The Central African Republic (CAR) is where the Sahara Desert meets tropical Africa. Full of French colonial architecture and vibrant African tribal tradition, this country features thousands of miles of little-explored forests and plains.
The Central African Republic is home to a huge array of wildlife, if a visitor is lucky, he or she will come across elephants, leopards, monkeys, buffalo, antelope and even gorilla.
Dzanga-Sangha National Park is without any doubt the star establishment of the Central African Republic. In the park there is a local lodge that offers both accommodation as well as activities in Dzanga Sangha, such as Lowland gorilla trekking, boating safaris and visits to the famous Dzanga Bai.
The Central African Republic is also home to various of the exotic pygmy tribes. They can be found in the southern equatorial rain forests. Visits to these tribes are possible and offer an insight into their extraordinary and mysterious lives.
The northern reaches of the country are dominated by the seemingly endless Sahara Desert, with so few lights in this region, you will be able to see millions of stars in the unpolluted night sky.
The Central African Republic also has bustling marketplaces. In the capital city Bangui, where French influence is still strong, you will find scattered patisseries serving fresh baguettes and eclairs and market stalls that sell cheap and tasty local cuisine.
Most travellers who wish to visit Central African Republic will need a visa in order to do so. This information piece tells you everything you need to know about visa requirements for visiting The Central African Republic.
It is important that you familiarise yourself with these legal requirements of entry before your visit, since in most cases, you will have to obtain a Central African Republic visa prior to your travels.
Visa requirements are governed by the Central African Republic Embassy or diplomatic mission located nearest to you and can be found through visiting the website of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Central African Republic.
Visa requirements are always subject to change without prior notice. Rather check the country’s official website or enquire from a reputable travelling agency or tour operator like MoAfrika Tours what the latest updates or changes to the requirements for a Central African Republican visa application may be.
WHAT IS A VISA?
A visa is issued to international travellers visiting The Central African Republic for a short stay on a temporary basis for tourism, business, study or medical reasons. Visas are normally issued for a maximum 30 or 90 days, depending on your country of residence.
A valid visa allows you to enter the country through a port of entry and stay in the country for the period specified in your visa.
Note that you are restricted to the activity or reason stated in your application, for example, if you applied for a visa for a holiday or family visit, you are not allowed to work in the country during your stay.
VISA REQUIREMENTS FOR VISITING CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC
The Central Africa tourist visa is issued for short-term purposes and is usually valid for up to 90 days maximum. Visitors will need a passport that is valid for at least six more months from the date of entry and with at least two blank pages for stamps.
Visitors holding passports from countries that are classified as ‘exempt’ do not need to apply for a visa prior to arriving in Central African Republic. Instead, they are issued with a short-stay visa at the point of entry for a period of 90 days.
The Central African Republic unfortunately does not support e-visas or visas on arrival at the airport or other ports of entry. Therefore, it is necessary to obtain your visa for Central African Republic via the nearest Central African Republic Embassy or at the nearest Diplomatic Mission.
The time it takes to process a Central African Republic visa is about four to seven working days and is valid for 30 days from the date of issue.
The validity duration of a Central African Republic visa can depend on the number of entries it allows and also on which country you are applying from. Usually the tourist visa will allow a stay of up to 90 days and will be valid for one month.
A transit visa is not required for Central African Republic if you are in possession of a valid passport, an onward ticket and you do not leave the airport’s transit area.
COUNTRIES EXEMPTED AND COUNTRIES THAT NEED VISAS
All visitors to the Central African Republic except those from the countries listed below, must have a visa to enter Central African Republic:
Citizens of the following 17 countries can visit Central African Republic without a visa for up to 90 days:
Benin, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Chad, Republic of the Congo, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Côte d’Ivoire, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Israel, Liberia, Niger, Rwanda, Senegal, United Arab Emirates and United States.
DIFFERENT KINDS OF VISAS
When applying for a Central African Republic visa, you need to know which one to apply for according to your reason for traveling to Central African Republic.
There are two types of visas available, the tourist visa which is reserved for tourist or vacation reasons and the business visa which is reserved for people who wish to conduct business in Central African Republic.
Both of these visas can be issued as single entry or multiple entry visas, which means you can enter Central African Republic once with a single entry visa or unlimited times within the validity of your multiple entry visa.
There is also a transit visa available which needs to be obtained if you are travelling through Central African Republic but wish to leave the airport before moving onto your next destination. The price and validity will depend on how long you wish to stay and from which consulate or diplomatic mission or country you are applying from.
HOW AND WHERE TO APPLY FOR VISAS WHEN VISITING CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC
There is only one way to apply for a Central African Republic visa; you will have to make an appointment at your nearest Central African Republic Embassy or Diplomatic Mission.
From there, depending on which country’s embassy or diplomatic mission you use, you might be required to give biometric scans of your fingerprints or facial features.
This is a quick, discreet and non-intrusive process that captures a facial image with a digital camera and a 10-digit fingerprint scan with a digital finger scanner and is done at the embassy or diplomatic mission.
You will need to complete a Central African Republic visa application form, obtainable from the embassy or diplomatic mission offices.
Gather all the required documents, pay the visa fee and then submit the documents and application at the embassy or diplomatic mission. Some offices require you to submit the documents in person, whereas others also allow submissions through the mail.
DOCUMENTS NEEDED FOR APPLICATION FOR VISA
When you apply for a Central African Republic visa, you need the following documents to support your application:
Note that the exact required documents depend on the purpose of your travel as well as the embassy or consulate in which you apply.
COST OF A CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC VISA
Fees for a Central African Republic visa may vary depending on the consulate/diplomatic mission and country in which you are applying from. You will have to check the exact cost with them first. However, the below is an example of the last known fees charged:
A single entry visa will cost USD 82.
A multiple entry visa will cost USD 150.
VACCINES NEEDED WHEN VISITING CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC
An international yellow fever vaccination certificate is a compulsory requirement for all travellers to Central African Republic, a yellow fever certificate is valid 10 days after the vaccination is administered, making it important to get the vaccination in time before leaving for The Central African Republic.
You may be refused entry if you leave it too late and arrive in The Central African Republic within the 10-day waiting period.
The CDC and WHO recommend the following vaccinations for Central African Republic: hepatitis A, hepatitis B, typhoid, yellow fever, rabies, meningitis, polio, measles, mumps and rubella (MMR), Tdap (tetanus, diphtheria and pertussis), chickenpox, shingles, pneumonia and influenza.
Due to the country’s location in Africa, there is, unfortunately, a threat of meningitis, travellers should receive a meningitis vaccine, especially if visiting Central African Republic between the months of December and June.
The Central African Republic has had outbreaks of Malaria, Chikungunya and Dengue fever in recent years, They are mosquito-borne diseases and are potentially life-threatening, so it is highly recommended that you use mosquito repellents when visiting the Central African Republic and that you take antimalarial medication before, during, and after your trip to prevent malaria.
Your doctor can help you decide which medicine is right for you.Â
Ways to avoid getting mosquito bites during your visit:
Insect repellent is your best friend when it comes to avoiding mosquito bites, you can buy insect repellents from the local supermarkets and/or pharmacies and apply to any exposed areas of the skin. Those products, which include DEET, claim to be the most effective, but there are alternatives if you are allergic.
It is a good idea to apply insect repellent before leaving your hotel room/ lodge or chalet for the day. It is recommended to apply frequently throughout the day and before bed in the evening to avoid being bitten by mosquitoes.
OTHER SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS WHEN VISITING CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC
Visiting Central African Republic with Minors
If you are travelling to Central African Republic with a minor, please take note of the additional documents you will need per child:
WHAT HAPPENS IF ONE OVERSTAYS ON A VISA IN CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC
Foreign visitors who overstay on a visa are normally declared ‘undesirable persons’ and may incur a ban from Central African Republic for a period, which prevents them from applying for a visa and re-entering Central African Republic for a prescribed period of time.
You may also be charged a fine for each day that you overstay on your visa.
There may even be legal action taken against you, it is highly recommended that you extend your visa well in advance.
Individuals who have been affected by the overstay visa regulations of a country can usually lodge a visa overstay appeal.
ENJOY A SAFE HOLIDAY IN CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC WITH A REPUTABLE TOUR OPERATOR
MoAfrika Tours is a leading tour operator in South Africa that offers an outstanding selection of tours to The Central African Republic. We have a close association with the most reputable tour operators in Central African Republic who make safety a priority.