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🇦🇪United Arab Emirates

🇨🇫Central African RepublicAE-CF

United Arab Emirates to Central African Republic visa requirements

Q: Is visa on arrival the same as visa-free entry?

No. UAE MoFA lists visa on arrival for normal UAE passports, so you should expect document checks and fee payment even though a pre-issued visa may not be required.

Q: What is the safest way to travel to CAR?

Use the UAE MoFA destination page and the relevant CAR embassy or consulate to confirm the current VOA fee, documents, and whether your carrier or route requires a pre-issued visa.

Q: Is a yellow fever vaccination mandatory?

Yes. A valid International Certificate of Vaccination for yellow fever is a strict entry requirement and is checked on arrival.

Q: How long can I stay and how much does it cost?

UAE MoFA lists tourism stays for UAE nationals as up to 90 days. Its fee examples are 10,000 CFA francs / about AED 500 for 1-3 months and 14,000 CFA francs / about AED 700 for 3-6 months; embassy fees can differ.

Q: Does CAR have an official eVisa?

The official sources checked for this update support visa on arrival and embassy visa routes, not a general tourist eVisa route for UAE ordinary passport holders.

UAE ordinary passport holders can obtain a visa on arrival in the Central African Republic for tourism, with UAE MoFA listing normal passports as visa on arrival and a 90-day tourism stay. A yellow fever vaccination certificate is mandatory, and travelers who want a visa in hand before departure can apply through a CAR embassy or consulate. The Central African Republic (CF) grants visa on arrival to United Arab Emirates citizens under a bilateral arrangement effective from 8 October 2019, and UAE MoFA's current destination page lists normal UAE passports as visa on arrival with a 90-day tourism stay. This is a visa-on-arrival concession rather than a visa-free stay, so travelers should still carry supporting documents and enough funds to pay the fee at entry. UAE MoFA lists short-term visa fees as 10,000 CFA francs (shown by MoFA as about AED 500) for 1-3 months and 14,000 CFA francs (shown as about AED 700) for 3-6 months; CAR Embassy Washington publishes separate embassy-visa fees by duration, so fees vary by route and mission. Embassy visa processing is mission-specific: the Washington embassy says regular visa requests take 72 hours and express requests 24-48 hours. A yellow fever vaccination certificate is a strict entry condition, and passports must be valid at least six months with at least one blank visa page. Security conditions in CAR remain volatile, so check travel advisories before departure.

VISA REQUIREDTOURISMVARIES BY VISA ISSUEDLast verified 2026-06-18

For guidance only — visa rules change with little notice. Always confirm directly with the destination's embassy or foreign ministry before booking non-refundable travel. Information here applies to ordinary (non-diplomatic) passports unless noted.

Policy alertWatch this route for rule changesSave this passport and destination for email summaries and optional browser notifications.Subscribe →UAE (Golden Visa)Living in United Arab Emirates as a permanent resident? See PR-specific guidance→

/01 — The numbers

Key facts

Last verified 2026-06-18

Visa type

Visa on arrival for UAE ordinary passport holders; embassy tourist visa also available in advance

Maximum stay

Up to 90 days (tourist)

per entry

Entries

Varies by visa issued

from issue date

Visa fee

UAE MoFA lists 10,000 CFA francs / about AED 500 for 1-3 months and 14,000 CFA francs / about AED 700 for 3-6 months; embassy fees vary by mission

consular fee only

Processing time

VOA at entry; embassy examples include 72 hours regular and 24-48 hours express

standard track

Validity

1-3 months or 3-6 months per UAE MoFA fee categories; embassy validity varies

from issue date

/02 — The process

How to apply

/01

Confirm eligibility and current status

Verify your UAE ordinary passport against the latest UAE MoFA and CAR mission guidance. UAE MoFA currently lists normal UAE passports as visa on arrival for CAR.

· UAE ordinary passport· valid 6+ months· 1 blank page

/02

Get the yellow fever vaccination

Obtain a yellow fever vaccination at least 10 days before travel and keep the International Certificate of Vaccination; it is checked on arrival.

· Mandatory· 10 days before travel

/03

Decide: advance embassy visa vs. visa on arrival

Visa on arrival is listed for UAE nationals, but applying in advance through a CAR embassy or consulate is an option if you prefer a pre-issued visa before departure.

· VOA listed· Advance visa optional

/04

Prepare documents for your route

For an embassy visa, complete the application form and submit the mission's required passport, photo, itinerary, invitation or hotel documents. For VOA, carry passport, yellow fever certificate, onward or return travel and accommodation details.

· Route-dependent· Carry support

/05

Pay the visa fee and collect

For embassy applications, pay the mission's consular fee and collect the visa once processed. The CAR Embassy in Washington lists 72-hour regular processing and 24-48-hour express processing.

· Mission-specific fee· 72 hours regular

/06

Carry documents for entry

At the port of entry present your visa (or request VOA if relying on the concession), yellow fever certificate, and onward ticket.

· Yellow fever certificate· onward ticket

/03 — The paperwork

Required materials

12 items

Personalized checklist

United Arab Emirates -> Central African Republic · Visa on arrival for UAE ordinary passport holders; embassy tourist visa also available in advance

0 / 12 complete

Visa typeTravel date

Deadline reminderAdd a date before export

RequiredUAE ordinary passport valid at least 6 months beyond entry

Original passport; keep the blank pages and remaining validity required for this route

required

RequiredAt least 1 blank passport visa page

Original passport; keep the blank pages and remaining validity required for this route

required

RequiredYellow fever vaccination International Certificate

Provide a clear scan, digital file, or original as requested by the official channel

required

OptionalTourist visa obtained in advance from CAR embassy/consulate

Provide a clear scan, digital file, or original as requested by the official channel

optional

OptionalCompleted visa application form if applying through an embassy

Official form; submit online or print and sign as instructed

optional

OptionalRecent passport-size photographs if applying through an embassy

Use the official size, background, and recency rules for this route

optional

RequiredConfirmed return or onward ticket

Bookings, itinerary, or confirmations matching the requested stay dates

required

RecommendedProof of accommodation / hotel booking

Bookings, itinerary, or confirmations matching the requested stay dates

recommended

RecommendedProof of sufficient funds

Bank, income, or asset proof with clear name, date, and balances

recommended

RecommendedCheck current security travel advisory before departure

Provide a clear scan, digital file, or original as requested by the official channel

recommended

RequiredFlight and hotel itinerary

Confirmed or agency-arranged itinerary when the route guide requires it

Use dates that fit the allowed stay and visa validity.

RecommendedTravel medical insurance

Policy certificate showing traveler name, destination, and coverage dates

Some destinations or agencies require it even when the core visa rule only recommends it.

Official sourcesUAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs - Central African Republic travel updates Central African Republic MFA - UAE visa-exemption memorandum Central African Republic Embassy in Washington - Visa

Application link included: Central African Republic MFA - UAE visa-exemption memorandum

Open link

/04 — The cost

Fee breakdown

All-in estimate

Line itemAmountSource

Short-term visa fee listed by UAE MoFA10,000 CFA francs / about AED 500Listed for 1-3 month visas; confirm the amount at the port of entry or mission

Longer short-stay visa fee listed by UAE MoFA14,000 CFA francs / about AED 700Listed for 3-6 month visas; confirm the amount at the port of entry or mission

CAR Embassy Washington visa fee examplesUSD 150-300Embassy fees vary by duration; express service listed separately

CAR Embassy Washington express serviceUSD 50Optional express fee where offered by that mission

Yellow fever vaccinationAED 100-200Approximate clinic cost in the UAE

Total estimate10,000 CFA francs / about AED 500 — 14,000 CFA francs / about AED 700incl. all

/05 — The wait

Processing time

Visa on arrival

At port of entry

Listed by UAE MoFA for UAE ordinary passport holders.

Embassy / consulate tourist visa

Mission-specific; 72 hours regular and 24-48 hours express at CAR Embassy Washington

Use if you want a visa before travel or if a carrier/route asks for a pre-issued visa.

/06 — The risks

Common refusal reasons

by frequency

/01

VOA is not visa-free

UAE nationals are listed for visa on arrival, not a visa exemption, so supporting documents and fee payment may still be required.

High

/02

Fees vary by route and mission

UAE MoFA lists CFA/AED fee categories, while CAR embassy fee schedules can differ by mission and visa duration.

High

/03

Yellow fever certificate missing

Travelers without a valid yellow fever vaccination certificate are refused entry.

Medium

/04

Insufficient passport validity or blank pages

Passports should be valid 6+ months and have at least 1 blank visa page or entry may be refused.

Medium

/05

Security and advisory conditions

CAR has volatile security; limited consular support and changing rules can disrupt travel.

Low

/07 — On arrival

After you land

/01

Immigration

Keep your passport, visa or exemption proof, return ticket, and accommodation details ready for border inspection.

/02

Customs

Review the destination's customs rules before travel and declare restricted goods or large cash amounts when required.

/03

Connectivity

Check whether airport SIMs, eSIMs, or roaming are the best option for your route before arrival.

/08 — The history

Policy changelog

since 2024

2026-06-19

Reviewed by Claude Code

Second-pass review: re-verified the evidence chain against official sources; key facts confirmed and checked-date refreshed.

2026-06-18 · major

Central African Republic VOA details corrected

Replaced secondary-source and unsupported airline-system claims with UAE MoFA's current VOA listing, CAR official memorandum evidence, official fee examples, and mission-specific processing wording.

2026-05-30 · major

United Arab Emirates to Central African Rep. route verified

Confirmed UAE nationals hold a visa-on-arrival concession (effective 8 Oct 2019) per UAE MoFA. Verdict set to visa on arrival.

/09 — The questions

Frequently asked

Can UAE citizens really enter CAR without a visa?—

No. UAE ordinary passport holders are not visa-exempt. They have a visa-on-arrival concession (since 8 October 2019), but a visa is still required. Some websites incorrectly call this visa-free.

Is visa on arrival the same as visa-free entry?+

What is the safest way to travel to CAR?+

Is a yellow fever vaccination mandatory?+

How long can I stay and how much does it cost?+

Does CAR have an official eVisa?+

/11 — Passport tools