宗座代牧区（简称代牧区）是天主教会的一种教务管辖机构，设立于尚不足以达到成立教区资格的传教地区。其本质上是临时的，虽然有可能持续一个世纪甚至更久。它的最主要目的是培养足够数量的天主教徒，以能成立一个正式的教区。

宗座代牧区由宗座代牧（拉丁语：Vicario Apostolico）领导，通常由一个领衔主教担任。根据天主教法典的规定，宗座代牧区直接置于教宗的管辖之下，并透过一位代表或「代牧者」（Vicar）来运行教宗管理教务的权力。教宗可任命一位邻近教区的主教兼任、或委托一位神职人员专责担任宗座代牧。

An apostolic vicariate is a form of territorial jurisdiction of the Roman Catholic Church established in missionary regions and countries where a diocese has not yet been established. It is essentially provisional, though it may last for a century or more. The hope is that the region will generate sufficient numbers of Catholics for the Church to create a diocese. In turn, the status of Apostolic vicariate is often a promotion for a former apostolic prefecture, while either may have started out as a mission sui iuris.