Cameroun: Students protest outside French Embassy over tougher visa payment rules

Several dozen students staged a peaceful protest outside the French Embassy in Yaoundé on Tuesday, condemning new financial requirements imposed on Cameroonian students seeking visas to study at private higher education institutions in France. The demonstration follows a July 9 announcement by Campus France Cameroon introducing stricter proof-of-funding rules. Under the new policy, applicants must now either pay their tuition fees in full before a visa can be issued or provide evidence that they possess the entire amount required for their studies.

Students denounce a sudden policy change

The decision has sparked frustration among many applicants who had already begun or completed their visa procedures before the new conditions were introduced. Among them is Yvan Odjo, who plans to pursue a Master’s degree in Public Law at a private university in France. He says the revised requirements have effectively blocked his application. According to Odjo, he was asked to prove access to around €25,000, including administrative costs—an amount he says his family cannot afford.

Another parent, speaking anonymously, criticized the timing of the measure. His son had already secured admission to a private university in Lyon and paid €3,500 in registration fees, with an agreement to settle the remaining tuition in installments by May. The new requirement to pay the full amount upfront has disrupted those plans.

Protesters call for dialogue and fairness

Organizers of the peaceful march urged French authorities to reconsider the policy and engage in discussions with affected students. Salomon Ondoua, representing the Collective for Access to Study Projects, argued that the decision should either be postponed until next year or applied more fairly across African countries. He questioned why Cameroonian students should face stricter financial conditions than applicants from countries such as Côte d’Ivoire.

Campus France expected to clarify the measure

According to a source at the French Embassy in Cameroon, Campus France officials are expected to hold a press briefing later this week to explain the new student mobility policy and address growing concerns. The controversy comes at a time when France remains one of the top destinations for Cameroonian students pursuing higher education abroad, making any change to visa requirements particularly significant for thousands of prospective applicants.