Starting a business in Central African Republic: foreigner's guide (2026)

The 2018 Investment Charter (and preceding Investment Law No. 01-010) imposes no general cap on foreign shareholding; 100% foreign-owned entities are permitted in most sectors. The charter also guarantees the right to repatriate profits and capital.

The standard vehicle for SMEs and foreign investors is the SARL (société à responsabilité limitée), requiring a minimum fully-paid share capital of XAF 1,000,000 (approx. EUR 1,500) as set by the OHADA Uniform Act. A one-shareholder SARL is permitted under OHADA rules.

Key steps are: (1) reserve company name; (2) have a notary certify the statutes and capital declaration; (3) deposit capital in a bank and obtain a deposit certificate; (4) submit all documents to the GUFE-RCA, which coordinates RCCM commercial-registry inscription, NIF tax-ID issuance, and CNSS social-security registration. Official timelines cited are 7–10 days via the GUFE when documents are complete, though total elapsed time is commonly 15–30 days.

The GUFE was established by decree in December 2007 to consolidate business-formation formalities. The World Bank's Doing Business review noted that the GUFE operates as a single window in name only — not all agency formalities can be completed through it — requiring investors to make additional visits to agencies such as the tax directorate and social-security office.

The 2018 Investment Charter offers tax holidays and reduced duties in priority sectors (agriculture, mining, manufacturing). Membership in OHADA, MIGA, and ICSID provides a standardised regional corporate-law framework and investor-dispute mechanisms recognised by international lenders.

CAR is classified as a fragile and conflict-affected state; the World Bank's Business Ready 2024 report did not fully score CAR due to data limitations. Ongoing insecurity, very limited banking infrastructure outside Bangui, and a requirement for in-person notarisation make practical company formation significantly harder than the formal procedure suggests.