Driving licences in Cameroon
Since 2 December 2024, driving licence applications have been made online, on the Ministry of Transport (MINT) platform, and the licence is produced in a few days instead of several months. But you still only get a licence after training at an approved driving school and passing a test. This page covers the official categories, fees, documents, converting a foreign licence and the reforms announced for 2026-2030.
Information checked on
At a glance
- Authority
- Ministry of Transport (MINT), Road Transport Directorate
- Online application
- ssdtmint.cm, Driving licences and badges section (permicam.cm)
- Issuing fee
- 11,500 CFA francs (12,500 for a conversion), according to MINT's May 2025 guide
- Production time
- 7 days at most, according to MINT
- Points system
- Not yet in force: planned among the 2026-2030 priorities
Licence categories
| Category | Vehicles |
|---|---|
| A1 | Mopeds and light motorcycles from 50 to 125 cc |
| A | Motorcycles with or without sidecar, motor tricycles over 125 cc |
| B | Vehicles with fewer than 10 seats and a gross vehicle weight (GVW) of no more than 3,500 kg |
| C | Goods vehicles over 3,500 kg GVW |
| D | Passenger vehicles with more than 9 seats |
| E | B, C or D vehicles towing a trailer over 750 kg |
| F | Category B vehicles adapted for disabled drivers |
Taxi drivers and some urban transport drivers must also hold a certificate of competence, which, like the licence, carries a 5,000 CFA franc stamp duty under the General Tax Code (2022 edition). Professional drivers are also issued an identification badge, handled on the same platform.
Driving school and test
Training at a MINT-approved driving school is compulsory. According to the TRANSTAT 2025 yearbook, about fifty new driving schools open every year. Since the reform, candidate registration is digitised to make sure they complete two months of training before the test; results are deliberated and approved by the Minister of Transport. MINT has not published online a detailed description of the test (theory, then practical) or its marking scheme.
Training prices are not regulated. In December 2022, the general assembly of driving school owners in the Centre region set 250,000 CFA francs for a category B licence, in return for 40 hours of theory, 20 hours of practice and two months of training; one owner said at the time that the going rate of 50,000 to 60,000 CFA francs did not cover a quarter of the required hours. A guide published in 2026 still lists category B courses at 50,000 to 150,000 CFA francs. Prices therefore vary widely between towns and schools.
Fraud remains an issue. In May 2025, road safety expert Martial Manfred Missimikim told Cameroon Tribune about candidate impersonation and falsified attendance sheets, especially in small towns, despite digitisation. He proposed a probationary licence and an independent licensing agency, modelled on the Baccalaureate Office.
Online application and fees
Once you have passed the test, you apply on ssdtmint.cm, in the 'Driving licences and badges' section. You create an account, choose the type of application and the production office, upload your photo, signature and documents, then pay by Mobile Money (MTN or Orange) or by card through the Public Treasury portal. The system issues a filing certificate and a receipt with a QR code for tracking the application.
| Type of application | Amount |
|---|---|
| New licence | 11,500 |
| Duplicate (lost, stolen, damaged) | 11,500 |
| Renewal | 11,500 |
| Adding a new category | 11,500 |
| International driving permit | 11,500 |
| Converting a foreign licence | 12,500 |
| Converting a military licence | 12,500 |
| New certificate of competence (and duplicate, renewal) | 11,500 |
| Application | Documents |
|---|---|
| New licence, extension | Two 4x4 photos less than 3 months old, certified copy of the ID card |
| Renewal | Old licence, two photos, certified copy of the ID card, medical certificate on the official form from a public-sector doctor |
| Duplicate | Loss or theft report from the police or gendarmerie, two photos, certified copy of the ID card |
| Conversion | Certified copy of the foreign licence translated into French or English, two photos, certified copy of the residence card or passport (foreigners) or ID card (Cameroonians), medical certificate |
| International permit | Certified copy of the valid national licence, certified copy of a valid visa for the destination country, two photos, certified copy of the ID card |
In November 2023, MINT denied a rumour that the licence stamp would rise from 5,000 to 25,000 CFA francs in 2024. The General Tax Code sets this stamp at 5,000 CFA francs for a licence and its duplicate; MINT's guide does not say how the 11,500 CFA francs paid on the platform break down.
The December 2024 digitisation
The platform for producing and issuing transport documents (licences, certificates of competence, vehicle registration cards, blue cards) went live on 2 December 2024. According to a source quoted by EcoMatin, centres used to handle 2,000 to 3,000 requests a day; the platform received more than 15,000 a day in its first weeks, causing delays. Minister Jean Ernest Massena Ngalle Bibehe announced measures from 1 July 2025: regular supplies of secure blanks, round-the-clock printing in the centres and processing of all pending files. MINT now promises to produce documents within seven days at most.
| Source | Documents produced | Revenue |
|---|---|---|
| EcoMatin, one-year review of digitisation | 418,818 | 6.4 billion CFA francs in 2025 |
| EcoMatin, 28 January 2026 (review presented by MINT on 26 January 2026) | 459,229 in 2025 | 7.135 billion CFA francs in 2025, against about 1.5 billion a year before |
Driving in Cameroon on a foreign licence
According to the French foreign ministry, a French licence is valid for three months after arrival in Cameroon, as shown by the entry stamp; after that it must be converted into a Cameroonian licence through the Ministry of Transport. An international driving permit issued in France is not recognised in Cameroon. Conversion is applied for on the same platform as other documents (12,500 CFA francs). According to the TRANSTAT 2025 yearbook, 1,553 foreign licences were converted in 2024.
The other way round, a Cameroonian going to drive abroad can apply for an international permit on the platform, provided they hold a valid national licence and a visa for the host country. Whether it is recognised then depends on the destination country.
Checks, penalties and planned reforms
Police and gendarmerie checks are frequent: the French foreign ministry advises always carrying your ID and your insurance details. In 2024, according to the TRANSTAT 2025 yearbook, MINT teams carried out 8,704 checks, recorded 27,539 offences, drew up 7,502 reports and imposed 285 licence suspensions or withdrawals. MINT has also deployed semi-portable speed cameras, breathalysers and fixed cameras, notably on the Yaoundé-Douala road. Fines can be paid on ssdtmint.cm; no official schedule of fines could be found online.
Cameroon does not yet have a points-based licence. In its 2026-2030 priorities, MINT plans to modernise the licence (biometrics, computer-based theory test), introduce a points system and reform drivers' medical checks, with cardiological, neurological and, where needed, psychiatric examinations.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a driving licence cost in Cameroon?
The issuing fee is 11,500 CFA francs paid online, according to MINT (2025). Driving school training comes on top: from 50,000 to 250,000 CFA francs for a category B licence depending on the school and the source.
How do I apply for a driving licence online in Cameroon?
After the test, create an account on ssdtmint.cm, Driving licences section, upload your photo, signature and certified copy of your ID card, then pay by Mobile Money or card. A receipt with a QR code lets you track the application.
How long does it take to get a licence in Cameroon?
Training takes at least two months. Once the application is filed, MINT says the licence is produced within seven days at most since the December 2024 reform.
Can I drive in Cameroon with a foreign licence?
Yes, a French licence is valid for three months after arrival according to the French foreign ministry. After that it must be converted into a Cameroonian licence through MINT, for 12,500 CFA francs.
What are the licence categories in Cameroon?
A1 and A for two-wheelers, B for cars up to 3,500 kg with fewer than 10 seats, C for heavy goods vehicles, D for passenger transport, E for trailers over 750 kg and F for adapted vehicles.
Does Cameroon have a points-based licence?
Not yet. MINT plans to introduce it as part of its 2026-2030 priorities, along with a biometric licence and a computer-based theory test.
How do I renew a Cameroonian driving licence?
On ssdtmint.cm, with the old licence, two photos, a certified copy of your ID card and a medical certificate from a public-sector doctor. The fee is 11,500 CFA francs.
Handle with care
Some online guides define the categories differently (a category G for farm machinery, or a 3,500 kg cap for category C): this page follows MINT's official glossary. Driving school prices are not regulated and sources disagree (50,000 to 250,000 CFA francs). MINT does not publish online how long a licence is valid or exactly what the tests involve. Reports on the platform differ between articles (418,818 or 459,229 documents, 6.4 or 7.135 billion CFA francs).