such laws/policies) | Yes |
Laws/policies enable refugees to access HIV services under the same conditions as citizens | Yes |
Laws/policies enable refugees to access HIV services under the same conditions as citizens implemented (countries with such laws/policies) | Yes |
This site focuses on information about HIV travel. Please also consult your own Foreign Office/Ministry of Foreign Affairs website, or the local consulate of the country you are visiting, to see what restrictions there are specifically for you as a citizen of your country, regardless of your HIV status.