Work Permits, Immigration & Employment via Employer of Record in Central African Republic
Hiring foreign nationals in the Central African Republic (CAR) involves navigating an administrative system with limited transparency, inconsistent processing times, and evolving documentation requirements. Work permits and residence authorisation must be secured before employment begins, but there is often no formal public guidance on how these processes are structured.
For most international businesses, setting up a local entity in CAR is not viable. Acumen International acts as Employer of Record, serving as the legal sponsor for work authorisation, managing local compliance, and enabling the lawful onboarding of foreign employees without a legal presence in the country.
Immigration and Work Permit Process in Central African Republic
Foreign employees must enter CAR using the correct visa type and secure a local work permit before taking up employment. A residence authorisation is also typically required, processed in parallel or as part of the permit workflow.
Pre-Arrival
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A long-stay visa (often referred to as a visa de long séjour) must be obtained from a CAR embassy or consulate abroad.
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The employment contract and justification for hiring a foreign national are typically reviewed at this stage.
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Entry may be denied if the visa type does not align with the stated purpose of employment.
Post-Arrival
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The employee must apply for a work permit (permis de travail), usually submitted to the Ministry of Labour or the appropriate interior authority.
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A residence permit is also required and must be secured within a limited timeframe after entry.
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The employee must not begin work until both permits are approved.
Acumen International handles the entire process on the client’s behalf, preparing documentation, managing submissions, and coordinating with local officials under our registered presence.
Work Permit Sponsorship via Acumen International
As Employer of Record, Acumen becomes the legal employer of the foreign worker in CAR. This includes:
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Sponsoring and filing the work permit application as the in-country employer
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Issuing the employment contract and assuming full legal responsibility for compliance
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Coordinating pre-approvals, document submission, and residence authorisation
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Liaising with local authorities, including immigration, labour offices, and others where relevant
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Maintaining compliant payroll, taxation, and employment administration throughout the assignment
This structure is especially critical in CAR, where expatriate employment is closely linked to authorisation from local authorities and permit approval may be influenced by how well documentation aligns with national policies on localisation and labour market protection.
Documents Required for Work and Residence Permits in CAR
Employee Documents
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Valid passport (minimum 6 months validity)
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Long-stay entry visa issued before arrival
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Passport-size photographs
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Certified educational qualifications
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CV and employment history
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Medical certificate (may need to be issued locally)
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Police clearance certificate from country of residence
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Signed employment contract (issued by Acumen)
Employer Documents
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Letter of sponsorship or employment justification
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Proof of company registration in CAR
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Tax and social security registration evidence
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Supporting forms and government applications prepared by our team
All documents must typically be in French, and certain documents may require notarisation or translation.
Estimated Processing Times
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Long-Stay Entry Visa: Typically processed within 2–4 weeks
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Work Permit and Residence Permit: 4–10 weeks depending on case complexity, responsiveness of local offices, and availability of required documentation
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Renewals: Must be initiated well in advance due to variable lead times
Delays are common if documentation is incomplete, poorly translated, or does not align with current government expectations.
All-In-One Global Employment Central African Republic
Acumen International provides comprehensive global employment services for building a global team, handling all aspects from hiring to compliance. Here’s what we can do:- Global Mobility Support: We simplify onboarding and immigration, enabling quick onboarding and engagement of international talent.
- Effortless Onboarding: We streamline your international employee onboarding, helping you launch teams and deploy talent faster.
- Global Payroll & Benefits Management: We manage international payroll and benefits, ensuring compliance and competitive compensation.
- Borderless Expansion Without Local Entities: We facilitate workforce expansion in 190+ countries, removing the need for local business entities.
- Hire Internationally, Operate Everywhere: We support scaling operations and swiftly seizing international opportunities.
- Risk-Free Market Navigation: We provide expert guidance for secure expansion, managing permanent establishment, employee misclassification risks and compliance challenges in new markets.