🇫🇷 France visa requirements for Central African citizens
Yes — Central African citizens need a visa to enter France, normally arranged through an embassy or consulate before traveling.
Entry rules for Central African Republic passport holders
Central African citizens must obtain a visa before traveling to France. Applications generally go through a France embassy or consulate and require a completed form, passport photos, proof of accommodation and onward travel, and sometimes travel insurance. Start the process several weeks before your planned trip, as processing times vary.
Entry rules can change at short notice. Always confirm current requirements with the official France immigration authority or your nearest embassy before booking.
France is in the Schengen Area
Your stay in France counts against the same 90-day allowance as every other Schengen country, within a rolling 180-day period — the clock does not reset when you cross an internal border.
See the full Schengen rules for Central African citizens →How this compares
The Central African passport ranks #171 worldwide, opening 49 destinations without a visa arranged in advance (20 visa-free, 28 with a visa on arrival and 1 with an eTA). France is not among them — it is one of the 106 destinations that still require an embassy visa or an application before departure.
The arrangement is reciprocal: French citizens traveling to Central African Republic face the same requirement (visa required).
Western Europe is closed to spontaneous travel for Central African passport holders: none of its 8 destinations can be entered without an application first.
About France
- Capital
- Paris
- Region
- Western Europe
- Currency
- euro (€)
- Languages
- French
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Frequently asked questions
Do Central African citizens need a visa for France?
Yes — Central African citizens need a visa to enter France, normally arranged through an embassy or consulate before traveling.
What currency is used in France?
The currency in France is the euro (€). The capital city is Paris.
Is this information up to date?
Current status: Visa required for Central African citizens traveling to France. This page is built from the open Passport Index dataset, which was last updated on 2025-01-12. Visa rules can change between dataset updates, so always confirm with the France embassy or immigration authority before booking.
More of Europe for Central African passport holders
Going the other way? Central African Republic visa requirements for French citizens →
Source data last updated 2025-01-12.