France’s embassy in Cameroon has defended stricter financial requirements for student visa applicants, announced on July 16 during a press briefing in Yaoundé. The new measures target fraudulent applications submitted through Campus France.

Muriel Piquet-Viaux, Advisor for Cooperation and Cultural Action, highlighted widespread irregularities in submitted documents, including fake bank statements, forged identity papers, and falsified financial proofs. Consular authorities have intensified verification processes to scrutinize all provided documents before approval.

Key changes now require Cameroonian students admitted to French private institutions to either present full tuition payments or demonstrate sufficient funds before visa issuance. For those who have already paid deposits, the embassy clarified that refund procedures will vary by institution but assured that blocked funds will be released upon visa approval.

The tightened rules apply exclusively to Cameroon, making it the only African nation currently subjected to these enhanced requirements, prompting concerns among affected families.