Central African Republic Travel Guide

The Central African Republic removed visa on arrival entirely, so a visa now has to be obtained before you travel, not at the border. Travelers can request 30 day, 60 day, 90 day, or one year visa lengths, and the standard documentation asks for a passport with at least one blank page and evidence of yellow fever vaccination. Guides warn specifically that arriving without a visa already arranged risks excessive fees or being turned away at the port of entry, this is not a place to test whether an exception will be made.

The reason to read carefully before booking is security, not paperwork. Level 4, Do Not Travel, is the advisory in place, citing unrest, crime, kidnapping, landmines, health risks, and terrorism, with continuing civil unrest, demonstrations, and renewed armed conflict reported across the country. Even the main airport is affected, the FCDO advises against all but essential travel to Bangui, M'Poko International Airport included, which itself operates under UN control and experiences regular power outages.