How to Get Central African Republic CitizenshipKey facts
- Residence for naturalisation
- 5 years
- Language
- None
- Dual citizenship
- New citizens only
- Civic test
- No civic knowledge requirement
- Criminal record
- No criminal record condition in the law
- Income condition
- No income condition in the law
- Dual citizenship in detail
- Partly accepted: for new citizens onlyNew citizens do not have to give up their previous citizenship.Citizens who naturalise abroad lose their citizenship automatically.
- Available routes
- Region
- Africa
- Law in force as of
- 1 January 2024
- Last checked
- Not yet checked by our team
The rule text in the sections below was coded for the law on 1 January 2024. A November 2026 search found no later change for this country, but this has not been verified.
Naturalisation (residence)
Residence in the Central African Republic is the basis of this route, together with the other conditions below. Authorities retain discretion and may refuse an application even when the conditions are met.
- Residence
- 5 years
Person has been legally and habitually resident for 5 years.
- Previous citizenship
- New citizens do not have to give up their previous citizenship
- Language
- No language requirement
- Civic knowledge
- No civic knowledge requirement
- Criminal record
- No criminal record condition in the law
- Income or economic resources
- No income condition in the law
Marriage or civil partnership
Marriage to a citizen of the Central African Republic is the basis of this route, together with the conditions below. The law of the Central African Republic confers citizenship automatically, independent of any administrative decision.
Person is a woman married to a citizen. Citizenship is acquired at the moment of marriage, unless she declares that she declines acquisition. Other conditions: government may oppose acquisition within 6 months of the marriage.
Descent (citizen parent)
For a person with a parent who is a citizen of the Central African Republic, the rules below set out how this route works. The law of the Central African Republic confers citizenship automatically, independent of any administrative decision.
Descent (born in country)
Person is born in CAR to a citizen.
Descent (born abroad)
Person is born abroad to a parent who is a citizen.
Birth in the country
This route concerns people born in the Central African Republic, and only in the situations described below. An application is required, and citizenship must be granted once the legal conditions are met.
Person is born in CAR to two foreign parents, has been resident for at least 5 years, and makes a declaration during his/her minority.
Child of a new citizen
This route covers children of a person who becomes a citizen of the Central African Republic, subject to the conditions below.
Transfer to a child
Person is the minor child of a parent who has acquired citizenship if the child has not acquired citizenship automatically under the rules for child coacquisition.
Child coacquisition
Person who is the minor child of a person who is acquiring citizenship, providing that descent is established by civil registration or judgement.
Child coacquisition
Person is the child of a parent who is acquiring citizenship from the other while alive. Other conditions: see the rules for ordinary naturalisation (except that residence period can be waived).
Adoption
For people adopted by citizens of the Central African Republic, the rules below set out what applies.
Person is a child adopted by a citizen, has been resident for at least 5 years and makes a declaration during his/her minority. Other conditions: government may oppose acquisition within 6 months of the declaration.
Person is an adult adopted by a citizen. Other conditions: see the rules for ordinary naturalisation (except that residence period may be waived).
Other family members of citizens
This route covers certain family members not covered by the marriage or descent routes in the Central African Republic. Authorities retain discretion and may refuse an application even when the conditions are met.
Person is the wife of a person who is acquiring citizenship. Other conditions: see the rules for ordinary naturalisation (except that residence period can be waived).
Former citizens (reacquisition)
This route covers people who previously held citizenship of the Central African Republic, subject to the conditions below. Authorities retain discretion and may refuse an application even when the conditions are met.
Person is a former citizen who was not deprived of citizenship and is resident in CAR.
Residence during childhood
Residence in the Central African Republic as a child is the basis of this route. An application is required, and citizenship must be granted once the legal conditions are met.
Person is a child looked after by a public or private children's home or brought up by a person who is a citizen, has been resident for at least 5 years, and makes a declaration during his/her minority. Other conditions: government may oppose acquisition within 6 months of the declaration.
Stateless persons
Statelessness, or the risk of it, is the basis of this route in the Central African Republic. The law of the Central African Republic confers citizenship automatically, independent of any administrative decision.
Person found in CAR of unknown parents is presumed born there.
Investment
A qualifying investment or financial contribution is the basis of this route in the Central African Republic. Authorities retain discretion and may refuse an application even when the conditions are met.
Person has made important real estate investments. Other conditions: see the rules for ordinary naturalisation (except that residence period can be waived.)
Not available in the Central African Republic: Citizens of specific countries, Ethnic or cultural affinity, Very long residence, Refugees, Special achievements, Public or military service. Coded by GLOBALCIT for 1 January 2024 and updated with in-force changes.
Dual citizenship
Dual citizenship in the Central African Republic is accepted for new citizens, but not generally for citizens who naturalise abroad.
- New citizens
- New citizens do not have to give up their previous citizenship
- Citizens who naturalise abroad
- Citizens who naturalise abroad lose their citizenship automatically
Person voluntarily acquires or declares recognition of another citizenship.
Compare with neighbours
The period of 5 years set under the law of the Central African Republic is also the most common one in Middle Africa.
See how Central African Republic compares with every country in the residence ranking
| Country | Residence | Language | Dual citizenship |
|---|---|---|---|
 Angola | 10 years | Test or certificate | Accepted |
 Cameroon | 5 years | None | New citizens only |
 Chad | 15 years | None | Accepted |
 Gabon | 5 years | None | Accepted |
 Republic of the Congo | 10 years | Assimilation only | Accepted |
 Sao Tome and Principe | 5 years | Required, no test | Accepted |
Official sources
Official government page: not yet linked.
Naturalisation provisions: Nationality law: Art. 26-31, 37.
Cite this page
TravelDecl. (n.d.). How to Get Central African Republic Citizenship. Retrieved November 5, 2026, from https://traveldecl.com/citizenship/central-african-republic/
<a href="https://traveldecl.com/citizenship/central-african-republic/">How to Get Central African Republic Citizenship</a> (TravelDecl, retrieved 5 November 2026)
Sources and licence
Vink, van der Baaren, Bauböck, Džankić, Honohan, Manby (2025). GLOBALCIT Citizenship Law Dataset v3.1. Global Citizenship Observatory, https://hdl.handle.net/1814/73190. CC BY 4.0. Modified by TravelDecl.
Modified by TravelDecl: updated with changes after 1 January 2024.
GLOBALCIT codes the law as written. Fees, processing times, quotas and how officials apply the rules in practice are not in this dataset: check them with the official authority.
FAQ
How many years to become a Central African citizen?
The residence period for ordinary naturalisation in the Central African Republic is 5 years. Other legal conditions also apply.
Does the Central African Republic allow dual citizenship?
Only in one direction: people who naturalise in the Central African Republic, but not generally its citizens who naturalise abroad.
Do I need a language test for Central African citizenship?
Applicants are not required to demonstrate language skills under the law of the Central African Republic.
Is there a civic knowledge test for Central African citizenship?
Applicants for Central African citizenship are not asked to demonstrate civic knowledge.
Do I have to give up my current citizenship to get Central African citizenship?
There is no obligation to renounce your current citizenship to get Central African citizenship. The law of your current country may have its own rules on this.
Can I get Central African Republic citizenship by marriage?
Yes, the Central African Republic provides a marriage route. Procedure: automatic.
Can I get Central African Republic citizenship by descent?
Yes, the law of the Central African Republic provides citizenship by descent from a citizen parent. Procedure: automatic.
Can I get Central African Republic citizenship by investment?
Yes. The Central African Republic has an investment route in the data. Amounts and terms should be confirmed with the official authority.
Related pages
Also see: Central African Republic passport, visa-free access and entry rules. Latest law changes.
Corrections to this page are handled by Sarah Kim, Fact-Checker.