Introduction
While nearly all countries in the world transited from the manual application, processing, and issuance of visas for aliens Cameroon was one of the few countries unable to transition to the digitalization of her visa process.
Following the introduction of a legislative framework, the presidential decree No. 2023/147 signed on Thursday, March 2, 2023, laying down conditions of entry, stay, and exit from foreign nationals in Cameroon, has been considered a major leap in facilitating the issuance of electronic visas and other ID documents for aliens (1). Hence, Cameroon is the latest nation to announce and embark on the electronic visa initiative.
The transition to the electronic visa venture is part of the Cameroon Digital Strategic Plan. It is the latest giant step in Cameroon’s plan to become a digital economy by 2035. According to this decree, application for a Cameroonian visa and payment of related charges shall be done exclusively online on the designated website.
It further introduces biometric residence cards, refugee cards, and residence permits (2). This transition definitely has some benefits and caveats. The objective of this paper is to identify the expected benefits and caveats of the transition into electronic visa issuance.
This article is expected to increase the awareness of the Cameroon government, foreigners, and the public on the expected benefits and caveats of the transition into electronic visa issuance. The rest of the article will present the expected benefits of the transition (2), the likely caveats of the transition (3), concluding remarks, and policy recommendations (4).
Potential Benefits From the Transition Into Electronic Visa Applications
The digitalization of visa applications and acquisitions is one of the most recent innovations in international migration and border security. According to Lejeune Mbella Mbella, Cameroon’s Minister for Foreign Affairs, it is important to go digital due to the simplicity and ease of being able to apply online (3).
This transition will save cost and time for Cameroon aliens. There have always been countless complaints from foreigners willing to sojourn in Cameroon because of long queues at embassies. It is important to note that online visa platforms are very fast in processing applications than embassies and this is a remarkable opportunity gain in terms of time.
In addition, the problem related to long trips to embassies, often located only in the capital cities, will be avoided by this digitalization. Digital systems will make travel quicker and easier for passengers. In effect, with this transition, there will be no need for any paperwork or in-person visa application. As an alternative, aliens will simply visit the website and fill in a short digital form from the comfort of their room using a computer or any digital device.
Further, the enhancement of the electronic visa scheme will help to protect and centralize data. It is important to have information on aliens who enter and exit Cameroon and to control what they do while in Cameroon. Tracking down these records could reduce the number of unreported activated when constructing the GDP and could likely increase tax revenue with the electronic visa, this will be possible as information can be centralized and protected.
The digital systems will improve border security due to the deploying terminals at all points of entry like land, sea, and air. According to CRTV (4) (2022), more than 80 tons of materials and equipment were shipped into Cameroon to ease this digitalization process at the borders.
In the past, it was difficult to monitor and track the revenue obtained from visa fees due to the lack of transparency from the manual procedure. Hence, and most importantly, the digitalized platform will help in monitoring the flow of revenue generated from visa applicants since the fees will be paid online. This is in accordance with Section 21 of the Finance Law for the 2022 financial year.
The new electronic visa system, which allows foreign visitors to get their visas online, is a catalyst that can stimulate the movement of Tourists and promoters into Cameroon. Promoters as indicated by the decree are persons whose occupational activity consists in providing services or capital for economic, scientific, cultural, artistic, social, or other investments. This will definitely be an investment opportunity for promoters.
The health sector could consider this as an opportunity as the decree clearly eases the possibility of moving to Cameroon for treatment. The decree clearly indicates the need to ease the entry of healthcare evacuees who are persons of foreign origin allowed to undergo medical treatment in Cameroon. All these could act as a source of income for Cameroon.
Finally, the duration for processing a visa by diplomatic missions or consular offices has been reduced to 3 days after online pre-registration. In the case of an express visa, the online visa issuance authorizations will take only 24 hours. This transition procedure has been facilitated by the partnership contract signed on 1 April 2022 with the Ivorian-based Impact Palmarès R & D SAS Company, in charge of the implementation of an online portal for the application, processing, and issuing of electronic visas.
Potential Challenges
The expected difficulties likely to be encountered in the process of implementing the e-visa system in Cameroon will include identity theft, security risk, and ICT infrastructure issues.
The transition from a manual visa approach to an electronic method could engender identity theft. This situation could occur when an individual uses another’s personal information without their consent or knowledge. This should be a great concern for public authorities since the application for a visa is submitted online without the appearance of the person concerned.
In addition, the risk of document falsification is another big challenge that could be faced in the process of implementing an e-visa in Cameroon. This issue occurs when individuals are asked to provide evidence of sufficient financial resources, invitation letters, and medical insurance via the digital platform.
Many persons might submit falsified financial statements and false medical insurance records. This risk cannot be underscored, as the digital process could be a catalyst for the falsification of documents with the potential risk of increasing crime wave (4).
Furthermore, another caveat of the e-visa process will be the difficulties of collecting biometric information. Biometric information is more convenient in dictating and avoiding fraud. However, collecting this biometric information like fingerprints and digital pictures in the past has been possible with the appearance of aliens at the visa office, but the electronic visa system will not allow individuals to go onsite. This is a challenge to the e-visa process since the key information of the visa applicant might likely not be collected.
Finally, underdeveloped ICT infrastructure could be a major hindrance to the transition from the manual visa process to the digital system. The poor nature of ICT infrastructure like the equipment and software will likely affect the quality of data in the facilitation process of e-Visa. Poor ICT infrastructure and poor internet in Cameroon might endanger the efficiency of the e-Visa service process.
The above analysis reveals that the process of e-visa in Cameroon is very necessary. The expected benefits of the e-visa process will be cost and time reducing, it will help to protect and centralize data, permit the monitoring and tracking of the revenue obtained from visa fees and the duration for processing visa will be reduced to three days after online pre-registration.
In addition, caveats like identity theft, biometric information of the applicant, risk of document falsification and poor infrastructural issues are the expected challenges that the digitalization process can face. From the findings, the following policies are recommended:
- The Cameroon government should create a coordination mechanism that minimizes the risk of identity theft and document falsificationby making it compulsory for the applicant to pay their visa fee with a debit or credit card that carries their name.
- The government should address internet availability related problems, improve the ICT for visa applications, and build partnerships with financial institutions, telecommunication companies and airline companies to facilitate the process.
Dr. Fabien SUNDJO is a Research Fellow in Economic Affairs at the Nkafu Policy Institute. He holds a Ph.D. in Health and Development economics, obtained under the auspices of the African Economic Research Consortium Nairobi (AERC)
Bin Joachem Meh is a Free Enterprise Associate in the Department of Economics Affair at the Nkafu Policy Institute. He is a Ph.D. Fellow in Labour and Development Economics in the University of Bamenda.
I found this article through Google. The authors might be able to help with a few issues. First, the new system and requirements means visitors arriving by road are denied entry due to the need to provide copy airtickets. Secondly the need to furnish a poilio vaccination certificate is difficult when the innoculation was done in the pre-digital era. Thirdly medical insurance is not easy to get, and if it is possible, is wildly expensive.
These issues will deter tourists and business visitors