Last updated: [06/14/2022]
*** Effective Sunday, June 12, 2022 at 12:01 a.m. EDT, the CDC rescinded its Order requiring all airline or other aircraft passengers to show a negative COVID-19 test result or documentation of recovery from COVID-19 to board any aircraft destined to the United States from a foreign country. Of note, CDC’s Order requiring proof of vaccination for non-U.S. citizen nonimmigrants to travel to the United States is still in effect. For more information see Requirement for Proof of COVID-19 Vaccination for Air Passengers. Check the CDC website for additional information and Frequently Asked Questions.
COVID-19 Testing:
· Are either PCR or antigen tests available for U.S. citizens in the Central African Republic? [Yes]
· If so, are test results reliably available within one calendar day? [Yes]
· For symptomatic patients, testing is free and available at the Ministry of Health’s National Laboratory and Institute Pasteur. For pre-departure testing, travelers should go to either of those locations. Please contact those institutions for the latest operating hours and prices.
· Humanitarian exemptions to this order will be granted on an extremely limited basis and will only be considered when the country of departure lacks adequate COVID-19 testing capacity. To submit information in support of an exemption, e-mail YaoundeACS@state.gov.
COVID-19 Vaccine Information:
· Has the government of the Central African Republic approved a COVID-19 vaccine for use? [Yes]
· Are vaccines available in the Central African Republic for U.S. citizens to receive? [Yes]
· Which vaccines are available in the Central African Republic? AstraZeneca, Johnson & Johnson
· According to the Ministry of Health COVID-19 coordinator, when vaccines arrive, they will be available to anyone residing in the Central African Republic, regardless of citizenship, according to the government’s final prioritization schedule.
· Information from the CDC regarding COVID-19 vaccination.
Entry and Exit Requirements:
· Are U.S. citizens permitted to enter? [Yes]
o Include details and links to host government resources
· Is a negative COVID-19 test (PCR and/or serology) required for entry? [Yes, negative PCR test results from within the last 72 hours are required for both entry and departure.]
· Are health screening procedures in place at airports and other ports of entry? [Yes, test results will be verified at all ports of entry. Any traveler without a negative PCR test results will have their travel documents temporarily confiscated and will be obliged to take both a rapid test (TDR) and RT-PCR test. All passengers who test positive for COVID at the port of entry will be placed in confinement for a minimum of 72 hours and obliged to retake the RT-PCR, until they test negative.
· Visa extensions for three-months are allowed.
Movement Restrictions:
· Is a curfew in place? [Yes, due to ongoing civil unrest, not due to COVID-19 restrictions.]
· Are there restrictions on intercity or interstate travel? [No]
Quarantine Information:
· Are U.S. citizens required to quarantine? [Yes]
Transportation Options:
· Are commercial flights operating? [Yes, however airline schedules often change with little notice. Please monitor your flight status on a continual basis.]
· Is public transportation operating? [Yes]
Fines for Non-Compliance:
· Not applicable.
Consular Operations:
· Embassy Bangui does not offer ACS services. For ACS services, please contact U.S. Embassy in Yaoundé, Cameroon at +(237) 22220-1500 ext. 4341/4023 or in case of emergency +(237) 22220-1500, ext. 4531. Their email address is YaoundeACS@state.gov.
· Embassy Bangui does not offer visa service at this time.
Local Resources:
Other links:
· COVID-19 Traveler Information page on travel.state.gov
· CDC page on COVID-19
· Travel.state.gov Country Information and Travel Advisory page