Carbon dioxide is a green C1 resource that can be efficiently recycled by catalytic transformation into value-added chemicals. Formamides are important intermediates and solvents that are used extensively in pharmaceutical, daily-chemical, and petrochemical industry. Therefore, it is worthwhile to synthesize formamides with CO2 and amines. In this review, the main advancements in the synthesis of formamides by using CO2 as the C1 feedstock with noble metal catalysts (Ir, Pd, Pt, Ru, Rh, etc.), non-noble metal catalysts (Ni, Mo, Cu, Fe, Co, Zn, Al, etc.), organocatalysts, and catalyst-free systems have been summarized. In addition, the role of the reducing agents such as H2, silanes, and boranes involved in these transformations has also been reviewed. In addition, the reaction mechanisms with the different catalyst systems have been discussed.