Travora
/ Italy
Art, history and la dolce vita on every corner
Italy is the quintessential European dream: Rome and its imperial ruins, Florence and the Renaissance, Venice and its canals, plus the pizza, pasta and coffee that pace the day. For a Cameroonian traveller it is a dive into 2,000 years of history with a very familiar Mediterranean warmth. Everything links easily by high-speed train, and each city has its own personality. A Schengen visa is required, but Italy remains one of Europe's most rewarding destinations for a short trip.
In pictures
The visa, step by step
How to apply
The Italian embassy in Yaoundé has outsourced the intake of applications to BLS International ("BLS Cameroun – Italie"). Book your own appointment on the BLS website (booking is free), then submit your file IN PERSON at the BLS centre in Yaoundé (Y-Building, rue 1775, Nouvelle Route Bastos) or Douala (L'Atrium Mall, Spar building, 1st floor): fingerprints and photo are taken. Apply no earlier than 6 months and no later than 15 days before departure.
Required documents
- Passport valid at least 6 months beyond leaving the Schengen area, with 2 blank pages (+ copies of the first pages and previous visas)
- Completed and signed visa application form + 2 recent 3.5 × 4 cm photos on a white background
- Travel medical insurance valid in the Schengen area (min. €30,000, mandatory)
- Round-trip flight reservation and hotel booking (or invitation letter with a copy of the host's ID)
- Copy of national ID card, birth certificate, leave letter, employment certificate and contract, latest payslips and last 6 bank statements
Good to know
- •Apply to the country where you will spend the most nights (if equal: the country you enter first).
- •BLS charges a 9,000 XAF service fee on top of the 60,000 XAF visa fee. All fees are non-refundable, even if the visa is refused.
- •A valid Schengen visa issued by another country also lets you enter Italy.
Countdown checklist
Every step dated back from your departure.
- J-76Gather the visa documents
Passport valid at least 6 months beyond leaving the Schengen area, with 2 blank pages (+ copies of the first pages and previous visas) · Completed and signed visa application form + 2 recent 3.5 × 4 cm photos on a white background · Travel medical insurance valid in the Schengen area (min. €30,000, mandatory) · Round-trip flight reservation and hotel booking (or invitation letter with a copy of the host's ID) · Copy of national ID card, birth certificate, leave letter, employment certificate and contract, latest payslips and last 6 bank statements
- J-66Submit the visa application
Observed processing: Decision within 15 calendar days as a rule, up to 45 days if further examination is needed; BLS says to allow at least 3 weeks after the file reaches the embassy + safety margin.
- J-60Check your passport
Valid ≥ 6 months after return + 2 blank pages.
- J-45Book the flight
Best fares are usually gone 6–8 weeks out.
- J-21Health: vaccines & yellow card
Yellow fever often required; malaria prophylaxis depending on the area.
- J-3eSIM, insurance & money
Data on landing, travel insurance, some cash.
- J-1Print / back up your documents
Passport, visa, tickets, bookings (paper + phone).
Indicative lead times, computed with a safety margin from observed processing times. Reconfirm with official sources.
A one-week budget
Round-trip flight from Douala / Yaoundé
480 000 FCFA–780 000 FCFANo direct flight from Douala. Connect via Paris, Istanbul, Casablanca or Frankfurt to Rome or Milan, for 11 to 15 hours total.
Indicative round-trip price: it varies widely by season, layover and how early you book.
Where the money goes (backpacker estimate)
Budget simulator
What to do there
Visit the Colosseum and Roman Forum
The heart of ancient Rome, gladiators and emperors told in stone.
Discover the Vatican
St Peter's Basilica, the museums and Michelangelo's Sistine Chapel.
Wander Florence
The Duomo, the Uffizi Gallery and Michelangelo's David, cradle of the Renaissance.
Glide through Venice
The Grand Canal by vaporetto, St Mark's Square and hidden alleys.
Taste real Neapolitan pizza
In Naples, the wood-fired Margherita pizza in its hometown.
Toss a coin in the Trevi Fountain
The Roman tradition said to guarantee a return to Italy.
One week, day by day
- D1
Day 1: Arrive in Rome, stroll to the Pantheon and an evening at the Trevi Fountain.
- D2
Day 2: Colosseum, Roman Forum and Palatine Hill.
- D3
Day 3: Vatican: St Peter's Basilica, museums and the Sistine Chapel.
- D4
Day 4: High-speed train to Florence, the Duomo and Ponte Vecchio.
- D5
Day 5: Uffizi Gallery and a possible side trip to Pisa.
- D6
Day 6: Train to Venice, the Grand Canal and St Mark's Square.
- D7
Day 7: Last canals, shopping and the return flight.
Travel checklist
A printable list (or save as PDF) so you forget nothing.
Travel checklist — Italie
Before you leave
What to pack
Indicative data (June 2026), reliability moyenne. Visa rules, prices and timelines change: always confirm with official sources before booking.
Already been to Italy?
Your feedback helps future travellers plan their trip better. It only takes a few minutes.