Money and transfers

CFA franc and euro, paying the visa fee, blocked account, sending money.

• Visa fee: listed by the embassy in CFA francs (XAF) (Costs). Payment method and VFS charges were not confirmed; pay only through the channels named on the embassy and VFS sites. Fees are not refunded if the visa is refused.
• Blocked account (study): you transfer the amount in euros before the visa (Study). The Federal Foreign Office says you choose the provider yourself (Sperrkonto). Never send money to a private person who offers "proof of funds".
• Exchange rate: the XAF is reported to be pegged to the euro; this and the Cameroonian rules for sending foreign currency abroad were not confirmed from a primary source. Ask your bank in writing which documents it needs.
• Sending money home later: compare total cost (fee plus exchange margin) in the World Bank's Remittance Prices Worldwide. Use providers licensed in the EU (BaFin).
• Taxes: in Germany income tax applies to people living here (§ 8 AO). A Germany-Cameroon tax treaty and Cameroonian tax duties were not checked.
• Remittance and cash "agents" who promise a visa or job are scams: Scams.