From Cameroon to Berlin: work, study or settle

The visa from Yaoundé, skilled work and the Blue Card, nursing and the WHO list, the Opportunity Card, study with GCE or Baccalauréat, vocational training, family, why documents are verified instead of legalised, and how to avoid people who sell what is free. Every statement is tied to an official source. Free, independent, no agency.

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Guide

🧭Which route fits me?A short decision guide for people in Cameroon: skilled work, nursing, Opportunity Card, study, Ausbildung, family. 🛂Visa and embassyThe German Embassy in Yaoundé: national visa, portal, appointments and waiting times, fee, refusal. 🎓Route: skilled worker and Blue CardEngineers, IT and other graduates: Blue Card thresholds 2026, §§ 18a/18b, settlement, employer fast-track. 🃏Opportunity Card§ 20a AufenthG: up to one year to look for work; points, money, 20 hours a week, waiting time in Yaoundé. 🛠️Route: vocational training (Ausbildung)§ 16a AufenthG: training contract, German level, money, training pay, nursing training. 🩺Nursing and health professionsRecognition, WHO safeguards list, § 38 BeschV: Cameroon is in the annex, so recruitment is restricted. 🧾Recognition of your qualificationanabin, ZAB, and which body decides, by profession. 📚Route: study in Berlin§ 16b permit, blocked account 992 euros, Studienkolleg, uni-assist, long waiting time at the embassy. 🏫GCE or BaccalauréatTwo school systems, two sets of papers: what uni-assist asks, what is open, anglophone and francophone regions. 🗣️Learning GermanWhich level you need for which route, accepted certificates, and where to start. 👪Route: family reunificationSpouse, children, parents: German level, who may join whom, embassy deadlines. 📄Documents and verificationNo apostille for Cameroon: legalisation is suspended, the embassy verifies documents (Urkundenüberprüfung). 🏥Social security and health insuranceNo agreement with Cameroon; statutory health insurance is compulsory for most workers. 🏠After arrival in BerlinImmigration office, registration, bank, health insurance, driving licence. 🤝Find your communityWhere Cameroonians in Berlin get free advice in English and French, meet people, find church, culture, work and French-language schooling. 📍Already in Berlin?Working while an application is pending, changing purpose, naturalisation after five years. 💱Money and transfersCFA franc and euro, paying the visa fee, blocked account, sending money. 💶Costs at a glanceVisa and permit fees, money to show by route, appeal deadlines. ⚠️Avoiding scamsTypical patterns in Cameroon: fake job offers, study-place and visa agents, appointment sellers, blocked-account fraud.