Visas Obtained: Camerún & The 5 Country Entente

We just got our first two visas.  Last week we dropped off our passports at the Camerún Embassy and were able to pick up the approved visas on Tuesday.  In the end we did not have all of the requirements for this visa, but we were still able to get it. 

With our Camerún visa application we submitted:

• Copy of our passports
• 2 photos each
• Copy of my drivers license and International Drivers Permit
• Proof of income and bank account balance
• A map of our proposed travel route
• A signed statement describing our plan to drive through Camerún
• 77€ each

Also required for the visa is a return ticket and a hotel reservation.  We were able to talk our way out of these requirements by explaining our plan to drive through the country.  Normally, without a return ticket, we would need to show a visa for the next country.  We explained that we could not get visas for the next country, because the Congo has no embassy in Spain and Gabon will only give us a visa in a neighboring country.  We also explained to the consul that we didn't have a hotel reservation, because we did not know exactly when we would arrive there.  He bought our argument with only a little questioning.  The visas are valid for entry for six months, and we can stay in the country for 30 days.

The fact that we were able to talk our way out of two of the requirements is special.  It was probably a combination of factors that allowed us to do so.  Because of luck and the attitude of the specific consul, we were able to get away with not having these two requirements.  The strategy we used is neither foolproof, nor would it work at every embassy.

The second visa we got this week was the five country Entente.  This is a combined visa formed on an agreement between Burkina Faso, Ivory Coast, Togo, Benin, and Niger.  We got this at the Embassy of Benin.  Our experience with getting this visa was wonderful.  No other visa we hope to get will be as painless as this one.

The only things we submitted were two applications (one for Benin and one for the Entente), a copy of each of our passports, and 120€ each.  We had printed financial information, travel plans, and some other documents to support our applications, but the consul did not want them.  He was an older Spanish man.  He was super friendly, chatted with us about our trip, and gave us our visas without any questions.  I have no idea how other embassies that supply the Entente might go about the process, but for us it was actually enjoyable.