Kante has not played for Chelsea since suffering a hamstring problem in their second Premier League game of the season against Tottenham Hotspurs on August 14.
The 31-year-old suffered a setback in his comeback bid last week and it was decided that surgery would be the best option for all parties involved.
The former Leicester City midfielder has successfully undergone the operation and will sit out the next four months, effectively ruling him out of contention for the World Cup.
In a statement on the club website, Chelsea said: "N'Golo Kante has undergone an operation on his hamstring injury.
"The midfielder visited a specialist with the club’s medical department to explore the options for his rehabilitation approach and it was mutually agreed for N'Golo to have surgery to repair the damage.
"Following a successful operation, N'Golo is now expected to be sidelined for four months."
Kante has suffered fitness issues over the last two seasons and with his contract running out at the end of the season, it remains to be seen whether he has a long-term future with the Blues.
Kante's absence will also be a big blow for France manager Didier Deschamps after he played a pivotal role in their World Cup triumph in Russia four years ago.