Central African Republic visa guide: embassy visas and asylum

Central African Republic visas are issued by its embassies and stuck into the passport; the embassy in Paris states that a visa is always affixed to the passport, so even an application prepared online ends with a visa sticker. The Paris embassy, which also covers Spain, Greece, Italy, Portugal, the United Kingdom (England and Northern Ireland) and the Order of Malta, publishes two application forms: a short-stay visa for 1 to 30 days or 30 to 45 days, and a long-stay visa for 45 to 90 days.

Applications can be prepared online after creating an account on the embassy portal, or on a paper form downloaded from the embassy website. In both cases the signed form, the original passport, two identity photos and the supporting documents are sent or brought to the embassy. Tourists add an attestation from the Ministry of Tourism, journalists an accreditation, and other travellers an invitation letter, mission order or hotel booking.

People seeking protection in the Central African Republic apply under Law No. 07.019 of 28 December 2007 on the status of refugees. Claims go to the Secretary General of the National Commission for Refugees (CNR) in Bangui, through UNHCR or a human-rights NGO, or in the provinces to the prefect or the nearest territorial authority. The procedure and appeals are free of charge.