How to Apply for a Central African Republic Visa in Tampa

The Central African Republic, a landlocked nation at the heart of the continent, is one of the least visited countries for residents of the Tampa Bay area.  Despite its vast natural resources, the country is one of the poorest and most fragile countries in the world.  It also ranks as the unhealthiest, the worst country for children, and among the bottom 10 for education and hunger. “It’s never a good sign when you land in a country and the first thing you see are planes from the United Nations, World Food Programme or Médecins Sans Frontiers {Doctors without Borders},” the travel blog Road to 197 reported in 2024 (https://www.roadto197.com/2024/01/14/trip-report-central-african-republic/). “In such situations you realize that things are not good in the country, that the country has serious issues….”

Known as French Equatorial Africa during the European colonial period, the Central African Republic (CAR) attained independence in 1960.  Ruled for 15 years by brutal dictator Jean-Bedel Bokassa, the country has since endured decades of civil war, corruption, and human rights abuses. “Do not travel to the Central African Republic (CAR),” the U.S. State Department warns, citing violent crimes, kidnappings, and armed rebels. “Although there have been no specific incidents of violence or threats targeting U.S. citizens, civil unrest, demonstrations, and election-related violence (including renewed outbreaks of armed conflict) may occur throughout the country.” (https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/traveladvisories/traveladvisories/central-african-republic-travel-advisory.html)  More than 15,000 UN peacekeepers were in the CAR during 2024.

The CAR covers some 200,000 square miles and borders Cameroon, Chad, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the Republic of the Congo, Sudan, and South Sudan.  The country is home to almost 5.9 million residents, which is about double the size of the Tampa Bay area.  More than 55% of the population live in rural areas and there are 80 ethnic groups, each with their own language.  The official language of Central African Republic is French, however, it is only spoken by 28% of the population.  Sango is also an official language of the CAR and spoken by the vast majority of its citizens.  

While blessed with rich natural resources such as oil, gold, and diamonds, the proceeds from CAR’s underdeveloped economy is largely diverted to the elites. “Despite its significant agricultural potential and vast forests, the population is yet to share in the associated benefits,” the World Bank stated (https://www.worldbank.org/en/country/centralafricanrepublic/overview).  The major industry is agriculture, which employs 74% of the population.  Diamonds are the main export, but the CAR also has significant quantities of uranium, cobalt, lumber, crude oil, and hydropower that could be developed.  However, Invest in Africa reported, “Central African Republic has embarked on various reform programmes to attract investment.” (https://invest-in-africa.co/invest-central-african-republic/) “Some sectors with investment opportunities in the country include mining, forestry, infrastructure projects, tourism, {and} agriculture (export crops such as coffee and cotton).” Only 87,000 travelers visited the CAR in 2019 – the last year before the COVID-19 pandemic – and foreign visitors today are mainly humanitarian aid workers.

The Central African Republic’s trade and commercial center is Bangui, its capital and largest city with almost 1.5 million residents, making this the most likely destination for Tampa businesspeople.  Tourism is not well developed in the CAR, as political instability and violence makes many parts of the country dangerous for travelers.  Road to 197 reported that Bangui was one of the least developed capital cities in Africa and one of the poorest, noting, “There are only dirt roads in the city center.” The city reflects its colonial past, with wide boulevards, French cafes, and a central market square.  While tourist attractions are scarce, popular sites to visit include Bangui Zoo, Notre-Dame Cathedral, the Presidential Palace, and historical exhibits at Boganda Museum.  Popular outings include visiting Baoli Falls and taking a boat trip on the Ubangi River.

Despite its many challenges, the CAR features vast natural beauty.  Reaching from the Sahara Desert to tropical Africa, it offers tribal traditions, French colonial architecture, diverse wildlife, bustling marketplaces, and pygmy tribes in the equatorial rain forests.  The CAR has two UNESCO World Heritage sites. Manovo-Gounda St Floris National Park contains vast savannahs that are home to black rhinoceroses, cheetahs, leopards, red-fronted gazelles and buffalo, plus various waterfowl in the northern floodplains.  The second, Sangha Trinational, located in the northwestern Congo Basin, encompasses three contiguous national parks in the CAR, Cameroon, and Congo.  They total 750,000 hectares of tropical forest ecosystems with rich flora and fauna, including Nile crocodiles, forest elephants, goliath tigerfish, and endangered lowland gorillas and chimpanzees.

Requirements for Obtaining a Central African Republic Visa from Tampa

Citizens of the United States (and those with a passport from most other countries) living in the Tampa Bay area are required to obtain a visa before visiting the CAR.  Nationals from 17 countries (primarily in Africa) are exempt from visa requirements.  The main requirement is holding a passport valid for at least six months which contains at least one blank page.  Travelers are required to present a World Health Organization “yellow card” indicating they have been vaccinated for yellow fever. (You may present your original card or a copy.) Other vaccinations recommended by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control can be found at https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/destinations/traveler/none/central-african-republic.

The visa application process is fairly straightforward for most Americans entering the CAR for tourism, business, and similar purposes.  However, those traveling on behalf of international organizations (such as the United Nations), non-governmental organizations (NGOs, such as World Vision), or contractors who will work for a foreign embassy must first request permission from the CAR Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA). “The sponsoring/inviting/local organization for the traveler/ employee /representative, must submit an application to MFA in Bangui,” the CAR Embassy in Washington, D.C., stated on its website. “If the application is approved, the MFA will inform the CAR Embassy where the individual will next need to apply for the visa.” Those receiving a courtesy visa or traveling under a visa exemption must also submit entry visa applications to the MFA.  Also, the CAR government requires that anyone staying longer than three months under an embassy or international organization visa must apply for a residency permit.  For more details, see the U.S. Embassy in CAR website posting at https://cf.usembassy.gov/alert-central-african-republic-visa-policy-changes-february-12-2024/.

Electronic visas and visas on arrival are not available, so residents of the Tampa Bay area must apply for a traditional visa through the CAR embassy to the United States in Washington, D.C.  A link to the visa application can be found on the embassy’s website at https://www.usrcaembassy.org/about-5.  Download the application, fill it out, sign it, and bring your documentation to the embassy to apply for your visa.  You can make an appointment by contacting the Visa Appointment Call Center at (202) 483-7800.  Embassy hours are Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. until 6 p.m.

You can also mail your application to the embassy along with the appropriate documentation. The embassy address is:

Embassy of the Central African Republic
2704 Ontario Rd NW
Washington, D.C. 20009

Required documents to obtain a visa include:

  • Completed and signed application form.
  • One passport-type photograph taken within the last six months.
  • Current passport, valid for at least six months.
  • A letter from your employer confirming you will return to the United States to resume your duties.
  • Copy of your yellow fever vaccination card.
  • Copy of flight itinerary.
  • Hotel reservation or letter from a party in the CAR inviting you to the country.
  • For official passport holders, letter from the U.S. Department of State or other diplomatic mission.
  • Self-addressed prepaid mailing envelope to return your passport and visa.
  • Health Insurance. Although not required for the visa, we recommend purchasing international medical insurance to cover accidents, injuries, and illnesses while traveling in Central African Republic.  International medical insurance from GeoBlue can be purchased from Visa Supply online through the following link: ⇒ Order Now.

Visa application fees must also be paid when the application is submitted.  If you apply in person at the embassy, payment must be in cash.  For applications by mail, fees can be paid by check or money order payable to “Freddy Arsene Kore Administrative and Financial Counselor to the Embassy.” The fees are:

  • Short stay (up to one month): $150
  • Medium stay (two to three months): $200
  • Long stay (three months or more): $ 250

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We Can Help if You Need Assistance

Visa Supply can help you complete your application for your visa and answer your questions about visiting Central African Republic.  Our number one goal is to ensure your application documents for a visa are submitted accurately to the government of Central African Republic.  Our services eliminate delays and give you the peace of mind to focus on your travel plans.

If you live in Tampa or anywhere in the state of Florida and have difficulty applying for a visa for Central African Republic, or require assistance with any part of the process of preparing for your trip, please give our office a call at 404-682-5445 or schedule an appointment with our company through our website.  We are a private agency in Atlanta providing Central African Republic visa services for Americans and other U.S.-based residents. 

We provide the following Central African Republic visa services for residents of Tampa:

  • Central African Republic Tourist Visa
  • Central African Republic Business Visa
  • Central African Republic Official Visa
  • Central African Republic Hotel Accommodations