Cameroon is a relatively small west African country home to 27 million people and, remarkably, 250 native languages. But not only are its people varied, so too is its geography. A collection of tall volcanic mountains, ocean front beaches, deserts, tropical rainforests, and savannas has led to Cameroon being known as 'Africa in miniature'.
From 2020 - 2021, Cameroon has had one of Africa's top growth rates of internet users. Combined with a healthy increase of mobile connections - now 99% of the population, this has led to an e-commerce market that has bounded ten-fold in the last 3 years. And as Cameroon's two official languages are French and English, all of this bodes well for Canadians selling and shipping goods to the country.
Easily compare the best and cheapest shipping options to Cameroon through a variety of carriers using Secureship
Secureship provides safe and affordable shipping from Canada to Cameroon. In case you are an everyday shopper or a business,
you can easily save up to 50% on your international shipping costs by way of accessing our group buying power.
Shipments through Secureship come with full, easy to read tracking information to Cameroon
Tracking #:780123123123
Tel: 1-800-463-3339
Signed By: Pikwalia @ Residence
Oct 6, 2023
8:49 am
Kousseri, KO, CM
Delivered
Oct 5, 2023
7:18 am
Garoua, GA, CM
In transit
Oct 4, 2023
9:03 pm
Yaounde, YA, CM
International Clearance
Oct 4, 2023
8:14 am
Douala, DO, CM
In transit
Oct 4, 2023
12:17 am
Toronto, ON, CA
In transit
Oct 3, 2023
4:30 pm
Ottawa, ON, CA
Pickup Scan
Disclaimer!
While we have made every effort to ensure that the information on this page is accurate, Customs laws and procedures change regularly so it is
important to consult a licensed broker in Cameroon before shipping any goods.
Types of Shipments
Not all types of shipments are created equal. Shipping a television will require different
paperwork, duties, and taxes than shipping an accounting statement, for example.
Here is a list of the most common types of shipments:
All gift shipments entering Cameroon will incur duty and taxes regardless of their value.
Shipments from Individual-to-Individual
A gift shipment from an individual in Canada to an individual in Cameroon will be liable to duty and tax charges irrespective of the value of the gift. There are no thresholds for gift shipments.
Shipments from Business-to-Business
If a business in Canada ships a gift to a business in Cameroon, duty and tax charges will apply to the shipment no matter the value of the gift.
Shipments from Business-to-Individual
Gift shipments from a business in Canada to an individual in Cameroon will have taxes and duty charges attached to them by Cameroonian customs officials.
Gift Checklist
A commercial invoice must be included with your shipment
The words 'Gift Shipment' or 'Unsolicited Gift' are included on the commercial invoice, even if the shipment is sent at Christmas time
(see sample)
List the items in the parcel and write the value of each
Sending more than one gift in the parcel? Wrap and tag each one individually.
Sample Commercial Invoice for Gifts
Ship To
Invoice
Thérèse Bella Mbida 12 982 Rue Many Ewondo Yaoundé Cameroon
Phone: +237 2 22 23 85 99
Carrier tracking number: 736534736
General Description:
Personal Shipment / Gift Shipment
Invoice number: 123456MGEP4916926 Customs Broker: UPS Date: 3 Oct 2023
QTY
Description of Goods
C/O
SubTotal
1 Each
Gift Shipment: LEGO Star Wars Rebel UWing Fighter, 659 piece set
CA
$79.99
Terms of Sale: None
Total number of packages: 1
Reason for export:Gifts Contact Name: James Smith
Total Invoice Amount: $79.99
Total Weight: 10.0 lbs
Declaration Statement: I hereby certify that information provided is true and complete to the best of my knowledge
Multiple Gifts in One Shipment
All gift shipments, whether they contain 1 or multiple gifts, will incur duty and tax charges even if they are low in value. There is no threshold below which no duty or taxes are incurred.
Also, be sure to wrap and tag individual gifts separately.
Sample Commercial Invoice for Gifts
Ship To
Invoice
Thérèse Bella Mbida 12 982 Rue Many Ewondo Yaoundé Cameroon
Phone: +237 2 22 23 85 99
Carrier tracking number: 736534736
General Description:
Unsolicited Gift: Consolidated Gift Package
Invoice number: 123456MGEP4916926 Customs Broker: UPS Date: 3 Oct 2023
QTY
Description of Goods
C/O
SubTotal
1 Each
Gift - Roger: LEGO Star Wars Rebel UWing Fighter, 659 piece set
CA
$39.99
1 Each
Gift - Erica: Handwoven French Canadian Catalogne Blanket
CA
$49.99
Terms of Sale: None
Total number of packages: 1
Reason for export:Gifts Contact Name: James Smith
Total Invoice Amount: $89.98
Total Weight: 10.0 lbs
Declaration Statement: I hereby certify that information provided is true and complete to the best of my knowledge
Personal effects shipped to Cameroon from Canada will be exempt from duty and taxes as long as it can be shown that the shipper has owned and used the goods for 6 months or more.
Moving Temporarily
Students
Students may ship their personal effects to Cameroon exempt from duty and taxes provided:
They have can show they will be studying at a school in Cameroon
Their goods have been owned and used by the student for at least 6 months
The shipment arrives within 2 months of the student's enrollment in the school
Non-students
Non-students moving temporarily to Cameroon may import their personal effects exempt from duty and taxes as long as the goods are exclusively for their use.
Moving Permanently
Foreigners moving to Cameroon permanently will be allowed duty and tax free entry of their personal effects, which comprise items such as furniture, clothing, and goods required for a household.
This exemption is allowed if:
The goods have been used and owned by the person or his or her family for a minimum of 6 months
The claimant has a change of residence certificate from Canadian authorities
A signed and dated detailed inventory of the shipment is provided to customs
Personal Effects Checklist
A commercial invoice must be included with your shipment
Commercial invoice must clearly indicate 'Personal Effects' (see sample)
Sample Commercial Invoice for Promotional Material
Ship To
Invoice
Thérèse Bella Mbida 12 982 Rue Many Ewondo Yaoundé Cameroon
Phone: +237 2 22 23 85 99
Carrier tracking number: 736534736
General Description:
Promotional Material - Not for Resale
Invoice number: 123456MGEP4916926 Customs Broker: UPS Date: 3 Oct 2023
QTY
Description of Goods
C/O
SubTotal
1 Each
Promotional Material: Not for Resale. Product pamphlets to hand out at trade show.
CA
$163.00
Terms of Sale: None
Total number of packages: 1
Reason for export:Promotional Material Contact Name: James Smith
Total Invoice Amount: $163.00
Total Weight: 10.0 lbs
Declaration Statement: I hereby certify that information provided is true and complete to the best of my knowledge
Repairs
Equipment and other goods may enter Cameroon for repair work exempt from duty and taxes. The items must be re-exported once the work is completed.
Items Under Warranty
Goods that have been shipped to Canada for free warranty repairs may re-enter Cameroon exempt from duty and taxes.
Items No Longer Under Warranty
Equipment no longer under warranty that is sent to Canada for repair will incur duty and taxes when it is reimported into Cameroon.
Sending Product for Repair to Cameroon
Items such as machinery and other equipment may enter Cameroon for repairs without payment of duty and taxes provided the goods return to Canada once the work is finished.
Returning Repaired Product to Cameroon
Provided repair work was done under a warranty and at no charge, there will be no duty or taxes incurred when the equipment is returned to Cameroon. All other non-warranty repairs will be liable to customs charges.
Repair Checklist
Commercial invoice must clearly indicate 'REPAIR & RETURN' under the General Description or Remarks, and include the estimated time of return
(see sample)
Include repair contract with shipment
Serial or product number and the cost of repairs should be indicated under the Detailed Description of Goods section
Include the original shipping documents or tracking number from when the item was first exported to Cameroon or exported to Canada (depending on which case applies)
A commercial invoice must be included with your shipment
Thérèse Bella Mbida 12 982 Rue Many Ewondo Yaoundé Cameroon
Phone: +237 2 22 23 85 99
Carrier tracking number: 736534736
General Description:
Repair and Return - Watch being sent for repair
Invoice number: 123456MGEP4916926 Customs Broker: UPS Date: 3 Oct 2023
QTY
Description of Goods
C/O
SubTotal
1 Each
Fossil Watch being sent for repair - Model E5, serial # 789456FG7E2 - Repair Cost $76.00
US
$163.00
Terms of Sale: None
Total number of packages: 1
Reason for export:Warranty Repair Contact Name: James Smith
Total Invoice Amount: $163.00
Total Weight: 10.0 lbs
Declaration Statement: I hereby certify that information provided is true and complete to the best of my knowledge
Temporary Imports
Goods may be temporarily imported into Cameroon from Canada without payment of duty and taxes provided:
The items are re-exported to Canada within 1 year of their entry into Cameroon
There is a defined purpose for the entry of the goods into Cameroon
Prior authorisation is received from Cameroonian Customs department
ATA Carnets
Cameroon customs does not accept temporary imports using ATA Carnets.
Temporary Imports Checklist
Commercial Invoice clearly stating 'Temporary Import'. This must be written in the General Description section and the Detailed Description of Goods.
(see sample)
The goods arrive and leave in the same condition, i.e. they undergo no repairs nor are they used in manufacturing
Stay no longer than the period listed above
Include your ATA Carnet with your shipment (if applicable)
Include the expected return date or the date that it was originally received within the country (whichever applies)
Any above listed items not listed in this checklist
Thérèse Bella Mbida 12 982 Rue Many Ewondo Yaoundé Cameroon
Phone: +237 2 22 23 85 99
Carrier tracking number: 736534736
General Description:
Temporary Imports - Trade show booth and display equipment returning Jan 2020
Invoice number: 123456MGEP4916926 Customs Broker: UPS Date: 3 Oct 2023
QTY
Description of Goods
C/O
SubTotal
1 box
Temporary Imports - Trade show booth and display equipment
CA
$1032.00
Terms of Sale: None
Total number of packages: 1
Reason for export:Temporary Imports Contact Name: James Smith
Total Invoice Amount: $1032.00
Total Weight: 10.0 lbs
Declaration Statement: I hereby certify that information provided is true and complete to the best of my knowledge
Permanent/Sold Goods
Shipping sold goods from Canada to Cameroon is a straightforward process and any person or legal entity is allowed to import goods into the country.
Be advised that all shipments of sold goods will incur duty and taxes regardless of their value.
Occasional Shipper
Be aware that even occasional, low value shipments will be charged duty and taxes when they enter Cameroon.
Regular shipper
If you regularly ship sold goods to Cameroon from Canada, we advise that you seek information from a licenced Cameroonian customs broker. You may be required to register with customs or obtain an import declaration.
Sample Commercial Invoice for Permanent/Sold Goods
Ship To
Invoice
Thérèse Bella Mbida 12 982 Rue Many Ewondo Yaoundé Cameroon
Phone: +237 2 22 23 85 99
Carrier tracking number: 736534736
General Description:
Permanent/Sold: Parts and accessories for Canon B78n camera
Invoice number: 123456MGEP4916926 Customs Broker: UPS Date: 3 Oct 2023
QTY
Description of Goods
C/O
SubTotal
15 Each
Camera Lenses: Canon EF 50mm, Canon EF 85mm & wide-angle lenses.
CA
$132.00
Terms of Sale: None
Total number of packages: 1
Reason for export:Permanent/Sold Contact Name: James Smith
Total Invoice Amount: $1980.00
Total Weight: 10.0 lbs
Declaration Statement: I hereby certify that information provided is true and complete to the best of my knowledge
Required Documents
Shipping packages internationally requires a lot of documentation. This process alone can be confusing and time-consuming.
So we’ve narrowed down what documents you might need and ranked them based on likeliness of being needed.
Document Type
When?
Details
Shipping Label / Bill of Lading
Always required
This is a label provided by the carrier (UPS, FedEx, DHL, etc.). Always required because the carrier needs to know the parcel's destination.
Commercial Invoice
Required for all non-document shipments
For all non-document shipments, you will require 3 copies of the commercial invoice (to be included with your shipping labels).
These are for customs purposes and need to be included inside a document pouch outside of the box.
When creating a shipment through the Secureship website, the system will help you create this document automatically.
B13a
Required if value exceeds $2,000 per shipment or is a controlled good
A B13a is required if your shipment exceeds $2000 CAD or is a controlled good
and is destined to a country other than the US, Puerto Rico, or the US Virgin Islands
Canada has a preferential trade agreement with Cameroon. A COO proves that an item has been produced, manufactured or processed in Canada.
When an item with a COO is imported into Cameroon, it will incur a reduced or zero-rated import duty.
Certificate of Insurance (COI)
Infrequently required
Shows that the shipment has been insured.
Banks may request a certificate of insurance when providing letters of credit for the goods. Otherwise,
it is generally your choice whether to purchase insurance for the shipment.
ATA Carnet
Infrequently required
Used to avoid duties and taxes on shipments of temporary nature.
If you ship goods of temporary nature to and from a country, you can obtain an ATA Carnet to expedite the customs clearance process and
ensure that anything of temporary nature is not charged duties and taxes.
No specific form required, but generally includes information regarding:
The exporter, importer and transport company
Date of issue
Number of freight invoice
Type and number of packages
Contents of each package
Marks and numbers
Net weight, gross weight and measurements of each package
Prohibited & Restricted Imports
Prohibited goods may not enter Cameroon whereas those deemed restricted are allowed entry to the country, but they may have quantity limits or must abide by health and safety regulations.
Prohibited Items
Damaged goods
Counterfeit goods
Products without naming the source country or manufacturer
Customs duties and taxes on goods imported into Cameroon are calculated using the CIF method, i.e. the sum of the customs value plus insurance costs plus freight expenses.
CIF Value = Customs Value + Insurance Amount + Freight Costs
By calculating the CIF value of a shipment, you will be able to predict the taxes and duties owed by the recipient.
NOTE: Canadian shipments to Cameroon will also incur an African Integration Contribution (AIC) tax of 0.2% on the taxable value of the goods.
Thresholds
There are no thresholds (de minimis values) on imports into Cameroon. This means that all incoming shipments will incur duties and taxes.
Currency
West African Franc CFA
Duty Exemption (De minimis Value)
N/A
Duty Calculation Method
CIF
TAX (VAT)
19.25%
Tax Exemption
(De minimis Value)
N/A
Tax Calculation Method
CIF
Duties on Imports
Excise Taxes
The following goods will incur excise taxes upon entry into Cameroon:
Alcoholic beverages (25%)*
Tobacco products (25%)**
Cosmetics with hydroquinone (50%)
Soft drinks, imported mineral water (25%)
Perfumes, cosmetics (25%)
Confectionary, chocolates (25%)
Video game consoles (25%)
*Variable minimum values depending on the product - click here for details
You can purchase
insurance
through Secureship and it is provided by the carrier that will be transporting your shipment.
Each carrier will charge a different amount per $100 of declared insurance. If you indicate that you need insurance for your shipment our system will automatically include the insurance costs for your shipment.
Insurance is great to have in case your package is accidentally lost or damaged by the carrier. But be careful, not everything you ship is insurable. Worse - even if your package contains items that are insurable, if it doesn’t meet the ISTA 3A packaging standard, the insurance purchased through the carrier would not be available to you.
Here are some items that cannot be insured by the carrier:
Personal belongings
Antiques
Artwork
Liquids (including alcohol)
Televisions
Jewellery in excess of $500
Perishable goods
Glass or Ceramic
And many more items
For more information, please see the carrier's terms and conditions.
Shipping to Cameroon from Canada can take between 3-5 business days through the fastest carriers available on the Secureship platform.
More economical services, such as Canada Post, can take up to 1-2 months to complete the delivery.
