The Cameroonian government is taking a tougher stance on tax compliance. Since January 1, 2026, obtaining a Cameroonian passport or a vehicle registration certificate has been subject to the presentation of a tax compliance certificate (ACF). The measure also applies to imports carried out by private individuals. Government is also plans to increase issuance fee for passport from 2026.
This provision is set out in the 2026 budget implementation circular, signed on December 31, 2025 by the Minister of Finance, Louis Paul Motazé. It forms part of a broader strategy aimed at expanding the tax base and improving the collection of revenue from the informal sector.
According to official figures from the Ministry of Finance, the informal sector accounts for nearly 45% of gross domestic product but contributes only about 5% of national tax revenue. An imbalance the government intends to gradually address.
In recent years, the withholding tax mechanism introduced by the authorities is said to have generated more than 50 billion CFA francs annually. With this new administrative requirement, the executive hopes to strengthen tax discipline and bring more economic actors into the formal system.
If implemented with rigor and effective public outreach, the reform could mark a turning point in the mobilization of domestic resources.
Passport Delivery Fee Hike
ECO OUTLOOK gathers that the Minister of Finance Louis Paul Motazé has announced that, as the country struggles with finances, several avenues are being considered to raise funds. He is proposing a fee of 250,000 CFA for Cameroonian passports. It should be noted that the IMF announced late last year that Cameroon ranks as the 7th most indebted country in Africa
Â
Â
Â
Â