France visa for citizens of the Central African Republic

For the tourist visa, France’s official sources give a standard fee of €90, and applications are made on france-visas.gouv.fr. Processing time, as France states it: Usually 15 days after lodging the file, up to 45 days in individual cases; allow extra time to obtain an appointment. Longest stay on the tourist visa: Up to 90 days in any 180-day period.

France has 1 mission in the Central African Republic, with its embassy in Bangui.

In 2025, France’s embassy and consulates in the Central African Republic (Bangui) received 3,346 applications for short-stay Schengen visas and issued 2,192. The refusal rate was 33.8%. That is barely different from 2024 (32.5%). Applications rose by 12% compared with 2024 (2,996).

For comparison, all Schengen states together refused 33.8% of the applications lodged in the Central African Republic that year. France’s consulates worldwide refused 14.2%.

You apply to the Schengen state that is your main destination (the longest stay or the main purpose; the state of first entry only when there is none), so a lower rate elsewhere is no reason to apply there. The figures cover applications lodged in the Central African Republic, by any nationality: mostly citizens, but also residents from other countries.

For a trip from the Central African Republic to France, the published travel advice reads as follows: the US State Department rates France at Level 2, exercise increased caution (updated 20 October 2026), the UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office does not advise against travel to France (updated 22 October 2026) and the German Foreign Office has no travel warning for France (updated 3 November 2026).

How long citizens of the Central African Republic can stay in France

How long citizens of the Central African Republic may stay in France is set by the visa issued, and the visa type must match the purpose of the trip.

How citizens of the Central African Republic apply

In the Central African Republic, applications go to the French embassy in Bangui, or to a visa centre acting for France; fees, documents and processing times are published by France.

France and the Schengen area

A Schengen visa issued by France lets citizens of the Central African Republic travel in all Schengen states; apply to France when it is the main destination of the trip.

France’s neighbours for citizens of the Central African Republic

Switzerland, Germany, Belgium, Luxembourg, Italy, Andorra, Monaco and Spain require citizens of the Central African Republic to obtain a visa in advance.

French citizens travelling to the Central African Republic

The Central African Republic requires French citizens to hold a visa issued in advance. The rule is the same in both directions between the Central African Republic and France.