COVID-19 Information

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*** Effective Sunday, June 12, 2022 at 12:01 a.m. EDT, the CDC rescinded its Order requiring all airline or other aircraft passengers to show a negative COVID-19 test result or documentation of recovery from COVID-19 to board any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.

· Test results from the National Laboratory within the same calendar day. Tests results from the Paster Institute are generally available within 48 hours via email, https://reports.unocha.org/en/country/car/card/7jsVXwSZcV/.

· For information on limited humanitarian exemptions to CDC’s requirement that all U.S. bound travelers present a negative COVID test, please review the following page: https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/traveladvisories/ea/covid-testing-required-us-entry.html.

· 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.

· The United States Government does not plan to provide COVID-19 vaccinations to private U.S. citizens overseas. Please follow host country developments and guidelines for COVID-19 vaccination.

· 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]

· U.S. citizens are required to quarantine for 14 days. However, if you are a member of an international organization or humanitarian NGO, a quarantine is only required until you receive a negative COVID-19 test at the local Pasteur Institute. The cost of the test is approximately US$70.00 (CFA35,000)

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]

· Public transportation is considered dangerous, and it is not recommended to travel by mini-bus or moto-taxis (motorcycles). Private cabs are available.

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:  