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Central African Republic

Nationality · visas, permits and migration

Moved to OECD countries, 2023
1,478
Top destination, 2023
France
U.S. non-immigrant visas, FY2025
269
UK visas issued, 2025
71
Schengen visa refusal rate, 2024
31.5%
NationalityCFISO 3166
Year by year
Data as at 2025
NA<CFCENTRAL<AFRICAN<REPUBLIC<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<
CF9<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<8

Visa requirements for a short visit

Whether citizens of the Central African Republic need a visa for a short tourist or business visit, according to the legal lists. Rules change; check the official source before travelling.

DestinationShort visitLegal basis
Schengen areaVisa requiredRegulation (EU) 2018/1806 (consolidated 30.12.2025)
United KingdomVisa requiredImmigration Rules, Appendix Visitor / ETA National List
CanadaTemporary resident visa requiredIRPR s. 190, Schedule 1.1
Hong KongVisa requiredImmigration Department (HKSAR), visit visa requirements, 31.12.2025
Source: Regulation (EU) 2018/1806 (consolidated 30 Dec 2025); UK Immigration Rules, Appendix Visitor and ETA National List; Canada IRPR s. 190 and Schedule 1.1; Immigration Department (HKSAR), visit visa requirements as at 31 Dec 2025Data as at Oct 2026

Where people from the Central African Republic move

Inflows of foreign nationals by country of nationality, as recorded by each destination (OECD).

Inflows to OECD countries, 2023
  1. France828
  2. Canada350
  3. United States160
  4. Germany39
  5. Belgium29
  6. Norway20
  7. Italy15
  8. Sweden13
  9. Japan10
  10. Finland3
  11. Austria3
  12. Luxembourg3
  13. Switzerland2
  14. Slovenia1
  15. Netherlands1

Inflows to all OECD countries by year

8831,765200020032006200920122015201820212023
8831,7652000200420082012201620202023
Data table
2000408
2001526
2002667
2003677
2004689
2005775
2006764
2007702
2008802
2009752
2010694
2011659
2012687
20131,080
20141,140
20151,554
20161,552
20171,556
20181,562
20191,672
20201,018
20211,047
20221,765
20231,478
Share going to the top destination
56.0%
Destinations recording arrivals
15
Source: OECD, International Migration Database (OECD.ELS.IMD), accessed 24 Oct 2026Data as at 2023

Living abroad

People born in the Central African Republic who live in another country: mid-year estimates of the international migrant stock (UN DESA). Where a destination records citizenship rather than country of birth, its foreign citizens are counted.

Largest destinations, 2024
  1. ZR368,125
  2. Cameroon336,349
  3. Chad115,460
  4. Sudan45,125
  5. Republic of the Congo32,312
  6. South Sudan4,859
  7. Mali1,458
  8. Senegal741
  9. Greece424
  10. Togo380
  11. Australia191
  12. Dominican Republic151

Living abroad by year

453k906k19901995200020052010201520202024
453k906k19902000201020202024
Data table
199037,143
199539,510
200044,980
2005115,287
2010228,473
2015666,056
2020794,362
2024905,808
Living abroad, 2024
905,808
Change since 2000
+1913.8%
Share living in the largest destination, 2024
40.6%
Source: United Nations, DESA Population Division, International Migrant Stock 2024 (CC BY 3.0 IGO)Data as at 2024

United States

Visas issued to citizens of the Central African Republic by U.S. consulates (fiscal years, October–September) and certified PERM labor certifications.

Non-immigrant visas by class, FY2025
  1. B1/B298
  2. G260
  3. A143
  4. A222
  5. G415
  6. G112
  7. J112
  8. F15
  9. T41
  10. BBBCC1

Non-immigrant visas by fiscal year

168336201720182019202020212022202320242025
16833620172019202120232025
Data table
2017192
2018336
2019305
2020123
202178
2022220
2023301
2024290
2025269
Immigrant visas by class, FY2025
  1. IR514
  2. IR210
  3. IR18
  4. DV4
  5. FX1
  6. GV11
  7. GV21
Immigrant visas, FY2025
39
Certified PERM labor certifications, FY2024 (latest year with citizenship)
0
Source: U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Consular Affairs, monthly visa issuances (public domain); U.S. Department of Labor, OFLC PERM disclosure data (public domain)Data as at FY2025

Green cards and U.S. citizenship

People born in the Central African Republic who became U.S. lawful permanent residents (green cards) or U.S. citizens, and admissions of citizens of the Central African Republic with an I-94 record (DHS, fiscal years).

Green cards by fiscal year

1503002015201620172018201920202021202220232024
150300201520172019202120232024
Data table
2015230
2016200
2017180
2018300
2019230
2020150
2021150
2022140
2023110
2024140
Green cards by class of admission, FY2024
  1. Refugees and asylees100
  2. Immediate relatives of U.S. citizens30
Green cards, FY2024 (born in the Central African Republic)
140
Naturalizations, FY2024 (born in the Central African Republic)
170
I-94 admissions, FY2024 (citizenship)
690
Source: U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Office of Homeland Security Statistics, Yearbook of Immigration Statistics 2024 (public domain)Data as at FY2024

United Kingdom

Entry clearance visas issued to nationals of the Central African Republic (Home Office) and students with a permanent address in the Central African Republic (HESA).

Visas issued by group, 2025
  1. Visitor51
  2. Other15
  3. Family4
  4. Study1

Visas issued by year

3671201020122014201620182020202220242025
3671201020132016201920222025
Data table
201047
201144
201252
201337
201447
201548
201644
201739
201842
201970
202024
202145
202235
202333
202447
202571
Students at UK universities, 2024/25
0
Source: Home Office, Immigration system statistics (year ending June 2026), Open Government Licence v3.0Data as at 2025

Canada

Permits and invitations for citizens of the Central African Republic, by year the permit took effect (IRCC).

YearTFWP workIMP workStudyPermanent residentsExpress Entry invitations
202500153500
202400202605
202300353400
202200158950
202100101050
20200001050
201900203750
201800152450
201700302300
20160020900
20150054550
Source: IRCC, monthly open data (rounded to the nearest 5). Open Government Licence – CanadaData as at 2025

Japan

Citizens of the Central African Republic living in Japan at the end of each December, by status of residence (Immigration Services Agency of Japan). 2020 and 2021 were published only as database tables.

Foreign residents in Japan

9182012201420162018202220242025
9182012201420162018202220242025
Data table
20127
20136
201412
201513
201614
201715
201816
201917
202214
202314
202418
202517
By status of residence, December 2025
  1. Permanent Resident6
  2. Designated Activities5
  3. Spouse or Child of Japanese National3
  4. Long-Term Resident3
Residents, December 2025
17
In work-related statuses
0
Share in work-related statuses
0.0%
Students
0
Source: Immigration Services Agency of Japan, Statistics on Foreign Residents (在留外国人統計), Table 1, end of December (e-Stat; Government of Japan Standard Terms of Use 2.0)Data as at Dec 2025

Schengen visas in the Central African Republic

Short-stay (C) visa applications at Schengen consulates located in the Central African Republic, 2024. Applicants are mostly, but not only, its citizens.

Schengen stateApplicationsIssuedNot issuedRefusal rate
France2,9961,96494531.5%

Applications by year

2,8105,6202009201020112012201320142015201620172018201920202021202220232024
2,8105,620200920122015201820212024
Data table
2009988
20102,825
20112,678
20122,820
20132,527
20143,423
20154,441
20165,620
20174,295
20184,101
20194,230
2020741
20211,021
20222,004
20232,211
20242,996
Refusal rate, 2024
31.5%
Refusal rate, 2019
25.6%
Source: European Commission, DG Migration and Home Affairs, visa statistics for consulates (CC BY 4.0)Data as at 2024

Residence permits in Europe

First residence permits issued to citizens of the Central African Republic in EU and EFTA countries, 2025 (Eurostat).

First permits by reason
  1. Other reasons897
  2. Family219
  3. Education202
  4. Work22
First permits by country
  1. France1,150
  2. Spain104
  3. Germany24
  4. Belgium18
  5. Italy13
  6. Sweden11
  7. Poland6
  8. Finland3
  9. Switzerland2
  10. Portugal2
  11. Greece2
  12. Czechia1
Work permits by type, 2025
  1. Highly skilled workers (national schemes)1
  2. Other paid activities21
EU Blue Cards granted, 2024
1
Citizenships acquired in the EU, 2024
456
Students in EU/EFTA tertiary education, 2024
659
Refused entry at EU external borders, 2025
15
Valid residence permits, 31 Dec 2025
15,915
Long-term residence permits issued, 2025
726
Changed status into work, 2025
64
Seasonal work authorisations, 2024
1
Source: Eurostat (migr_resfirst, migr_resbc11, migr_acq, educ_uoe_mobs02, migr_eirfs, migr_pop1ctz), CC BY 4.0Data as at 2024–2025

National statistics in Europe

Citizens of the Central African Republic in the figures of national statistics offices: residence permits granted in Denmark, immigrations by grounds for settlement in Sweden and immigrants with a non-EU/EFTA nationality by migration motive in the Netherlands; Finland and Austria publish immigration and emigration by citizenship only.

CountryYearImmigrationEmigrationNet migration
Finland2025101
Austria2025101
Source: Danmarks Statistik, Statistikbanken VAN66 and VAN77M (CC BY 4.0); SCB (Statistics Sweden), Statistikdatabasen TAB1614 and TAB6670 (CC0); CBS (Statistics Netherlands), StatLine 84809NED (CC BY 4.0); Statistics Finland (Tilastokeskus), StatFin 11a8 (CC BY 4.0); Statistik Austria, OGD_bevwan020_AUSSENWAND_100 (CC BY 4.0)Data as at 2025

Foreign embassies and consulates in the Central African Republic

Countries with an embassy or consulate in the Central African Republic, as recorded in Wikidata.

CountryEmbassiesConsulates-generalConsulates
China1——
France1——
Morocco1——
Russia1——
Countries
4
Missions
4
Source: Wikidata (CC0)Data as at Oct 2026

All corridors from the Central African Republic

Destinations with a dedicated page for citizens of this country.

  • Central African Republic → France
Source: OECD, International Migration Database (OECD.ELS.IMD), accessed 24 Oct 2026Data as at 2023

Official data, not advice. Visa Atlas publishes figures from government registers and statistics. It does not assess eligibility or give immigration advice; for advice, consult a regulated adviser. Read more