[Please refer to How to Read a Country Entry for help interpreting this material. It was produced prior to March 2001 as part of a US government report entitled Citizenship Laws of the World. The accuracy and depth of these country listings varies significantly, and some information may be incorrect. At best, this page presents only part of the story for a particular country. Additional information for this country may be available in Country Information]

CAMEROON

CITIZENSHIP: Citizenship is based upon Ordinance #2, dated 1959, and Ordinance #68 dated 1968.

BY BIRTH: Birth within the territory of Cameroon does not automatically confer citizenship. The exceptions are as follows: Child born of unknown or stateless parents. Child born in Cameroon of foreign parents, at least one of whom was also born in Cameroon.

BY DESCENT: Child born in wedlock, whose father is a citizen of Cameroon, regardless of the country of birth. Child born out of wedlock to a Cameroonian father and foreign mother, if paternity can be established. Child born out of wedlock to a Cameroonian mother and an unknown or stateless father.

MARRIAGE: A foreign woman who marries a citizen of Cameroon is permitted to acquire citizenship

BY NATURALIZATION: Cameroonian citizenship may be acquired upon the fulfillment of certain strict qualifications concerning residency, age, health, and morality. Details of these requirements are not available.

DUAL CITIZENSHIP: NOT RECOGNIZED. Exception: Child born abroad of Cameroonian parents, who obtains the citizenship of the country of birth. Upon reaching age 21, one citizenship must be chosen, or Cameroonian citizenship will be lost.

LOSS OF CITIZENSHIP:

VOLUNTARY: Voluntary renunciation of Cameroonian citizenship is permitted by law. Proof of new citizenship must be presented. Contact the Embassy for details and required paperwork.

INVOLUNTARY: The following are grounds for involuntary loss of Cameroonian citizenship: Person voluntarily acquires foreign citizenship. (A Cameroonian woman who marries a foreign citizen is not required to renounce Cameroonian citizenship.) Person is employed in the service of a foreign government.

ANY QUESTIONS concerning citizenship, or requests for renunciation of citizenship, should be directed to the address below:

Embassy of the Republic of Cameroon Consular Section 2349 Massachusetts Ave., NW Washington, DC 20008 Embassy/Consular

Telephone: 202-265-8790 through 8794

Fax: 202-387-3826

www.camnet.cm

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