GoCentral African Republic Visa Requirements

Visa Entry

1、 Visa Notice

At present, regardless of the type of passport held by the People's Republic of China, a visa is required to travel to or transit through the Central African Republic. For specific matters, please consult the Embassy of the Central African Republic in China.

2、 Entry and Exit Notice

When entering or leaving the country, one must hold a valid visa or residence permit from China and Africa, fill out an entry and exit card, and register personal information. At the entry and exit ports, in addition to customs inspection, personnel entering and leaving the country also need to undergo inspection by personnel from the river and forest departments.

When leaving the country, passengers holding ordinary or official passports are required to pay an exit fee of 10000 francs per person, which is approximately RMB 120.

3、 Special Reminder

（1） Please actively cooperate with the inspection of the Central African border defense department upon entry, truthfully explain the situation, and ensure smooth passage.

（2） If you do not understand the local language, please contact your local relatives and friends in advance for pick-up or arrange for a translator to accompany you.

Customs epidemic prevention and control

1、 Customs regulations

Do not carry drugs, ivory, rhino horns, and other prohibited items. If there is any violation, a fine or imprisonment shall be imposed depending on the severity of the circumstances. It is not allowed to carry counterfeit or pirated products. Once discovered, the customs has the right to detain them.

2、 Animal and plant inspection and quarantine

If carrying endangered wildlife or plants as stipulated by the Washington Convention into or out of the country, a permit issued by the relevant international trade organization must be presented.

3、 Epidemic prevention requirements

At present, the Ministry of Health of Central Africa no longer requires entry personnel to produce 7 COVID-19 nucleic acid test negative certificates, but will still conduct temperature testing for all entry personnel. At the same time, inbound personnel are required to bring a vaccination certificate (yellow book) for inspection.

Residency and Naturalization

1、 Nationality and Immigration Policy

Foreigners can acquire Chinese African nationality through marriage, adoption and other means. The competent authorities in Central Africa shall decide whether foreigners can acquire Central African nationality according to their applications for naturalization or restoration of nationality. The laws regarding the acquisition, refusal, and renunciation of Central African nationality shall be decided and announced by the Cabinet meeting.

2、 Alien residence policy and related procedures

Foreigners who work and reside in Central Africa for a long time need to go to the local immigration office with valid passports and visas to apply for a China Africa residence permit. This certificate has visa function, and there is no need to apply for a visa when holding it for entry and exit.

The residence permits issued by the Central African government are divided into three categories based on the applicant's identity: (1) Corps Diplomat issued to individuals holding diplomatic passports; （2） Issuing Personnel de Service cards to individuals holding official passports; （3） To issue short-term residence or ordinary residence permits (Carte de Sejour Resident Ordinaire) to individuals holding official ordinary passports and ordinary (personal) passports. The validity period is usually one year, and an extension or replacement must be applied for before the expiration.

There is currently one orange (high-risk) area in Central Africa, while all other areas are red (extremely high-risk). Specifically, as follows:

1、 Red areas: areas outside the capital city of Bangui. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs reminds Chinese citizens not to travel to areas outside the capital of Central Africa, Bangui, in the near future. Personnel and institutions already in the area should evacuate or transfer to safe areas as soon as possible. In case of emergency, please report to the police in a timely manner and contact the Chinese embassy or consulate in the local area.                       

2、 Orange region: The capital city of Bangui (PK5 district remains red). The Ministry of Foreign Affairs reminds Chinese citizens to travel cautiously to the capital of Central Africa, Bangui, in the near future. Local personnel and institutions are closely monitoring the development of the situation, maintaining high vigilance, strengthening security precautions and emergency preparations, and ensuring personal and property safety. In case of emergency, please report to the police in a timely manner and contact the Chinese embassy or consulate in the local area.                                

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and overseas embassies and consulates will continue to closely monitor changes in the overseas security situation, dynamically adjust relevant risk assessments, and release and update corresponding security reminders in real time on platforms such as the China Consular Service Network. Please continue to pay attention.

public security

Long term wars in Central Africa, with severe civil wars occurring in 2012-2013. On February 6, 2019, the Central African government signed a peace agreement with 14 armed groups within its borders, but the security situation has not fundamentally changed. After the agreement was signed, the process of armed group disarmament has been slow, and armed conflicts and vicious security incidents still occur frequently outside the capital. In December 2020, Central Africa held presidential and parliamentary elections. Former President Boziz é joined forces with some armed groups to confront the government due to dissatisfaction with the disqualification of presidential candidates, causing chaos. On December 16th, 8 cars and other property were stolen from 4 Chinese mining companies in the Yaluokai area, and more than 300 Chinese citizens were evacuated. Starting from December 18th, armed groups engaged in clashes with government forces in various parts of the country, and subsequently continued to infiltrate into Bangui, threatening the security of the capital. At the same time, they cut off the transportation line from Central Africa to Cameroon and besieged Bangui. On January 13, 2021, armed groups attacked 9 kilometers and 12 kilometers from the center of Bangui, engaging in fierce clashes with government forces and United Nations peacekeeping forces. The Central African government has announced a curfew throughout the country, while President Touadera has signed two presidential decrees declaring a state of emergency in Central Africa from January 21 to August 4, 2021. On March 30, 2021, President Tuvadra announced his inauguration. The Central African government gradually regained some of its territory with the assistance of Russian and Rwandan troops. At present, there are still occasional clashes between the Central African Republic military and armed groups outside of Bangui. Due to the proliferation of weapons and poor social security in Central Africa, incidents of armed robbery and murder occur from time to time. The crime rate in the capital city of Bangui remains high, and there have been several incidents of theft and robbery of our citizens. Especially in the PK5 area (5 kilometers away from the city center), armed conflicts are frequent and the most dangerous. Please do not go.

Currently, some Chinese nationals are mining gold and diamonds in Central Africa despite warnings from the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs consul. There are many restrictions and requirements on gold and drilling enterprises in the local area. This industry requires large investment, long return cycles, and extremely high risks, which can easily lead to disputes and pose huge safety risks to employees. On October 4, 2018, three citizens engaged in gold mining were killed in the city of Soso Nakombo; In June 2019, media reported that Chinese gold mining companies were polluting the environment, causing strong dissatisfaction among local residents and leading to the burning of vehicles and casualties of Chinese private enterprises. On March 19, 2023, an armed attack occurred against a Chinese private gold mining enterprise, resulting in 9 deaths and 2 serious injuries among Chinese citizens.

Given the significant security risks mentioned above, the Consular Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has issued multiple consular reminders, urging Chinese citizens not to travel outside the capital of the Central African Republic, Bangui, or to the PK5 area within the city of Bangui; Chinese citizens and institutions outside the capital city of Bangui in Central Africa must evacuate as soon as possible. In case of emergency, please report to the police and contact the embassy in a timely manner. If the parties insist on going, the personal safety responsibility and expenses incurred due to providing consular protection and assistance will be borne by the parties themselves.

natural disaster

Central Africa is located in the central part of the African continent and generally has no major natural disasters.

FDA

1、 Food hygiene situation

The local food processing industry is underdeveloped, and most of the food in regular stores is imported. The quality is still guaranteed, but the price is expensive. There are limited large-scale restaurants in the city of Bangui, but the hygiene conditions are still acceptable. The hygiene conditions of small bars, restaurants, and individual shops in the city are poor.

The overall condition of drinking water in Central Africa is poor. There is tap water supply in the city of Bangui, but it is often interrupted and the water quality is turbid, making it unsuitable for drinking.

2、 Special Reminder

（1） Equipped with household water purification equipment or bottled water for drinking.

（2） Try not to choose roadside small shops for dining.

（3） Maintain good personal hygiene habits.

Urgent Help

Information desk: 112.

Police: 117.

Fire alarm: 118.

air traffic

1、 International flight situation

Located in the capital city of Bangui, Bangui M'Poko Airport (BGF) is the only international airport in Central Africa. Air France, Kenya Airways, Ethiopian Airlines, Moroccan Airlines, and Togolese Airlines operate regular international flights to and from Paris, Douala, Nairobi, Addis Ababa, Yaound é, and other destinations. At present, no airline has opened direct flights from Bangui to China.

2、 Domestic flight situation

There are no domestic civilian flights in Central Africa.

3、 Information hotline for Banjimpoko International Airport

+236 21 61 49 47/+236 21 61 71 85.

4、 Special Reminder

There are baggage handlers at Mpoko International Airport who require a tip of approximately 1000 francs (approximately 14 RMB) per piece of luggage. The transportation between the city of Bangui and the airport mainly relies on taxis or self driving.

land transport

1、 Highway and railway conditions

The transportation in Central Africa is extremely underdeveloped, with no sea outlets or railways. Land transportation mainly relies on highways. The only channel for import and export in Central Africa is the road from Bangui to Douala, Cameroon, with a total length of about 2000 kilometers. The road is narrow, rugged and difficult to navigate, and the asphalt road has not yet been connected. The total length of national highways is 24578 kilometers, including 5400 kilometers of national highways, 3910 kilometers of local highways, and 15268 kilometers of rural roads. The road conditions are poor, mostly dirt roads.

2、 Public transportation such as cars and trains

Cars are the main mode of transportation in Central Africa, and there are no railways within the country.

3、 Car rental and self driving situation

There are private car rental companies in the city of Bangui. At present, Chinese citizens living in Central Africa mainly rely on self driving for travel. When going out, you should carry your travel and driving documents with you, familiarize yourself with the local situation and travel routes, and pay attention to traffic safety.

4、 Special Reminder

（1） If driving a vehicle in Central Africa, it is necessary to replace the Central African driver's license.

（2） Drive the vehicle to the right. The road conditions in Central Africa are poor, so caution should be exercised when driving.

（3） When parking, be sure to lock the car doors and close the windows. Avoid placing valuable items in the car.

transportation by land and water

Inland waterway transportation plays an important role in China Africa foreign trade. There are a total of 7080 kilometers of inland waterways in the country. Most imported and exported goods are transported by waterway through Congo (Brazzaville), with the Ubangi River being the main international transportation route. Bangui is the largest river port in the country, with an annual throughput of approximately 300000 tons. The total length of the waterway from Bangui to Brazzaville is 1200 kilometers, and the dry season is from February 1st to April 30th every year.

Urban transportation

There are no subway facilities in Central Africa. Buses, taxis, and motorcycles are the main modes of transportation. Buses are generally private minibuses; Taxis do not have a meter, and prices are negotiated verbally between passengers and drivers. Local people mainly travel by motorcycle or on foot both inside and outside the city.

major city

The country is divided into 16 provinces (PREFECTURE), 1 municipality (capital city Bangui), and 72 counties (SOUS-PREFECTURE) below the provincial level.

The capital city of Bangui is the political, economic, and cultural center of the country. It was founded in 1889, covers an area of 66 square kilometers, and has a population of approximately 1.15 million (as of October 2018). Bangui is bordered by hills to the east and the Ubangi River to the south, facing the city of Zongo in the Democratic Republic of Congo across the river. The hottest month is February, with temperatures ranging from 21 to 36 ° C. The coolest month is from July to August, with temperatures ranging from 21 to 29 ° C.

Commodity prices

1、 Main products

The economy of Central Africa is mainly based on agriculture, with a weak industrial foundation and over 80% of industrial products being imported. The main export commodities are wood, gold, diamonds, coffee, and cotton, while the main import commodities are light industry, textile products, grain and oil food, and petroleum products. The main trading partners are France, China, Cameroon, Belgium, etc.

2、 Price situation

Central Africa has backward industry, scarce resources, and a severe shortage of goods, requiring daily necessities to be imported from abroad. Central Africa is a landlocked country with inconvenient transportation, high shipping costs, and expensive market prices.

3、 Currency and exchange rate

Central Africa is a member of the Central African Economic and Monetary Community (CEMAC), with the common currency being the Central African Franc, pegged to the Euro at a fixed exchange rate of 655.95 francs per Euro. The denominations of the Central African franc banknotes are 500, 1000, 2000, 5000, and 10000 francs, respectively; The denominations of coins are divided into one liang, two liang, five liang, ten liang, twenty-five liang, fifty liang, one hundred liang, and five hundred liang. Small transactions for purchasing daily necessities are often paid in cash, while large transactions can be made by check.

4、 Banking and Financial Services

The main banking institutions include ECOBANK, CBCA, and Banque Populaire Maroco Centrafirique. Among them, ECOBANK has the largest scale and the most business outlets.

Insurance Medical

1、 Medical conditions

Central Africa is divided into 7 medical regions, with the capital city of Bangui being the 7th region. National health institutions include: General Hospital (H ô tal g é n é ral, contact number: 21610600), Common Hospital (H ô tal communautaire, contact number: 21612017), Friendship Hospital (H ô tal de l'Amiti é, contact number: 21615700, where the Chinese medical team in Central Africa is located), Binbo Hospital, Pediatrics Center, Diagnosis and Treatment Center of Bangui University, National Blood Center, National Laboratory Center and National Center for Sexually Transmitted Diseases/AIDS. There are also 5 regional hospitals, 12 provincial hospitals, 201 health clinics, and 418 health stations.

There are a total of 3314 staff members in the national public health system (with only 2563 actually on duty), with the majority of medical personnel concentrated in the capital. The regions with the fewest medical staff have only 5-10 internal medicine physicians, while the provinces with the fewest have only 1 internal medicine physician. According to the calculation of on duty medical personnel, there is an average of one medical practitioner for every 1884 people, and the average life expectancy of the population is 52 years. Far below the medical standards set by the World Health Organization for developing countries. Central African emergency hotline: 1212.

2、 Common diseases and treatments

China and Africa have poor medical conditions and many infectious diseases, including AIDS, malaria, tuberculosis, onchocerciasis, leprosy, Egyptian schistosomiasis, sleeping sickness and dracunculiasis. Central Africa has a high incidence of malaria and AIDS. The national AIDS prevalence rate is 3.8% (the data of the Central African Committee to Fight AIDS in 2020 may actually be higher than this value), the malaria prevalence rate is as high as 73%, 1.3 million cases were diagnosed in 2017, accounting for 28% of the national population, and the actual number of infected people is higher, which is the first fatal disease. Central Africa is located near the equator, with a hot climate and strong ultraviolet radiation. When traveling to Central Africa, please bring heatstroke prevention medicine, gastrointestinal medicine, mosquito repellent and other medications. Focus on preventing malaria, tuberculosis, hepatitis, AIDS and other infectious diseases. Local drugs are mostly imported, with relatively high prices and limited medical conditions.

Customs taboos

1、 Holidays and introductions

The more important holidays in Central Africa include New Year's Day (January 1), the anniversary of the death of the founding president (March 29), Labor Day (May 1), Independence Day (August 13), National Day (December 1), and Christmas Day (December 25). On the day of the holiday, all local units are closed.

2、 Common Etiquette

In formal social occasions, Central Africans usually shake hands with guests. Veneering and hugging are mainly used between relatives, friends, couples, and lovers. The veneering ceremony is to stick double-sided, from right to left.

3、 Main customs and habits such as clothing, food, and funerals

The traditional clothing of Central Africans consists of brightly colored cotton robes and long skirts. Exquisite shirts and suits, fashionable T-shirts, jeans, and various colored dresses are also common in major cities in Central Africa.

Central Africans mainly consume cassava as their staple food, as well as corn, millet, bananas, and more palm oil. There are many jungles in Central Africa, and meat is mainly obtained through hunting. When eating, Central Africans gather in a circle, with a pot of cassava balls and a pot of vegetables in the middle. There are no dishes, and they eat by hand. There are commonly used foods such as rice noodles, beef, lamb, pork, and chicken for sale in the market, but the prices are relatively expensive.

Central Africa implements earth burial and prohibits cremation. Different forms of mourning and farewell ceremonies are held before burial, and wreaths and chrysanthemums are mostly sent at funerals. Attending a funeral should wear black or dark clothing, and men should wear a dark tie.

4、 Main taboos

Many Muslims in Central Africa fast from pork and pork products.

Communications Power

1、 Telephone communication

The main fixed line telephone company in Central Africa is SOCATEL, while there are three mobile phone companies: TELECEL, ORANGE, and MOOV. Mobile phone users are relatively common and the procedures are easy to handle. Directly purchase chip phone cards and recharge cards, and recharge to activate and use them.

The charging standard for making fixed or mobile phone calls to Central Africa is 50-100 African francs per minute. To make an international call and add the destination country code, the cost is around 150-300 francs per minute. Dialing to China costs about 170 francs per minute.

2、 Power supply voltage

Central Africa uses circular sockets with two or three holes. If using domestic electrical appliances, it is necessary to bring your own plug converter. The standard voltage is 220V.

3、 Internet

Internet technology in Central Africa has not been widely popularized, but Bangui has network signal coverage.

4、 Special Reminder

The local voltage is unstable, and power outages occur from time to time. The telephone and Internet signals are unstable, the network speed is slow, and the connection is often dropped.

contact information

Inquiry Desk: 112

Police: 117

Fire alarm: 118

The inquiry hotline for Banjimpoko International Airport is+236 21 61 49 47/+236 21 61 71 85.